Walter "Waddy" Young

While Young accomplished so much on the gridiron, he accomplished even more in the skies over the Pacific Ocean. Commissioned as a second lieutenant of field artillery following ROTC training, he entered flight training January 1, 1941 and received his wings at Kelly Field, Texas, on August 15, 1941.

His first overseas tour began in early 1943, piloting a B-24 Liberator on anti-submarine patrol between Newfoundland and England. He accumulated more than 9,000 combat hours and his crew downed two Nazi fighter planes and attacked a Nazi submarine. In November, 1943, he was awarded the first Oak Leaf Cluster for The Air Medal for distinguished service while flying B-24s.

In early 1944, Young was assigned to B-29 duty in the Pacific and his plane, dubbed “Waddy’s Wagon” appeared in a National Geographic article in April, 1945. Young was a squadron commander of the 869th Bomber Squadron. “Waddy’s Wagon” led a fleet flying in the front of the formation that bombed Tokyo in the historic first Tokyo mission from Saipan on November 24, 1944. He continued to fly numerous missions from Saipan until his plane was shot down on January 9, 1945.

Young had already completed his bombing run and was returning to his base on Saipan. Another plane from his squadron was damaged and was losing speed and altitude while still under attack. Young dropped back to assist his friend to fight off the swarming Japanese planes when both planes were lost over the Sea of Japan. Young gave his life, doing in combat what he had done on the football field—running interference for his teammates. One month later the U.S. gained control of Iwo Jima and the skies where Young was shot down were cleared.

In 1960, an honorary group of Air Force ROTC students designated their University of Oklahoma organization the Walter “Waddy” Young Squadron of the Arnold Air Society. The Society stresses leadership of the kind symbolized by “Waddy” Young and its members are chosen according to strict standards. Walter R. “Waddy” Young is certainly an appropriate inspiration for this group.