Our January member spotlight is jumpmaster, Stan ‘Tater’ Taylor. Recipient of the Purple Heart!
Having enlisted in the U.S. Army with active duty service of 21 years, Tater started his military career in the 10th Mountain division as a Fire Finder radar operator and technician. He then moved into Air Defense Artillery, which influenced advancement to U.S. Army Special Forces – where he earned a Purple Heart. While serving in the special forces, Tater became a jumpmaster and jumpmaster instructor for static line parachute operations. Since 2012, shortly after retirement from the U.S. Army, Tater has been serving several well-known airborne organizations and operations, such as, Round Canopy Parachute Team (RCPT), Liberty Jump Team, Phantom Airborne and X-35 Airborne School. He became a crew member for the historic, WWII veteran “Tico Belle” C-47. He then moved into a crew chief role, as well, managed parachute operations. He currently serves as an instructor for the X-35 Airborne School in Dunnellon, Florida, which is also the National Parachute Test Center. As a crew chief and jumpmaster, Tater keeps fellow jumpmasters current on all airborne operations and regulations. More notably, in June 2019, Tater participated in both the 75th commemorations of D-Day and the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift with the D-Day Squadron. He was crew chief on lead C-47 “Placid Lassie” and jumpmaster for this aircraft during the cross channel jump into Normandy, which he jumped as well. He also helped lead airborne operations in Tannheim Germany for the Berlin70. In February 2021, Tater will crew C-47 “Tico Belle” for the X-35 Airborne School. Anyone interested in static line airborne training, Tater is happy to hear from you! You can inquire through us at: director@ddaysquadron.org.
photos provided by Tater
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