Three Stalags and Out! Remembering Lt. Harry W. Tait, Jr. on National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
Lt. Harry W. Tait is seen as the last man standing on the right end of the line of 406th Fighter Squadron pilots. This photo was likely taken during the 371st Fighter Group’s time at Bisterne Airfield in England in the spring of 1944, prior to advancing to continental Europe after D-Day in June, 1944. The complete identification of these 406th Fighter Squadron pilots is as follows, showing their final wartime ranks and the fate of those killed, missing or captured. In the back row, left to right, are Capt. Samuel B. W. Kennedy, Capt. Paul J. Hurley, Capt. Donald Ross, 1st Lt. Grant Davis, Jr., 1st Lt. William M. Taunt, 1st Lt. George Gallow, Jr., 1st Lt. Thomas F. Whitfield, Jr., Capt. Forest A. Kilgore, Jr., Capt. Eric (NMI) Doorly, 1st Lt. Robert A. Buenzli, 1st Lt. James P. Thiede and Capt. Harry H. Tait, Jr. (POW). Middle row left to right is Capt. Uno A. Salmi (MIA), Capt. Robert J. Rieschl, Capt. John E. Sullivan, 1st Lt. Victor L. Unruh (KIA), 1st Lt. John J. Burns and Lt. Col. Sanders E. Delaney (KIFA). Front row are Capt. Charles H. Chappas, 1st Lt. Charles P. Sparks (KIA), Maj. Edwin D. Taylor, 1st Lt. Robert R. Meade, Capt. Craig J. Teller, Jr. and 2nd Lt. Sumner J. Calish (KIA). (Photograph from The Story of the 371st Fighter Group in the E.T.O.)