WW2 Combat Flights of Robert W. Jensen, USAAF

A map showing the documented combat flights of Lt. Robert W. Jensen, January through March, 1945.

According to a WW2 Enlistment Record displayed on the National Archives and Records Administration website, Robert W. Jensen enlisted in the Air Corps on November 13, 1942 in Miami Beach, Florida. He had been born in in Hartford County, Connecticut in 1922, had completed two years of college, and was married.

After completing flight training he was assigned to the 500th Bomb Squadron, 345th Bomb Group at Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands.

On January 21, 1945, flying as copilot on his first mission, the B-25 experienced engine trouble and had to be ditched in the sea off Cadiz, Negros Island. After that, Lt. Jensen was off the flying schedule for about thirty days, then he flew six more missions as copilot before transitioning to first pilot on March 6. He flew three missions as first pilot until a devastating crash ended the lives of him and his crew near Hong Kong on March 15, 1945.

More information about the crash and crew can be found at boldventureb25.com, an excellent commemorative website.

Mission data for the map was obtained from load lists, mission reports, and casualty reports.