Flt Lt Norman Taylor

[George 118]

Hello,

I need some help with information about claims made by Flt Lt Norman Taylor (as Sergeant 742827) with 601 (County of London) Squadron.

- On September 6, 1940 he attacked and shot down a Do 17 over Maidstone.

- On May 25, 1941 shot down a Bf 110 off Gravelines and a ‘’probable’’ Bf 109 (The 601 Sqn was engaged with III/JG3, which does not appear to have suffered any losses in this engagement.)

- On June 13, 1941 shot down a Bf 109 off Dover

Thanks in advance
George

[Chris Goss]

If your question is about German losses I suggest in future you place this in the Luftwaffe section but:


6 Sep 40 He was credited with a Do 17 damaged; no Do 17s recorded lost
25 May 41 He was credited with two Bf 109s destroyed but his logbook says 109 and 110. This was III./JG 3 which suffered no losses but 7./JG 3 damaged Ogilvie's Hurricane
13 June 41 He claimed two destroyed one damaged. No Luftwaffe losses.


Very optimistic I am afraid

[George 118]

Hello,

Many thanks for your response and my apologies for the wrong section post.
So, another over claim case.
On August 18, 1940 he was credited with a Ju 87 ‘Stuka’ over Thorney Island.
This was probably a Ju 87B-1 of 2/StG-77 or 3/StG-77 or his credit was wrong?

Also, his last claim with 601 on June 16, 1941 was a Bf 109 off Dover.
Is it possibly to be Bf 109E-7 WkNr 3817 of 1/JG26 or Bf 109E-7 WkNr 8125 of 8/JG26 ?

Regards
George

[Chris Goss]

There were at least 29 Ju 87s claimed in that area on 18 Aug 40 with 16 lost by I & II./StG 77. To say who or what he got cannot be said for certain

His claim on 16 June 1941 was a Bf 109 damaged first thing in the morning. JG 26's combat appear to be late afternoon when they claimed 15 aircraft. The identity of the German unit in the morning is not known

[George 118]

Thanks so much for your great information as usual.

Best regards
George

[George 118]

Hello,

On 7 October ZG 26 provided escort for the Ju-88s KG 51 attacking the Westland aircraft works at Yeovil. Strong RAF resistance hit ZG 26 hard, with II Gruppe losing 3 aircraft shot down and III Gruppe losing 4.

On October 7 he damaged a Bf 110 on a patrol over Portland. Norman’s opponent was possibly one of them ???


Regards
George

[Chris Goss]

Where do you get this information from? No mention in the F540 or surviving combat reports, Aces High or RAF Fighter Command Claims. RAF claims that day were way over the top (mistaking Bf 110s for Do 17s)and unless it was a recce 110, the only unit operating Bf 110 fighters that day over Dorset was ZG 26 which recorded no aircraft damaged

[George 118]

Hello,

The ... Strong RAF resistance hit ZG 26 hard, with II Gruppe losing 3 aircraft shot down and III Gruppe losing 4... I read it from
https://5jagdgeschwader27.forumotion...-5-jg27-9-zg26 and https://military-history.fandom.com/...rgeschwader_26

and from Aces high Vol. 2: A further tribute to the most notable fighter pilots of the British and Commonwealth Air Forces in WWII
TAYLOR Norman RAF Nos. 742827 (NCO); 101500 (Officer)
corrections and additions to claim list :
1940
7 Oct Bf 110 damaged Hurricane I 601 Sqn


Regards
George

[Chris Goss]

OK but there were no Bf 110s that were reported as returning damaged. The RAF claimed at least 6 Bf 110s/Do 17s destroyed, 8 probably destroyed and 8 damaged. German losses were a single Ju 88 of KG 51 and confirmed as 7 Bf 110s. Escort was made up of 39 Bf 110s from ZG 26, 52 Bf 109s from JG 2 and 7 Bf 109s from 5./JG 53. So the opponent was ZG 26 but not damaged

[George 118]

No Bf 110s were reported as returning damaged but ZG 26 lost 7.
Bf 110C-7 WrkNr 3418 "3U + JP" of 6/ZG-26
Bf 110E-1 WrkNr 3427 "3U + FM" of 4/ZG-26
Bf 110C-4 WrkNr 3564 "3U + JT" of 8/ZG-26
Bf 110C-4 WrkNr 3640 "3U + GT" of 9/ZG-26
Bf 110C-4 WrkNr 3283 "3U + BT" of 9/ZG-26
Bf 110E-1 WrkNr 3421 "3U + DD" of III/ZG-76
Bf 110D-2 WrkNr 3416 "3U + HN" of 5/ZG-26

Its a possibility Norman’s opponent was one of them. Damaged the Bf110 and other pilot finished the job