Capt. Martin Walter Young was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 2, 1920, to Martin W. Young and Adaline Petera-Young. In 1930, his family was living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During the 1930s his family moved to 2115 North 72nd Court, Elmwood Park, Illinois. He graduated from Elmwood Park School, and since Elmwood Park was not districted for a high school, he was allowed to select what high school he wanted to attend which was Proviso Township High School, Maywood, Illinois. He graduated in 1937 and attended the Illinois Institute of Technology for two years. After he left school, he worked at the Allen B. Wrisley Soap Company, Chicago., as a store clerk.
Martin registered with Selective Service on July 1, 1941, and named his mother as his contact person. He also indicated he was living at 1614 North Central Avenue, in Chicago. Knowing he was going to be drafted into the army, he enlisted on September 25, 1941. He was allowed to volunteer for the Air Corps because his score on the Army General Classification Test was higher than 110. It is known that he trained in Texas and Florida, and that he was commissioned a second lieutenant and received the serial number O 65 787, after he qualified as a pilot. He also was sent to Davis-Monthan Army Airfield on August 28, 1942; to Wendover Airfield, Utah, on November 28, 1942; and to Pueblo Airfield, Colorado, January 2, 1943.
Martin was sent overseas and was based on Yangkai Airfield, Yangkai, China, on March 20, 1943, as a member of the 373rd Bomb Squadron (Heavy), 308th Bombardment Group, 14th Air Force. Martin was the pilot of a B-24J. The other members of his crew were 1st Lt. Everett K. Greer Jr, co-pilot; Capt. Glen G. Thompson, bombardier; Capt. Marvin J. Silvershatz, navigator; T/Sgt. Alfred J. Conlon, engineer; T/Sgt. Jeno G. A. Proulx, radio operator; S/Sgt. Frank R. Gaetano, gunner/assistant engineer; S/Sgt. James E. Hoffman, gunner/assistant radio operator; S/Sgt. John A. Coughin, gunner; and S/Sgt. Sydney H. McPherson, gunner.
It is known his crew flew missions over Burma, China, Japan, and India. It was on May 20, 1944, that his squadron was sent on a mission against a Japanese convoy which was escorted by Japanese Naval Ships in the South China Sea. It was reported that machine gun fire from the ships was fairly intense, the anti-aircraft fire from two or three ships was of medium intensity but accurate. The planes came in from 150 to 500 feet above the water.
The surviving plane crew members stated that during the raid, one B-24 was seen going down in flames as it attacked a Japanese destroyer. A second B-24 was seen trailing smoke and then burst into flames before it nosed dived into the sea. A third B-24 was reported to have blown up in mid-air blowing its tail off while over the convoy at 4:10 pm. One chute was seen open just before it went into the water, but some men said it was empty. One of the other B-24s circled, for about 15 minutes, but did not see any survivors. Since it was believed that it was possible that some crew members may have survived, the crews were reported as missing in action.
Martin’s mother received a telegram from the War Department on June 2, 1944.
MRS ARLINE S YOUNG
1614 NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE
CHICAGO 39 ILLINOIS
THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR SON CAPTAIN MARTIN W YOUNG HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION SINCE TWENTY TWO MAY IN ASIATIC AREA IF FURTHER DETAILS OR OTHER INFORMATION ARE RECEIVED YOU WILL BE PROMPTLY MOTIFIED
DUNLOP
TACTING FOR THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
His status remained missing in action until February 21, 1946, when the War Department order that a finding of death be made in his case. It is not known what the content of the letter sent to his mother said. Capt. Martin W. Young’s name was placed on the Walls of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery outside of Manila, Philippine Islands.
