Walter R. Taliaferro

Walter Robertson Taliaferro (September 9, 1880 – October 11, 1915) was a pioneer aviator in the U.S. Army who died in a flying accident.

He served as an enlisted man in the artillery for seven years before being commissioned as an officer in the 21st infantry in 1908.

He did surveying work in the Philippine Islands and in 1913 was detailed to the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps, for pilot training.

Taliaferro made an aviation distance record, flying 220 miles in about 3.5 hours.

Taliaferro also achieved a flight endurance record in September 1915 of 9 hours and 45 minutes, before he ran out of fuel.