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 at least two tours and multiple missions, 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.
Before Leon's death, he was first put into the 719th Bomber Squadron, which later was renamed and became the 449th Heavy Bomber Group. The 719th Bomber Squadron was also known as the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, which is an active central command unit of the United States Air Force. After first being activated in Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, the 719th Bomber Squadron was sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in November of 1943, where they prepared for the bombing campaign against Germany. In early January of 1944 the squadron assembled at their combat stations in Grottaglie Airfield in Italy, in which they attacked oil refineries, aircraft faculties, industrial facilities, and other important structures all throughout Germany, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Albania, Romania, and Greece. They also participated in the Operation of Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in August of 1944, by attacking gun emplacements. After Leon's death, they also participated in Operation Grapeshot and the Fifteenth Army Group Offensive against northern Italy.
Leon served at least two tours and multiple missions, 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.
Before Leon's death, he was first put into the 719th Bomber Squadron, which later was renamed and became the 449th Heavy Bomber Group. The 719th Bomber Squadron was also known as the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, which is an active central command unit of the United States Air Force. After first being activated in Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, the 719th Bomber Squadron was sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in November of 1943, where they prepared for the bombing campaign against Germany. In early January of 1944 the squadron assembled at their combat stations in Grottaglie Airfield in Italy, in which they attacked oil refineries, aircraft faculties, industrial facilities, and other important structures all throughout Germany, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Albania, Romania, and Greece. They also participated in the Operation of Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in August of 1944, by attacking gun emplacements. After Leon's death, they also participated in Operation Grapeshot and the Fifteenth Army Group Offensive against northern Italy.