CRAIG M. TAYLOR, LTJG, USN
Craig Taylor '65
Lucky Bag
From the 1965 Lucky Bag:
CRAIG MORGAN TAYLOR
San Juan Capistrano, California
Coming from number two in his class at San Juan Capistrano High School, Craig started his career at Navy Tech. From the very first he applied himself, and maintained a high average through the following four years, remaining on the Supt.'s list every semester with star grades part of the time. Craig applied himself in the field of sports as well. He was on the plebe track team and ran varsity track for a year before he turned his sights to company intramurals in fieldball, cross-country, and Softball. Nor did his endeavors stop with the confines of Bancroft Hall. Most every weekend found him entertaining some lovely young lady. His charm, quick wit, and pleasant personality kept him in good supply of drags. Known for his high sense of values, consciousness of fair play, and level headedness at all times, Craig could always be counted on to get a job done, and done well. Being the best all-around man anyone could know, Craig will have no problems with whatever the future may bring.
He was also a member of the 20th Company staff (winter).
CRAIG MORGAN TAYLOR
San Juan Capistrano, California
Coming from number two in his class at San Juan Capistrano High School, Craig started his career at Navy Tech. From the very first he applied himself, and maintained a high average through the following four years, remaining on the Supt.'s list every semester with star grades part of the time. Craig applied himself in the field of sports as well. He was on the plebe track team and ran varsity track for a year before he turned his sights to company intramurals in fieldball, cross-country, and Softball. Nor did his endeavors stop with the confines of Bancroft Hall. Most every weekend found him entertaining some lovely young lady. His charm, quick wit, and pleasant personality kept him in good supply of drags. Known for his high sense of values, consciousness of fair play, and level headedness at all times, Craig could always be counted on to get a job done, and done well. Being the best all-around man anyone could know, Craig will have no problems with whatever the future may bring.
He was also a member of the 20th Company staff (winter).
Loss
Craig was lost on June 27, 1968 when the F-8 Crusader he was piloting crashed near Naval Air Station Miramar.
Other Information
From Redlands Daily Facts of Redlands, California, on June 28, 1968
SAN DIEGO (UPI) Ltjg Craig M. Taylor, 25, was killed in the crash of a Navy F-8 Crusader jet three miles east of Miramar Naval Air Station Thursday night. Cause of the crash was under investigation. The plane disintegrated and wreckage was spread over a 300-square-yard area. The plane, part of Fighter Squadron 111, crashed while making a final landing approach during a routine night mission. A small fire started by the crash was quickly controlled by firefighters from the naval air station. Taylor's widow, Frances, lives in San Diego with their 6-month old son.
From the November 1968 issue of Shipmate:
Lt.(jg) Craig M. Taylor, USN, died 27 June in an aircraft accident near the Naval Air Station Miramar, California, following night air refueling. Memorial services were held at the Naval Air Station chapel, with services and interment at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors.
Lt. Taylor was born at Glendale, California. He was on the Superintendent's List as a midshipman, and was Commander of the 20th Company. Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1965, he completed basic training at the Pensacola and Miramar Naval Air Stations and was designated a naval aviator in January 1967 at Kingsville.
His first assignment was at Miramar NAS where he flew F-8s in Squadron VF-124. In December 1967 he was assigned as a replacement pilot in Squadron VF-111 aboard Oriskany. On 2 January of this year he was shot down by ground fire over Than Hoa, North Vietnam, while on his first mission over enemy territory, and was rescued by helicopter from the water.
Surviving are his widow, Frances Elizabeth, and a son, Michael Craig; his father, Beecher Taylor of Pittsburgh, Pa.; his mother, Mrs. Thomas Shoen of Dallas, Tex.; a brother, Lt. Gary W. Taylor, USNR, of San Diego, and a sister, Miss Julie Taylor of Torrance, Calif.
Craig is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Previous Service
From Raunchy Redskins:
Lcdr Leo Keiffer/Lt Ed Marsyla/AX2 Thomas Monroe/AXAN Daniel Abbott pluck Ltjg Craig M. Taylor, F-8C pilot of VF-111 off the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) from the midst of a fleet of hostile fishing craft located very close to the Vietnamese beach. Ltjg Taylor's Crusader (BuNo. 146989) suffered total electrical failure while escorting a RF-8C on a photo-recon mission over the Than Hoa area. The pilot reports that he was mighty happy when "Big Mutha" arrived to save him from possible capture. Lt Taylor later died in an flight mishap at NAS Miramar.
Photographs
Related Articles
Dean Sedar '65 was also in 20th Company.
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