Commander 9th SRW - July 1980 to July 1982
Colonel Young was born February 8, 1936 at Anderson, Indiana. He graduated
from Columbus High School, Columbus, Indiana in June of 1974. He attended Purdue
University, West Lafayette, Indiana and graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Aeronautical Engineering in June, 1958. At that time, he received his
Air Force Commission through the Purdue ROTC Program. Following graduation,
Colonel Young was employed by Boeing at their Seattle Flight Test
Facility.
Colonel Young entered active duty in December, 1958. He attended primary and basic flying schools, graduating in January 1960 and following F-100 combat crew training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, he was assigned to the 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. In September 1964, Colonel Young was assigned to England Air Force Base, Louisiana, and deployed in November of that year with the 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron to Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. While at Da Nang, Colonel Young flew 44 combat missions over North Vietnam in the F-100. In February, 1966, Colonel Young was assigned to the 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam, where he flew an additional 141 combat missions in the F-100. From November 1966 to March 1970, Colonel Young served as instructor pilot in the F-100 weapons course at Luke Air Force Base.
Colonel Young's next assignment was with Headquarters Command as Special Projects Officer. Based primarily at Edwards Air Force Base, California, he participated in evaluation and flight testing of the U-2 Reconnaissance systems, flight instruction of Allied Air Force personnel and as advisor to an Allied Air Force. Colonel Young next attended War College, class of 1975 and following graduation, served as the Commander of the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, until the installation closed in 1976. He then transferred to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, serving as Commander, Detachment 2, 9th SRW, Osan AB, Korea.
Returning to Beale AFB in September, 1976, Colonel Young was assigned as the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing's Deputy Assistant, Deputy Commander for Operations and later as the Deputy Base Commander. In July 1977, Colonel Young became the Assistant Deputy Commander for Maintenance, 9th SRW and in August, 1978 he became the Deputy Commander for Maintenance. On 1 February, 1979, Colonel Young assumed duties as Vice Commander, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. In July, 1980, Colonel Young became Commander, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance wing, a position he held until July of 1982.
Colonel Young is a command pilot with over 4,000 hours flying time, including 2,700 in the F-100 and 800 hours in the U-2. He holds the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters. He is co-author of a published Air Force monograph about the air war over North Vietnam, entitled "The Tale of Two Bridges".
Colonel Young is married to the former Margaret Hoag of Tucson, Arizona. They have a son, William and a daughter, Lucinda. The Young's claim Tucson as their hometown.