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.
