Sims, Jack Ahren, Col

Deceased
 
 Service Photo   Service Details
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Last Rank
Colonel
Last Primary AFSC/MOS
1021A-Pilot
Last AFSC Group
Aircrew
Primary Unit
1942-1943, AAF MOS 1082, 12th Air Force
Service Years
1940 - 1968
Officer srcset=
Colonel

 Last Photo   Personal Details 

17 kb


Home State
Michigan
Michigan
Year of Birth
1919
 
This Military Service Page was created/owned by SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr. to remember Sims, Jack Ahren, Col USAF(Ret).

If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
 
Contact Info
Home Town
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Last Address
Naples, Florida
Date of Passing
Jun 09, 2007
 
Location of Interment
Naples Memorial Gardens Cemetery - North Naples, Florida
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Veterans Field of Honor

 Official Badges 

Headquarters Air Force Air Force Retired


 Unofficial Badges 

Cold War Medal Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Gold Medal




 Additional Information
Last Known Activity:

He was the co-pilot in crew #14 on the Doolittle Raid.  After the raid he flew combat missions in India, North Africa, and Europe.  After the war he stayed in the USAAF and USAF until he retired Jul 31, 1968.  

His DFC (1st of 2) citation:
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Jack A. Sims (ASN: 0-421340), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Co-Pilot of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Lieutenant Sims with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.

Action Date: April 18, 1942

Service: Army Air Forces

Rank: First Lieutenant

Company: 1st Special Aviation Project

Division: Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force

Crew #14 (Plane #40-2297, target Nagoya): 89th Recon Sq. L-R: 

Lt. James H. Macia Jr., navigator/bombardier; 

Maj. John A. Hilger, pilot; 

SSgt. Jacob Eierman, flight engineer; 

Lt. Jack A. Sims, copilot; SSgt. Edwin V. Bain, radio op/gunner. (U.S. Air Force photo)

  

 

 

   
Other Comments:

Sources:
http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=351
http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/sims.htm
http://www.cieldegloire.com/batailles_tokyo_e14.php#2
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1849578/posts
http://www.anakstore.com/2011/01/coonel-jack-a-sims/
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19806126
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30396

His 2nd DFC citation reads:
For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a B-26 type aircraft. During his many combat missions, Major Sims has distinguished himself through his outstanding professional skill and superior leadership. On 21 August 1943, as flight commander, he led his group in an attack on the marshalling yards at Villa Literno, Italy. As the unescorted bombers began their run over the target, they were repeatedly attacked by a force of seventy-five enemy fighters, many of which concentrated their fire on Major Sims' aircraft in an attempt to throw the formation off course. When the attacks continued in intensity over the target, Major Sims expertly directed his group into the tightest possible formation, from which the bombers completed a highly successful run. So accurate was his leadership that the yards were rendered unserviceable, and heavy damage was done to rolling stock and tracks throughout the entire area. Turning from the target in the face of further fighter attacks, he coolly aligned his group into a formation of squadrons in trail. During an aerial battle lasting twenty minutes, his gunners shot down twenty-one enemy planes and were credited with probably destroying or damaging eleven more. Major Sims' proficiency and faithfulness in discharging his responsibilities have reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

   

 1942-1943, B-26 Marauder
From Year
1942
To Year
1943
   
Personal Memories
Not Specified
   
Image
 B-26 Marauder Details
 


Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Martin B-26 Marauder
Length 58.23 ft | 17.75 m
Width 64.99 ft | 19.81 m
Height 19.82 ft | 6.04 m
Engine(s) 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-41 Double-Wasp air-cooled radial-piston engines generating 2,000hp each.
Empty Weight 22,381 lbs | 10,152 kg
MTOW 34,200 lbs | 15,513 kg
Max Speed 282 mph | 454 km/h | 245 kts
Max Range 675 miles | 1,086 km
Ceiling 23,507 ft | 7,165 m | 4.5 miles
Climb Rate 1,250 ft/min (381 m/min)
Hardpoints 1
Armament 1 x 7.7mm machine gun OR 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in nose.
1 x 7.7mm machine gun in ventral position OR 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in side fuselage position.
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in dorsal turret
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail position

Internal Bombload Capacity of up to 5,200lbs (2,359kg).
Accommodations 7
Operators France (Free French Air Force), South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

   
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Last Updated: Jun 21, 2012
   
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No Available Photos

  164 Also There at This Aircraft:
  • Contreras, William, MSgt, (1941-1945)
  • Fleck, Wilbur
  • Fleisher, Martin, O., 1st Lt, (1942-1945)
  • Gardner, Bronson
  • Gray, Harry, L., TSgt, (1942-1945)
  • Lodawer, Isidore, 1st Lt, (1936-1946)
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