Clifford Robert Taylor joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in October 1942 and trained as an Air Gunner on a Browning .303 machine gun, graduating as Sargent. He was commissioned in August 1944, and promoted to rank of Flying Officer in February 1945. In his 23 months of overseas service, he:
- accumulated 430 flying hours,
- completed 19 sorties, and
- served in three types of aircraft (Whitley, Stirling, Halifax).
While returning from enemy territory in a damaged plane on January 28, 1945, Clifford’s plane crashed in the county of Suffolk, England. He was admitted to the Head Injury Centre of East Suffolk/Ipswich Hospital with a concussion and fractured skull. He was transferred to No. 18 Canadian General Hospital on February 20, 1945, and then to a war-time convalescent hospital (now known as Deer Lodge Hospital) on March 9, 1945. Clifford was honourably released from service on September 29, 1945.
Clifford enjoyed a long career as a bus driver with City of Winnipeg Transit. His passions were playing golf, fishing, spending time at the cabin with family, making people laugh, and ballroom dancing with his wife Elizabeth. He was a very skilled cribbage player and enjoyed every opportunity to have a game. An avid sports enthusiast, he was a Winnipeg Jets fan and a dedicated Winnipeg Blue Bomber season ticket holder. The St. Vital Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion was a treasured sanctuary for Clifford as he navigated life as a veteran.
Clifford would be honoured to see his name among other brave military members on the Charleswood Legion 100 Tank Memorial Wall. He was proud to serve his country, and he was especially proud of his son, Robert Clifford Taylor, who became a member of the RCMP.
Clifford wasn’t the only family member serving in WWII armed forces – a brother (Lawrence Taylor) and two brothers-in-law (Norman Fawley and Charlie Starkell) also served.