46th Reconnaissance Squadron
Basic Information
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Life During the War
Delos Leon Sims was born on October 18 of 1925, to parents Nora Belle Tullos Sims and John Jefferson Sims. He lived in Pass Christian, MS, on 214 Woodman Avenue for the entirety of his life. Since then, that plot of land has been ravaged by many hurricanes, with Delos’s home being destroyed in either Hurricane Camille or Katrina.
His father, John, and mother, Nora, had many children, from previous marriages and their own marriage: Delos Leon Sims, Essie Helen Sims Easterling, Lamar W. Easterling, Grace Jewell Sims Franklin, Levon Louis Sims, Mamie Mae Sims Woodcock, Millie Elizabeth Sims Steube Light, Winstead James Sims, and Pearl Marie Sims Owensby. Leon’s mother Nora was also married to Henry Easterling before she had married John Sims, and they had a child named Essie. Essie happened to marry one of her step-father’s sons, Clifton H Sims, who was her step-father’s son through a different marriage. Therefore, Delos, who preferred to go by his middle name Leon, had nine other siblings, from his parents’ marriage and his parents’ other marriages.
Leon was educated until the age of eighteen and did not go to college. He graduated high school, and it is unknown what he did in the time period from graduating high school and going to war. Leon entered the military on February 15, 1944 and enlisted as a private in the U.S. Air Corps for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law. Leon enlisted at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. It is known that his brother Levon served, but it is unknown if any of Leon’s other brothers served.
His father, John, and mother, Nora, had many children, from previous marriages and their own marriage: Delos Leon Sims, Essie Helen Sims Easterling, Lamar W. Easterling, Grace Jewell Sims Franklin, Levon Louis Sims, Mamie Mae Sims Woodcock, Millie Elizabeth Sims Steube Light, Winstead James Sims, and Pearl Marie Sims Owensby. Leon’s mother Nora was also married to Henry Easterling before she had married John Sims, and they had a child named Essie. Essie happened to marry one of her step-father’s sons, Clifton H Sims, who was her step-father’s son through a different marriage. Therefore, Delos, who preferred to go by his middle name Leon, had nine other siblings, from his parents’ marriage and his parents’ other marriages.
Leon was educated until the age of eighteen and did not go to college. He graduated high school, and it is unknown what he did in the time period from graduating high school and going to war. Leon entered the military on February 15, 1944 and enlisted as a private in the U.S. Air Corps for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law. Leon enlisted at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. It is known that his brother Levon served, but it is unknown if any of Leon’s other brothers served.
Military Experience
Leon Delos Sims enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on February 15, 1944 for the duration of the war or another emergency, plus six months. Leon’s first organizational unit was the 719 Bomber Squadron and his second was the 449 Heavy Bomber Group. At first, Leon was a Private, and eventually, by his death, had worked up to the rank of Corporal in the U.S. Air Force. Leon’s service number was 34926730.
Leon served multiple tours - at least two - and was part of two different organizational units: the 719 Bomber Squadron and 449 Heavy Bomber Group. Near the end of Leon’s last tour, as they were on a combat mission to Brenner R.R. Loop, the lead ship called in and said that anyone low on fuel could leave the formation and attempt a landing at Foggia.
“ . . . A ship called in very faintly which I believe to be No. 42-64389 (9) saying fuel was low, and the pilot was going to attempt making it to Foggia. Since I was busy myself letting down, and keeping track of formation, that it was difficult for me to make an accurate check. After levelling off at 1500 feet, my navigator called in saying ship No. 9 was no longer in sight. I attempted to contact him over the radio, but without success. That was the last I heard from No. 9.”
Many statements were taken about the disappearance of No. 9, in which they believe it was going to try to land in Foggia to refuel, but soon lost sight of it and never heard from or saw the plane or any of its members ever again. The formations intended destination was Brenner R.R. Loop in Italy, and after none of the crew members were able to be found, the military stated that no answer could be given to if any personnel were believed to have survived. All the remains of the crew were stated as irretrievable as it is believed that plane No. 9 crashed in the Adriatic Ocean, right off of the coast of Italy. All were announced Missing in Action and their remains were never found. Leon’s crew members consisted of Ralph Blakely Jr., Lawrence L. Goodman, Henri H. Julian Jr., Leonard E. Trapp, Robert A. Kolezar, Daniel H. Feeney, Walter C. Heyer, Milton C. Krueger, Lawrence W. McCubbin, and LeRoy C. Roe. It was stated that the entire crew of B-24J No. 9 departed from Grottaglie, Italy on a combat mission to Brenner R.R. Loop, Italy.
Leon served multiple tours - at least two - and was part of two different organizational units: the 719 Bomber Squadron and 449 Heavy Bomber Group. Near the end of Leon’s last tour, as they were on a combat mission to Brenner R.R. Loop, the lead ship called in and said that anyone low on fuel could leave the formation and attempt a landing at Foggia.
“ . . . A ship called in very faintly which I believe to be No. 42-64389 (9) saying fuel was low, and the pilot was going to attempt making it to Foggia. Since I was busy myself letting down, and keeping track of formation, that it was difficult for me to make an accurate check. After levelling off at 1500 feet, my navigator called in saying ship No. 9 was no longer in sight. I attempted to contact him over the radio, but without success. That was the last I heard from No. 9.”
Many statements were taken about the disappearance of No. 9, in which they believe it was going to try to land in Foggia to refuel, but soon lost sight of it and never heard from or saw the plane or any of its members ever again. The formations intended destination was Brenner R.R. Loop in Italy, and after none of the crew members were able to be found, the military stated that no answer could be given to if any personnel were believed to have survived. All the remains of the crew were stated as irretrievable as it is believed that plane No. 9 crashed in the Adriatic Ocean, right off of the coast of Italy. All were announced Missing in Action and their remains were never found. Leon’s crew members consisted of Ralph Blakely Jr., Lawrence L. Goodman, Henri H. Julian Jr., Leonard E. Trapp, Robert A. Kolezar, Daniel H. Feeney, Walter C. Heyer, Milton C. Krueger, Lawrence W. McCubbin, and LeRoy C. Roe. It was stated that the entire crew of B-24J No. 9 departed from Grottaglie, Italy on a combat mission to Brenner R.R. Loop, Italy.
Commemmoration
After being pronounced missing in action on December 29, 1945, Leon and the rest of his crew were pronounced dead on December 30, 1945 and their remains unable to be retrieved. They crashed in the Adriatic Ocean just off of the coast of Italy on the way to a combat mission in Brenner R.R. Loop, Italy. Leon was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart, and was memorialized along with the rest of his crew on the Tablets of the Missing in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery.
In the short time that Leon’s parents did not know of his death in the Adriatic, they sent a telegram to his brother, Levon, telling him to come home immediately as Leon was found missing in action over Italy December 29.
In the short time that Leon’s parents did not know of his death in the Adriatic, they sent a telegram to his brother, Levon, telling him to come home immediately as Leon was found missing in action over Italy December 29.