I am trying to find out info on a long lost relative killed in WWll.
He was a USAAF Lt. from California. He enlisted at Hammer Field in
Fresno in Dec 1941. I don't think he got overseas as he was killed
around 1943 we seem to think. Any idea on where to start looking
for him,I have name and serial number.
Also on caualty list does anyone know what DNB meant instead of KIA?
Thank you all.

DNB = Died Non Battle
 
If you want help here..we need the name of the person, rank, his unit (Group or Squadron) if he was Army Air Force.
Give us the information you have so it makes it easier for use to try and locate the answers to your question..that you seek.
 
Terry T.

Thanks Terry for your quick response. I just got started on this today and managed to get some
info from his Enlistment record.
 
Name: Allyn FB Taylor    Army serial number::19076002      enlistment date :12/23/41
 
Air Corps Aviation Cadet, Hammer Field, Fresno CA.
 
We know he was killed but have no date. It was a mid air collision with another plane, both pilots killed.
 My dad seems to recall that he also once crash landed his B17 (we think) on the brink of the Grand Canyon!
We have no dates unfortunately. Family info had him in a P38 at the time of death but this may not be
accurate.
Thanks for your help, look forward to hearing from you.
Goldilocks

Hello Goldilocks,

I checked the Aviation Archaeological Investigation & Research web page (located at www.aviationarchaeology.com) and found Allyn F B Taylor listed.

On 7 Sep 1942, he was flying a P-39D (serial number 41-7055) out of Sarasota Army Air Field, Florida when he crashed.
 
Using a search engine on the Aviation Archaeology web page, I searched on the date of 7 Sep 1942 and found a matching entry.  It shows that another P-39D (serial number 41-38302) also flying out of Sarasota Army Air Field also crashed.  It was being flown by Harold R. Purdy.

That is all the information I could find from their web page, but they have a way for you to order a copy of the accident report.  Ordering a copy of either accident report should help you confirm the mid-air collision.

Hope this helps.
 

David Schmitt
d.schmitt@prodigy.net
son of 1st LT Donald J. Schmitt, USAAF, co-pilot
assigned to 493rd BG/863rd BS at Debach
from Nov 1944 thru May 1945

Thank you so much David, I will go and get a copy of that report.
Sounds like it happened much as my father remembered it.
I am hoping that I could get a photo of him from somewhere and
perhaps with this latest information I can achieve that.
Thank you again
Regards Goldilocks.

Hello Again Goldilocks,
 
Here is some more information about Allyn.  It is from the National Achives web page.  You can view it by going to the following link:
 
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&rid=1721739
 
The "Army Serial Number" listed is while he was an Aviation Cadet (enlisted).  The number would change after he got his wings and was commissioned as an officer.
 
Hope this also helps.
 
Take care,
 

David Schmitt
d.schmitt@prodigy.net
son of 1st LT Donald J. Schmitt, USAAF, co-pilot
assigned to 493rd BG/863rd BS at Debach
from Nov 1944 thru May 1945

Thanks again David, brilliant info and a massive help.
Kind Regards,
Goldilocks

Thanks everyone.
 
Now from all that info, so far, I have also managd to figure out that he
was with the 69th Fighter Squadron, but not being military familiar myself
I can't seem to find much info on them.
I would love to be able to find more and especially keen on getting a photo
of Allyn from somewhere, if possible. So if any of your brilliant minds can
help me again, I would really appreciate it!
Thanks again
Regards,
Goldilck.