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Personal info

Full name
JENSON, Rudolph Lawrence "Rudy"
Date of birth
11 October 1917
Age
26
Place of birth
Hatton, Traill County, North Dakota
Hometown
Hennepin County, Minnesota

Military service

Service number
O-682869
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
369th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
22 February 1944
Place of death
Kirchen, eight miles southwest of Siegen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
O 20 17

Immediate family

Members
Edward M. Jenson (father)
Marie R. Jenson (mother)
Garvin S. Jenson (brother)
Myrtle G. Jenson (sister)
Roy Jenson (brother)
Gladys O. Jenson (sister)
Harried L. Jenson (sister)
Rita T. Jenson (sister)
Margaret I. Jenson (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31695
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bernburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Junkers-Zweigwerke aviation industry
MACR: 2652

More information

2nd Lt Rudolph L. Jenson graduated from the Walsh County School and attended Park River High School before entering the North Dakota State University with the, Class of 1940-41 before he enlisted at Camp Blanding, Florida on 9 April 1942. He graduated at the AAF Advanced Flying School in Altus, Oklahoma in June 1943 and was sent overseas in October 1943.

Statement from S/Sgt Alexander F. Markowski:
"On our way back to England we were intercepted by enemy fighters about 1½ hours on return. We were hit and disabled. Pilot gave orders to prepare to bail out. Then the ship, after leaving the formation, got out of control and as I was coming down in my chute I noticed part of the wing tip in front of me. I did not see the ship crash but I did notice a large pillar of black smoke in a wood which I presumed was the ship burning."

Nine crew members were killed and were initially buried at the cemetery of Kirchen on 26 February 1944. One crew members survived and was taken prisoner.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - WWII Enlistment Record / Headstone and Interment Record / Church Record / 1920 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, http://www.americanairmuseum.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, http://www.americanairmuseum.com