--- title: "WW2 fighter pilot and founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car dies at 94" date: "2020-02-05" modified: "2020-10-30" authors: - name: "Team Mighty" job_title: "Author" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/teammighty.md" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/ww2-fighter-pilot-and-founder-of-enterprise-rent-a-car-dies-at-94/" categories: - "Finance" - "History" - "Veterans" - "War History" - "World War II" --- # WW2 fighter pilot and founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car dies at 94 ![]() ![]() --- Jack Taylor, the founder of Enterprise Rent-a-car who served as a fighter pilot during World War II, died last week at the age of 94 according to an announcement made by the company. Taylor served as an F6F Hellcat pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II, flying from the U.S.S. *Essex* and U.S.S. *Enterprise* (his company's namesake). He was attached to Carrier Air Group 15, led by the top Navy ace of all time, Commander David McCampbell. CAG 15, which sustained more than 50 percent casualties during the war, was one of the most decorated combat units in the history of U.S. Naval Aviation. Taylor, who served as McCampbell's wingman on several combat missions, was twice decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross. He also received the Navy Air Medal. ![]() *Jack Taylor.* After the war, he worked as a sales rep for a Cadillac dealership before getting into the leasing business with a fleet of 7 cars. His breakthrough idea was renting cars at places other than airports for those who needed an extra car around the neighborhood for whatever reason. His company, Executive Leasing, eventually became Enterprise. The company is among the world's biggest rental car brands, with annual revenues at nearly $20 billion. Taylor also a philanthropist. Since 1982, he personally donated more than $860 million to a wide variety of organizations including Washington University and the symphony orchestra in his hometown of St. Louis. Years later, Taylor reflected back on how well his military service had prepared him for his business success, saying, "After landing a Hellcat on the pitching deck of a carrier, or watching enemy tracer bullets stream past your canopy, somehow the risk of starting up my own company didn't seem all that big a deal." ## Author Team Mighty's experience encompasses intel, special ops, military history, tactical expertise, aviation, gear, and weapons. Authors on Team Mighty include veterans, spouses, and active and reserve service members from every branch of the military, as well as former CIA employees. ## More - [This was probably the most one-sided air battle in the Pacific during WW2]() - [Vietnam veteran and billionaire founder of FedEx Frederick W. Smith dies at 80]() - [WW2 vet dies while visiting country from which he fought 71 years earlier]() - [‘Fog of War’ director on his new slow-burn WW2 thriller]() - [This World War I hero wanted to recruit race car drivers to be fighter pilots]() - [This is how the Navy’s last ace went from heroic fighter pilot to criminal congressman]() - [‘Die Hard’s’ John McClane was originally a World War II fighter pilot]() - [Marine Corps veteran, founder of Ron Jon Surf Shop, Ron DiMenna dies at 88]()