2Lt Ben Maurice Simon

Birth

15 Nov 1924

Center, Shelby County, Texas, USA

Death

14 Mar 1945 (aged 20)

Liebenscheid, Westerwaldkreis, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Burial

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial

Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium Add to Map

Plot

Plot B

Memorial ID

56360880 · View Source

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Memorial

Photos 5

Flowers 7

Second Lieutenant Benjamin Maurice Simon is buried in Plot B, Row 33, Grave 45 of the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium.



Ben Simon was born in 1924 to Mr. & Mrs. Myer B. Simon. His mother's name was Ona and his sister is Ann (Simon) Jones, wife of Joe Louis Jones. I would like to thank Ann for furnishing personal family documents to help tell Ben's story.



Ben graduated from Center High School with the class of 1941 that numbered 44 students.

From the time he finished high school until his enlistment in the US Army Air Forces on February 23rd, 1943 he completed one year of college at the University of Texas. After enlisting Ben completed his basic training at Sheppard Field, Texas and was selected for pilot training that would lead to an officer's commission through the Aviation Cadet program.



Three days before Christmas in 1943 Ben wrote his parents from Jackson, Tennessee where he was assigned to the 68th AAF Flying Training Detachment for pilot training. The letter read in part "Dear Mom & Dad, hope you've gotten my presents – wish I could be there for Christmas but maybe I'll be home someday. It's just another day here! I don't know for sure whether we'll fly or not. I got in 3 hours and 12 minutes solo. I really have a swell instructor. I don't think I've ever mentioned him before. He's really a swell guy. Boy can he fly that plane. Say I really would like one of those cherry spice cakes if you could get Mrs. Doggett to make one. I'll bet you have a pretty tree this year too. Wish I was there to help you fix it. Well there really isn't any news. Write soon and tell all hello for me. Tell Glendon (Glendon Jackson) I wish I could see him. Seems like ages since he was in high school with me. Gotta go. Love, Ben.



On May 23rd, 1944 he was awarded the silver wings of a pilot and appointed as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. This took place at the Army Air Force Pilot School at Spence Field, Georgia.



In December 1944 2nd Lt. Ben Simon, USAAF Fighter Pilot was assigned to the European Theater and sent a telegram informing his parents that he had arrived safely.



In mid-January, 1945 the family received a V-Mail from Ben that he wrote on January 5th. V-Mail was used during the Second World War as the primary and secure method to correspond with soldiers stationed aboard. It was printed on small letter sheets (7: by 9 1/8" that would go through mail censors and then photographed and transported as thumbnail-sized images in negative microfilm. Upon arrival at its destination the negatives would be enlarged to 60% of the original size and printed. This saved space and weight for the war effort.



Ben's V-Mail was three paragraphs long and told his folks that mail was catching up to him as he recently got 9 letters and a birthday card from Martha Ann along with a few Christmas cards. He was wondering if the allotment he took out to send money home came through. He asked that they tell everyone hello.



A letter from Ben to his family dated February 23, 1945 from Belgium read in part. "Dear Folks. Haven't heard from you in some time, guess our mail is tied up again. Really isn't much to write about. We've been flying quite a bit lately in support work as you've probably read in the papers. We're in the 9th Tactical so when you read about the fighter-bombers of the 9th that's probably us. I've written and heard from Jack Henry Liem (graduated from Center HS together). You can tell Miss Anna that he's OK. So what ever happened to those pictures you were gonna send me? The ones of you and mother and "Runt". Sure would like to have them and also the ones of my "womin". Has it gotten warm at home? Should be about that time. Sure would like to go riding now. Haven't been on a horse in ages. When I get home I'm gonna buy me another good horse and a few other things I have in mind. Tell all hello and give "Runt" my love. Love ya all, Ben. P.S. How about sending some of your old "Esquires".



Just 19 days after 2nd Lt. Ben Simon wrote his family he became missing in action. Below is the telegram the family received dated April 2, 1945. The family received a letter from the War Department postmarked July 6th, 1945 informing them their son was missing in action. The letter was dated May 22nd, 1945 and read in part. "Dear Mr. Simon. I am writing you with reference to your son, Second Lieutenant Ben M. Simon who was reported as missing in action over Germany since March 14th, 1945.



Information has been received indicating that Lieutenant Simon was the pilot of a P-47 (Thunderbolt) fighter plane which participated in a fighter patrol mission to Germany on March 14th, 1945. The report reveals that during this mission about 10"30 a.m., approximately twenty-five miles northeast of Siegen, Germany, you son's fighter collided in mid-air with another one of our planes and subsequently it was seem to fall to the earth. It is regretted that no other information has been received in this headquarters relative to the whereabouts of Lieutenant Simon. There were no other persons in the place with your son.



Please be assured that a continuing search by land, sea, and air is being made to discover the whereabouts of our missing personnel. Any additional information will be sent immediately to you. Very Sincerely, E. A. Bradunas, Major, Air Corps."