James Henry Leeds

James Henry Leeds

James Henry Leeds, of Issaquah, Wash., passed away Sept. 19, 2010.

Jim was born Dec. 4, 1919, in Havre, Mont., the son of Harvey and Hester Leeds. The fourth of eight brothers, he graduated from Havre High School and attended Northern Montana College for two years.

He was awarded a private pilot license in June 1940. He then enlisted in the Navy and after graduating from naval aviation training in Pensacola was assigned to Corpus Christi Naval Air Station as a flight instructor, specializing in primary (Stearman) airplanes.

He later advanced to "flying boats," PBYs and PBMs....