Last Known Activity:
Jack P. Jensen was born in 1918, in Washington. His parents were Otto J. and Violet Jensen. The US Census 1920 lists the family in West Cedar Lake; the US Census 1930 has them in Arlington; while the US Census 1940 shows them in Bellingham, Washington.
No enlistment data has been located for Jensen, but given the fact he was an officer when assigned to crew training in 1943, a likely date of entry would be 1942. He was given training as a pilot, then commissioned and awarded wings. He was assigned to crew training as a co-pilot on a training crew.
The crew deployed to England in November, 1943. Jensen and the crew flew at least 15 missions. On February 4, 1944, the crew was scheduled to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany.
In the target area, the formation was attacked by both enemy fighters and flak batteries. The aircraft was hit by flak, and at least one engine began smoking. The pilot pulled it from the formation and started a return trip to England. Enemy aircraft followed and attempted to down it, but couldn't. More flak was encountered at the Dutch coast, and the plane vanished, presumably crashing in the North Sea.
Several bodies washed ashore in the next few days. Jensen was never recovered, and today is remembered on the Walls of the Missing in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Holland.
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US Census 1920
US Census 1930
US Census 1940
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Comments/Citation:
Lt Jack P. Jensen was performing the duty of co-pilot on B-17G # 42-37975, unnamed, assigned to the 418th Bomb Squadron. (The crew's regular aircraft, B-17G # 42-3805, named "Bastard's Bungalow," was in maintenance for engine change.)
Missing Air Crew Report 2343 contains details of this loss. Crew rosters show the crew was:
1 Lt William E. Green p
2 Lt Jack P. Jensen c-p
2 Lt John J. Joyce nav
2 Lt John S. Hamilton bomb
SSgt Roman B. Beran eng/tt gun
SSgt Robert W. Valentik r/o
SSgt Richard K. Anderegg btg
SSgt Sanford Tisdale wg
SSgt Harry J. Waskewicz wg
SSgt Leroy R. Leist tail gun
Ranks and grades as of mission date.
SSgt Valentik replaced SSgt Tom Sasser while in training.
In the crew photo - training, Jensen is in the front row, 2nd from left.
In the crew photo - combat, Jensen is in the back row, at left.
Service photo source:
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