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Documentnummer	:	12192
Titel	:	Search for the Past: Netherlands Man Finds Relative of World War II Pilot
Auteur	:	Mark Alan Lovewell
Datering	:	17 september 1999
Beschrijving	:	This week in Chilmark, a historian from the Netherlands came to share the knowledge he had learned about an airplane crash that happened 55 years ago in his country. Paul J. Patist, 46, is a police officer from Castricum; for years he has searched through the history of dusty archives to put pieces together about the death of Richard W. Taylor, one of thousands of pilots from the United States who gave their lives in the battles of World War II. For the people of the Netherlands, Mr. Patist said there are many who are still grateful to those who sacrificed their lives in that difficult war. "My father, Albert P. Patist, always spoke of a geat memory, of seeing hundreds, seeing clouds of bombers flying overhead en route to bombing missions over Germany," Mr. Patist said. During the war, the Netherlands was occupied by the Third Reich. From those stories of liberation came a special reverence for the planes that were shot down. The younger Mr. Patist took an interest in airplanes and a special interest in the planes of history. "In 1993 I knew of a plane crash in my neighborhood, it was the only American," said Mr. Patist. "I wanted to find out everything I could about the crash." He joined the Aircraft Recovery Group of Heemskerk Museum. With the help of the Netherlands Federation for Aviation Archaeology, he was able to piece details together. He first found the name of the pilot. Two years ago, he was able to find the actual site where the plane had crashed. With the help of Merle Olmsted, a historian from California and a member of the 357th Fighter Group Association, Mr. Patist was able to obtain a picture and a file on the pilot. "I got a photograph of the pilot in 1994," Mr. Patist said. Finding the relatives proved more difficult. "I knew he was from Geneva, N.Y.," Mr. Patist said. He tried several avenues. He tried contacting the Geneva police department without success. But with a letter to the town chamber of commerce and some additional luck he was to connect to the pilot's sister in law, a woman named Marjorie Sabine. Mrs. Sabine passed the information on to Bob Taylor, now a resident of Chilmark. The Taylor family had been devastated by death during World War II. Bob Taylor not only lost his uncle in World War II, he lost his father as well. Bob Taylor's father, Robert H. Taylor, was killed on March 11, 1944; he was a B17 pilot and was killed on his 38th combat mission in the Mediterranean Theatre. "My father was killed two months I was born," Bob Taylor said. Bob Taylor knew very little about the circumstances surrounding the death of his father and his uncle. On a cemetery stone in Glenwood Cemetery in Geneva reads the following description of Richard Taylor's death: "Lost in action over the North Sea." Bob Taylor said it wasn't until Mr. Patist in and shared his research that the Taylor family learned the circumstances leading to the death of Richard Taylor. "When I learned about my uncle, I must say it was like goosebump time," Mr. Taylor said. Bob Taylor's wife, Connie, was also amazed to see the effect this infomation had on her husband and the family. "We were all excited. All of us knew of Dick Taylor, but there was a lot we didn't know," Mrs. Taylor said. By the summer of 1997, the two men were exchanging more than letters; they exchanged their first phone call. In April of 1998, Bob and Connie Taylor made a visit to the Netherlands to mdeet with Mr. Patist. They learned a lot more about the death of their uncle than they could ever have imagined. They learned that two young teenagers put flowers daily at the crash site until the war was over, at great risk of being killed by the Germans. Bob Taylor visited the site of the crash and found that the farmer's field had long since been developed and now is the site of many homes. This week, the family reciprocated the generosity offered them from Mr. Patist and granted him a special visit here in Chilmark. They gave him a tour of the Island and were his hosts. Mrs. Taylor is the sister of Jim Athearn of Morning Glory Farm. Many family greetings were shared. In the coming week, the family will take Mr. Patist to Geneva, N.Y., to see the grave of the fallen pilot. "This will complete my investigation,"said Mr. Patist. In many ways it will bring lives to rest. Mr. Patist and Mr. Taylor have since found they have a lot in common. They both share an interest in aviation and the World War. They both have moustaches, both have lovely wives and between them they've gained a long-term friendship. "I am doing this for the family," said Mr. Patist. "I am not doing this for myself. There are so many other people with similar stories." War has a catastrophic impact on families that can last generations, yet with information and compassion, a good deal more can be put to rest. Mrs. Taylor said: "Look at all the friendships that have arisen from this. Doesn't this make the world a lot smaller?" 1 black and white picture is part of the article. PAUL PATIST, LEFT, WITH CONNIE AND BOB TAYLOR.
Soort	:	Krantenartikel
Naam krant	:	The Vineyard Gazette
Jaargang/nummer	:
Plaats	:	Martha's Vineyard
Straat/wijk	:
Medium	:	Krantenartikel (kopie)
Rubriek	:	Historie
Subrubriek	:
Plaatsing	:	A4-01
Archiefdoos-map-nr.	:	7-14-37

 

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Record aangepast: 26 mei 2022