Royal New Zealand Air Force War Graves in Groningen
Haren General Cemetery
Donald Graeme Lane Taylor
Plot 1. Row G. Grave 6.
F/O D.G.L. Taylor - 427048
Son of George Graeme Lane Taylor and Eos Enid Taylor, of Cambridge, Auckland, New Zealand.
Son of George Graeme Lane Taylor and Eos Enid Taylor, of Cambridge, Auckland, New Zealand.
In the morning of the 8th February, 1945, /O Don Taylor of 485 (New Zealand) Squadron, RAF, was flying an armed reconnaissance, with 11 other Spitfires of his squadron in the Groningen-Zwolle area. The squadron had left its base B-77 Gilze Rijen at around 09.25 hrs. At some stage, the flight reached the marshalling yard at Onnen, near Haren in the Province of Groningen. There a train, that was just leaving the yard was attacked and strafed. As the two Spitfires pulled up and turned for a second attack, Taylor's Spitfire IX, MK529/'OU-D', was seen flying extremely low. The Spitfire went straight for the train, hitting a lamppost on the edge of the marshalling yard. A wing broke off and the other one came up with great speed. The Spitfire eventually crashed around 10.10 hrs into a house at the Blekerweg. Don Taylor was killed in the crash and was found badly burned in his cockpit. He was buried two days later, on 10th February, in Haren General Cemetery.
Notes.
1. The date of Don Taylor's death is stated incorrectly on his headstone. The 10th is the date of his burial.
2. According to "No.485 (New Zealand) Squadron 1941-1945 Spitfire" on p.52, this Spitfire was lost through Flak action.
3. In an email, Mr Dirk Munk makes reference to a book "Met de blik naar boven", including the recollections of an eye witness, a Mr Kremer. Mr Kremer stated, that the Spitfire hit a lamp post in the middle of the marshalling yard, but no mention is made of a wing coming off the aircraft.
In Mr Munk's view, it is unlikely the Spitfire flew on for such a long distance (of at least a kilometre) on one wing, before hitting the house at Tuindorp 125/126.
4. The entry in the ORB states, that after reforming from the attack, Taylor's mates learned, he was missing.
Notes.
1. The date of Don Taylor's death is stated incorrectly on his headstone. The 10th is the date of his burial.
2. According to "No.485 (New Zealand) Squadron 1941-1945 Spitfire" on p.52, this Spitfire was lost through Flak action.
3. In an email, Mr Dirk Munk makes reference to a book "Met de blik naar boven", including the recollections of an eye witness, a Mr Kremer. Mr Kremer stated, that the Spitfire hit a lamp post in the middle of the marshalling yard, but no mention is made of a wing coming off the aircraft.
In Mr Munk's view, it is unlikely the Spitfire flew on for such a long distance (of at least a kilometre) on one wing, before hitting the house at Tuindorp 125/126.
4. The entry in the ORB states, that after reforming from the attack, Taylor's mates learned, he was missing.
Sources:
ORB 485 Squadron, TNA in Air27/1933/93
FCL, Vol.III, 1944-1945, p.144
No.485 (New Zealand) Squadron 1941-1945 Spitfire, p.50, 52 and 82.
Spitfire, The New Zealand Story, p.94
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/don%20taylor.htm
ORB 485 Squadron, TNA in Air27/1933/93
FCL, Vol.III, 1944-1945, p.144
No.485 (New Zealand) Squadron 1941-1945 Spitfire, p.50, 52 and 82.
Spitfire, The New Zealand Story, p.94
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/don%20taylor.htm