Leon
was born in Wichita, Kansas. He attended and graduated from the
local schools of the various communities where the family resided
and said that he was named the most likely student not to succeed.
The
family moved to Wyoming where he spent a period of time in the civilian
Conservation Corps. In 1941 enlisted in the US Army and was assigned
to a Coast Artillery Unit. He took and passed an aptitude test for
assignment to the Army Air Corps.
In
1942, Leon was accepted as an Aviation Cadet. He was classified
as a Pilot, completed preflight and primary training, then basic
and single engine advanced, graduating in August 1942. Checked out
in the new P-47 thunderbolt fighter and completed operational combat
training, during this training he experienced and survived an emergency
parachute jump in an out of control inverted spin. On Christmas
Eve 1943 he sailed overseas to North Africa. In January 1944 he
flew his first combat mission out of Italy. He flew 110 combat missions
dive-bombing and low level strafing attacks to destroy enemy transport.
In October 1944 received R & R leave and was promoted to Captain.
Returning to his Unit in early 1945 as Squadron Operations Officers,
flying an additional 45 combat missions for a total of 155 and 343
hours, 55 minutes of combat time. In July 1945 was placed on Inactive
Duty and was returned to the US.
Leon joined Eastern only 45 days later as an Operations Agent at
Birmingham August 18, 1945 and remained there in a supervisory position
until November 1950 when he was recalled to duty for service upon
the start of the war in Korea. Released from duty in June 1953 and
returned to Eastern holding no less than 18 US decorations and the
French Croix De Guerre.
Resuming
his Eastern career he was promoted to Assistant Dispatcher in Atlanta
in the fall of 1954, promoted to Dispatcher at La Guardia and then
returned to Atlanta. Leon was assigned to develop and write the
operational plan for our unique "Walk On" service between New Orleans
and Houston. He served as National Director of Air Safety and Standards.
He represented ALDA on the NTSB Operations Committee Investigation
in the loss of Eastern Aircraft during fatal accidents in New Orleans
and New York. He served his last 12 years as Chief Dispatcher, retiring
in 1984. Later being recalled that same year under contract to Flight
Operations building new computer flight plans and amending established
plans required in the new jet airways system in the Eastern half
of the US and also assigned to monitor computer flight plan files
for the 19 different airlines buying Eastern's computer flight plan
system.
Leon's
obvious devotion, loyalty, competence to Eastern, its passengers,
personnel to flight safety and industry and particularly his country
and community have been well documented. Our recognition of his
efforts through his election to our Hat in the Ring/Hall of Fame
is more than well deserved in the opinion of those who knew and
worked with him over his more than 40 years of service to Eastern
and his Country.
