WW2Hero.com is a tribute to the life and war career of Theodore "Ted" Elman. Ted documented the life of a World War II airman with extraordinary detail in the letters he wrote to his wife, Adele. Over a half-century after they were originally written, Ted's journals and letters give those who read them an incredibly rich account of the true experience of being at war.

Lt. Elman was a member of the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group, one of the Air Force's most decorated units, noted for its bravery and efficiency throughout the war. Their most famous and dangerous mission was Operation Tidal Wave, the low-level attack on the oil refineries in the Romanian town of Ploesti on August 1, 1943, for which five Medals of Honor were awarded, the most for any single mission. The 376th was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for their participation in the Ploesti raid, as well as two other D.U.C.'s. In 1998, Ted (belatedly) received the Distinguished Flying Cross medal, an individual award recognizing specific acts of heroism "so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart". For a more detailed account of Ted's aerial career, please read the letters and see the page "Who is Ted?" For more information on the 376th and specifically the Ploesti raid (which inspired a number of books), check the links page.