Carl was born on 4 August 1914, in Denison, Texas. He attended Texas A&M University and started his aviation career in 1940 in the schools Civilian Pilot Training Program flying Piper Cubs. Upon graduation Carl entered the Army Air Corps and was assigned to the 8th Pursuit Groups, 36th Squadron based at Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York.
The 8th Group was the first group to deploy to Port Moresby, New Guinea, and Carl’s 36th Squadron, being the first U.S. Fighter unit to make the move to Moresby to relieve the battered RAAF 75TH Fighter Squadron. Carl scored his first victory a Betty over Port Moresby on 1 June 1942 while flying a Bell P-39 Aerocobra.
Promoted to Captain Carl was transferred to 8th Group Headquarters under Lt. Col. Philip H. Greasley. When the 80th was chosen to convert to the superb Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Carl was selected as the units Executive Officer in March of 1943. The 80th Fighter Squadron Commanded by Major Edward “Porky” Cragg (15 ACV) who named the unit “Headhunters”, was to see heavy and sustained air combat in the skies of the SWPA from 1943 to the end of hostiles in 1945.
Carl was soon transferred back to 8th Group Headquarters as Operations Officer of the 80th Squadron. Taylor scored his first victory in a P-38 on 26 September 1943 on a fighter sweep of the airfields of Wewak, downing a Ki-61 Tony. Carl’s next victory came on a B-25 escort mission to Borum on 16 October, besting another Tony.
Captain Taylor usually flew the same aircraft when on missions with the 80th P-38H-1 (266662) and claimed both Ki-61’s in this ship. This fighter was subsequently lost on the infamous “Bloody Tuesday” 2 November 1943 over Rabauls, Simpson Harbour, with 2nd Lt. Norman R. Shea (KIA). This was one of two Lightnings lost by the 80th this day, and nine lost by the Fifth Air Force over this most difficult of SWPA targets.
Promoted to Major Carl’s next air combat would be his last of the war and he would achieve his last victory on this mission. The invasion of New Britain was set for 26 December 1943 at Cape Gloucester, the assault landing to be done by the famous 1st Marine Division.
Major Taylor was leading an eight-ship flight of P-38’s over the invasion fleet when approximately ninety enemy aircraft were sighted approaching the convoy below. Carl led his flight into the enemy fighters escorting the dive-bombers, Taylor closed on a A6M3-22 Zeke and exploded the fighter with a short burst. As he pulled away from his victory over the enemy ship another Zero hit his P-38 with deadly bursts to his port engine and inboard fuel tanks. Carl was forced to bailout of his damaged Lightning and was recovered from the Bismarck Sea by the USN YMS-51 Minesweeper.
The Lightning Taylor was flying on this mission was P-38J-5 (267148) one of the first J models in the SWPA.