Sidney Paul Brooks (1918 - 1943)

Born 24 Nov 1918 in Atlanta, DeKalb, Georgia, United States

Died 19 Sep 1943 at age 24 in Italy

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Biography

Sidney Brooks was Killed in Action during World War II.

Sidney Brooks is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 99th Fighter Squadron 1942-1943
Tuskegee Airman

Sidney Brooks was awarded the Purple Heart.

Sidney Brooks was born in 1918, the son of Jesse Brooks and Pauline Denson. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but his parents moved to Cleveland, Ohio when he was a youngster. He grew up in the Cleveland area, attended Central High School, and was a junior at The Ohio State University when he enlisted in the army in 1941. He enrolled in the Tuskegee Air Pilot program, receiving his commission in April of 1942.

In May of 1942, he married Lucille Miller in Cleveland. A year later, he was sent overseas as part of the 99th fighter squadron stationed in North Africa. ^[1] and when he left to go overseas, he told his wife" I'm going away to fight as a gallant American. I might not come back."

In June of 1943, he was one of 6 Tuskegee airmen who came under attack by German fighters who were escorting bombers trying to raid the island of Pantelleria. Along with a fellow Tuskegee airman from Cleveland, Erwin Bernard Lawrence Jr (1919-1944), the group was able to damage 2 of the German planes, and send the rest into retreat. It was considered to be an admirable victory for the 99th squadron.

On Sept 17, 1943, the 99th Fighter Squadron moved to Barcellona, Sicily. On that same day, 1st Lieutenant Sidney P. Brooks departed on a mission when he realized that his engine was experiencing difficulty. He attempted to crash land the plane, but he was forced to jump out through flames, badly burning his hands. He was taken to a British hospital for treatment, but he died from secondary shock and smoke inhalation the next day^[2]. He was the 4th pilot from the 99th Squadron to be lost in combat. ^[3] His body was buried in Europe in a temporary cemetery.

In July of 1944, a tree was planted in his memory in the Abraham Lincoln Gardens at East Boulevard and Wade Park Ave N.E. in Cleveland.^[4] In February of 1949, his family was notified of the return of Sidney's remains for burial in the United States.^[5] He is buried at US Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Plain Dealer, 25 Jun 1943, pg 7.
2. ↑ honorstates.org: Sidney P. Brooks
3. ↑ Tuskegee Airmen Chronology: Daniel L. Haulman, organizational History Branch, Air force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-64234 7 May 2015
4. ↑ Plain Dealer, 3 Jul 1944, pg. 4.
5. ↑ Plain Dealer, 6 Feb 1949, pg4
6. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15277091/sidney-paul-brooks

• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ6W-L4B : 1 February 2021), Sidney Paul Brooks in entry for Jesse Brooks, 1920.