Ted Elman was born Nov. 20, 1921 in Rochester, New York's General Hospital on West Main Street. He studied French and Drama at Madison High School and graduated in 1939. After graduation, his first job was at the Eastman Kodak Chemical Storage Plant. Ted married Adele Morris of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania in October 1942. Note the initials: T.E. and A.M.

In November 1942, Ted was drafted and reported to Fort Mitchell, on Long Island, where he passed the cadet exam. He was stationed in San Antonio for 9 months of training, after which he graduated as a Navigator, 2nd Lieutenant. Ted trained at bases in Clovis, New Mexico, Blythe, California, and Tuscon.

Ted and 9 other airmen were sent to gunnery school. To get there, they flew their plane from Morrison Field in West Palm Beach to Fortaleza, Brazil. From there, they flew at night to Dakar, West Africa. Then they flew to Scotland, and finally to Ireland for the training.

Ted and the crew were finally stationed in Attelboro, England, where they joined the 453th Bomb Group, 732nd Squadron. The ten of them flew 24 missions over Europe in their B-24. During this time, Major Jimmy Stewart (yes, the actor) was a command pilot in the bomb group.

Just before D-Day, Ted's crew were transferred to the famed 376th Bomb Group, 514th Squadron, stationed in San Pancrazio, Italy. With the 376th, the crew completed its tour of duty. Their final mission was on July 8th, 1944, at Markersdorf Airdrome in Vienna. Amazingly, the crew completed its 51 missions without incurring any injuries or fatalities.

Ted returned home on a Grace Line cruise ship, the Santa Paula (with 12 men to a cabin), and was reunited with Adele. The TEAM's daughter, Barbara, was born in June 1946. The family continued to live in the Pittsburgh area. Ted and Adele later moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, when Ted worked down the block from the White House. In 1998, Ted's military service was finally recognized, as he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Ted currently lives in Clifton, New Jersey.