Frederick C Taylor and 206 Squadron

[Richard Wood]

I am seeking any information on Fred C Taylor who was in the RFC and 206 Squadron. He was killed, aged 19, on 22  May 2018 in France along with - I think - fellow officer Lt Morgan. I have previously seen a report which had some details of the incident but have not been able to find it again.  His service record bears the number TR/10/55668, 38448 and 102012.  Fred is remembered at a cemetery near St Omer and at his former school Borlase Grammar School in Marlow.  I knew his younger brother, my great uncle Les, well and who kept Fred's dress uniform. Any information appreciated.  Thank you,
 

[sdparker]

According to The Sky Their Battlefield by Trevor Henshaw, they took off on a bombing mission in DH9 D1695. The machine went into a spinning

nose dive near the aerodrome, crashed and caught fire. 2Lt E P Morgan died of injuries, and 2Lt F C Taylor KIFA.

[Richard Wood]

Thank you so much for the information. Does the the Sky Their Battlefield say anything about their roles E.g. Pilot, observer etc? I shall certainly try and find the book. Thanks again.

[sdparker]

I assume the pilot is named first, someone will correct me if that's wrong. Morgan is the first named, so probably the pilot, and Taylor the observer.

[Richard Wood]

Thanks again sdparker. 

[josquin]

The RAF casualty records state that Lieutenants Morgan and Taylor, flying D.H.9 D1695, took off on a bombing raid, stalled on a turn and went into a spinning nosedive

that caused the aeroplane to crash and catch fire near the aerodrome, in France.  Some biographical details follows although you may already know this.

Frederick Charles Taylor was born on 8 April 1899, at Folkestone, Kent, and the 1911 Census states that he was attending school at Marlow, Buckinghamshire

(as you said in your post).  Employed as a Junior Audit Clerk in London, from November 1916 to March 1917, he joined the Royal Flying Corps as a Cadet

(Observer) and was commissioned as a Probationary Temporary 2nd Lieutenant on 12 February 1918.  On 18 April 1918, he embarked to France and was attached

to 206 Squadron as an Observer.

His pilot, Edward Percival Morgan, was born on 1 May 1888, at Fiosele, near Florence, Italy, but his family residence was St. John's Wood, London.  He emigrated to

Canada and was a rancher, at De Winton, near Calgary, Alberta, when he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, on 7 February 1916, at Calgary.  As Private,

service number 808778, he served with the 137th Battalion and the 21st Reserve Battalion, C.E.F., prior to becoming an R.F.C. Cadet on 16 June 1917.  Commissioned

a Probationary Temporary 2nd Lieutenant on 30 August 1917, he was appointed a Flying Officer (Pilot) on 28 January 1918, and posted on that date to 100 Squadron,

in the U.K.  He was posted to 206 Squadron on 10 May 1918 as a pilot.

Josquin

[Richard Wood]

Many thanks Josquin, I had some of the details but this really helps with giving a more complete history. 

[Tawhiri]

Officers personal records for both men can be found in the AIR 76 series at the National Archives, and downloaded for free after registering. The associated casualty forms and incident cards mentioned above can also be found online at various RAF Museum sites if you are interested in obtaining copies of the source documents.

2nd Lieutenant F C Taylor

Commissioning record in the Gazette

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30556/supplement/2764

Officer's personal record

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8232900

Casualty form

https://www.casualtyforms.org/form/23963

Incident cards

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/taylor-f.c

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/taylor-f.c.-frederick-charles 

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000259993-taylor-f.c

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000259994-taylor-f.c.-frederick-charles

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000259995-taylor-f.c

2nd Lieutenant E P Morgan

Commissioning record in the Gazette

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30292/supplement/9711

Officer's personal record

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8208006

Casualty form

https://www.casualtyforms.org/form/16668

Incident cards

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/morgan-e.p.-edward-percival

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/morgan-e.p

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000253123-morgan-e.p.-edward-percival

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000253124-morgan-e.p

 

[Richard Wood]

So  kind of you to enclose all these links and information. All very much appreciated Tawhiri.