Elmer W. Young Crew

ELMER W. YOUNG CREW - 359th BS
(crew assigned 359BS: 03 Dec 1943 - photo: USA Training)

(Back L-R) 2Lt Fred B. Yelsky (B), 2Lt George R. Schoner (N),
2Lt Joseph C. Sassone (CP), 2Lt Elmer W. Young (P)

(Front L-R) Sgt Andrew Rohaly, Jr. (RWG), Sgt Bill Stapleton (TG), Sgt John W. Withrow (LWG),
Sgt Richard H. Lebeck (BT), S/Sgt Steve Dulick (R), S/Sgt John G. Steele (E)

ELMER W. YOUNG CREW - 359th BS
(crew assigned 359BS: 03 Dec 1943 - photo: 02 Dec 1943)

(Back L-R) 2Lt Elmer W. Young (P), 2Lt Joseph C. Sassone (CP),
2Lt George R. Schoner (N), 2Lt Fred B. Yelsky (B)

(Front L-R) Sgt Bill Stapleton (TG), Sgt John W. Withrow (LWG), S/Sgt Steve Dulick (R),
Sgt Richard H. Lebeck (BT), S/Sgt John G. Steele (E), Sgt Andrew Rohaly, Jr. (RWG)

Ranks and grades at time photo was taken. See crew notes below for final ranks and grades
Combat missions flown by Capt Elmer W. Young:
90 (20 Dec 43), 92(AS), 94(AS), 97, 98, 99, 100, 102, 104, 107, 113, 114, 117, 120, 124, 125, 126, 128(LC), 129, 131, 132, 134, 146(LC), 147, 149(LC), 150, 153(LC), 155(LC), 159(AS)(LC), 162(LC), 164(LC) (29 May 1944). See Combat Missions for mission dates and targets. (AS) - Credit abortive sortie (LC) Mission flown as a Lead Crew. See Combat Missions 149,153 and 164 for Lead Crew photographs.

Crew Notes:
Commissioned Officers

Capt Elmer W. Young (P) - First mission #90 flown as Co Pilot with the Lt Billy M. Goolsby crew and on Lead Crew missions 149,153 & 164. Other missions flown as 1st Pilot. Combat tour completed on 29 May 1944
2Lt Joseph C. Sassone (CP) - All missions flown as Co Pilot. Four missions flown with the Capt Young Crew - #92, 94, 97, 98. Other missions flown with nine other Pilots: Daub (3) - #104, 136, 137; Eisenhart (4) - #109,110, 113, 125; Goolsby (5)- #112, 116, 124, 132, 142; Stoulil (1) - #115; Blossom (2) - #118, 119; Hybert (1) - #120; Marsh (1)- #134; Newell (1) - #143(LC); Lt Edwin H. Assenheimer (10) - #126, 127, 128, 129, 130(LC), 131, 139, 141, 144, 164). 30 mission combat tour completed on 29 May 1944.

Substitute CoPilots utilized with the Capt Young Crew as follows:
- Lt Edwin P. Assenheimer - #99, 117
- Lt George H. Blossom - #100, 102, 104, 107;
- Lt William A. Cunningham - #113, 120
- Lt Weldon D. Harrison - #121; Lt Robert L. Cunningham - #125, 126, 128(LC), 129, 131, 132, 134, 146(LC), 147, 150, 155, 162
- 2Lt Everett V. Peterson - #159(LC). Capt Young flew as Co Pilot on four missions - #90, 149(LC), 153(LC) and 164(LC)
1Lt George R. Schoner (N) - Flew on 24 missions with the Capt Young Crew - #92(AS), 94(AS), 97, 98, 99, 100, 102, 104, 107, 113, 114, 117, 120, 121, 125, 126, 128(LC), 129, 130(LC), 131, 132, 134, 149(LC). Flew on six other missions with other Pilots - #88, 111, 143(LC), 146(LC), 157(LC) & 150(LC). 30 mission combat tour completed on 22 May 1944. Substitute Navigators used with the Capt Young Crew on eight missions - #146(LC), 147(LC), 150, 153(LC), 155(LC), 159(LC), 162 (LC), 164(LC).
1Lt Fred B. Yelsky (B) - Flew on ten missions with the Capt Young Crew - #92, 94, 97, 98, 99, 100, 102, 104, 107, 113. Other missions flown with other Pilots: 2Lt Noel L. Newell (13) #103, 119, 121, 124, 125, 126, 130, 131, 136, 137, 139, 140, 141; 1Lt G. Neil Bech, Jr. (2) - #114, 117; 1Lt Charles F. Hanselmann (4) - 142, 143, 145, 146; 2Lt John W. Tulloss (4)- #151, 153, 154, 157. 30 mission combat tour completed on 22 May 1944. Substitute Bombardiers used by the Capt Young Crew on their twenty missions after mission #113

Enlisted Crewmen
Twenty-eight combat missions - 92 through 150 and 155(LC), 159(LC), 162(LC) and 164(LC) - flown with Capt Elmer W. Young with the following exceptions where the named crewmen stood down. S/Sgt Rohaly mission #124, S/Sgt Lebeck #162, S/Sgt Stapleton #164 All crewmen also stood down on two of Capt Young's missions - #90 and #153(LC)
Additional missions flown as follows:

T/Sgt John G. Steele (E) - With Lt Quinn / Eisenhart -#157(LC)
T/Sgt Steve Dulick (R) - With Lt Quinn / Eisenhart - #157(LC)
S/Sgt Richard W. Lebeck (BTG) - With LtCol Cole - #161(LC)
S/Sgt John W. Withrow (LWG) - - With 1Lt Goolsby - #160
S/Sgt Andrew Rohaly, Jr. (RWG) - With Capt L.C. Thompson #154, 1Lt Halpin #158
S/Sgt Bill Stapleton (TG) - With Lt Quinn / Eisenhart #157(LC), 2Lt Sirany #164

All Enlisted Crewmen completed their 30 mission combat tours on 29 May 1944

Significant Combat Mission:
Mission #128, 26 March 1944 against no-ball targets in occupied France, where the 359th BS accomplished it's assigned task with a remarkable demonstration of precision bombing. and distinguished itself on this operation. Analysis indicated that 78%, an excellent high percentage of the bombs dropped, struck within 500 feet of the H.P.P. and that 100% were placed within 100 thousand feet of the M.P.I. This was highly commendable and reflected good formation flying and proper release of bombs from every aircraft in the Squadron despite the intense and very accurate flak encountered. Members of the 1st Elmer W. Young Crew were flying as the 359th BS Lead Crew. Brig Gen Robert B. Williams, Commanding General, 41st Combat Wing, wrote a Commendation Letter to each member of the 1Lt Elmer W. Young Crew stating that this crew, while flying in the lead position of the Squadron formation was in large measure responsible for the excellent results obtained.

[photos courtesy of Joseph Sassone]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, Historian Emeritus, 303rd Bomb Group Association]