Lawrence E Jensen

Military
media-22178.jpeg UPL 22178 Memorial at site for crashed B-17, 42-31192 (YB-R), 351st BG. Farabol, Sweden. Ivar Kandell

photo by Ivar Kandell, Sweden

Object Number - UPL 22178 - Memorial at site for crashed B-17, 42-31192 (YB-R), 351st BG. Farabol, Sweden.

Larry Jensen served as radio operator with 8th AF, 351st BG at Polebrook, England.



On his 2nd mission, Oct 7th 1944, the target was synthetic oil factories in Politz, Germany. This very mission, they had an experienced replacement pilot, Einer Petersen on his 25th mission. Their aircraft B-17G #42-31192 (YB-R), first lost a supercharger for engine number 2, before reaching target.



Over Politz aircraft was hit by flak and lost engine 3 and 4, and a lot of fuel. Crew decided to try to reach Sweden and headed out over the Baltic Sea with only one engine working. Due to clouds they couldn't see if they were over land or sea.



When they ran out of fuel they tried for a emergency landing. Under the clouds they realized the area had a lot of woods and few fields. When approaching a field the pilot spotted potato pickers in the intended landing area. He tried to gain altitude again, but the plane stalled and crashed in the woods nearby.



The crew were in emergency positions in the radio room and were thrown out when the plane crashed and split in half against a big rock, catching fire. The pilot Petersen and co-pilot Duane Wilson was caught in the flames still in the cockpit. Three other crew members were also killed instantly or died in the ambulance.



Four survived the very crash: Jensen and the tail gunner Lloyd Best, together with navigator Benjamin Christensen and bombardier William Rooney. They were taken to hospital in Karlshamn, Sweden where Christensen and Rooney died a few days later.



Jensen and Best were interned in Sweden for three months, first in Gränna and later in Mullsjö. Then they were transferred back to England via Stockholm to Scotland. Larry Jensen has described the events himself in a interview for the project "the Voices of World War II". The crash site in Farabol is marked with a memorial stone. MACR 9566.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17053821
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39720274
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39692501
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-719888
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19162232
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron 509th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (DS-U, serial number 42-97381) of the 511th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group with a B-26 Marauder. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'From Robert C. Allen (387th BG (M)) via Peter Crouchman.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Gatesville, South Carolina, USA

Other

Force Landing

Farabolsvägen 699-26, 290 60 Kyrkhult, Sverige 7 October 1944 Force landing in Farabol, Sweden after aircraft being hit by flak over Politz, Germany. 7 KIA, survivors.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information from duplicate record. Sources:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 9566
351st BG Association and himself.

Date
ContributorIvar Kandell
Changes
Sources

Added biography and details. Sources: Lawrence Jensen himself; 351st BG Association; eye witness; other sources.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 9366 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Lawrence E Jensen: Gallery (2 items)