Lawrence Jenkins
Encyclopedia
Lawrence L. "Larry" Jenkins (January 29, 1924- ) is a former B-17 co-pilot during World War II who spent over ten months as a prisoner of war. His exploits were chronicled, along with those of his friend and fellow POW Jack Curtis
, in the 2007 book, Eagles' Wings, An Uncommon Story of World War II, by Andrew Layton.
After an initial assignment as a sheet-metal smith, Jenkins was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program, and eventually learned to fly the B-17 “Flying Fortress”, one of the United State’s primary bombers of that era. He was assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron, stationed at Foggia Italy, and would complete 14 combat missions before being shot down over Vienna, Austria on July 16, 1944.. He was severely wounded by shrapnel which broke both legs and was then strafed by a 20mm cannon during his parachute descent. Jenkins was taken prisoner and would spend the next 10 months in German captivity – six of which he spent in Stalag 17, one of the most notorious Nazi prison compounds. Here, the 20-year-old combat veteran became affectionately known by his prison mates as “Junior”. Jenkins credits his youthful determination and the care of an Austrian nun, Sister Maria, with saving his life.
After being liberated by Russian forces, Larry was ultimately sent to Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he spent the next two years recovering from his wounds.
After the war, he attended Jackson Community College and Albion College before embarking on a 30-year career as electronics technician for RCA. He and his wife Peg raised thee children, Larry, Jr., Roger and Connie.
Today, Mr. Jenkins lives in Michigan, and remains active as a volunteer at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Purple Heart, the POW Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, The American Campaign Medal, the ETO Campaign Medal (with one Battle Star), the WWII Victory Medal, and the British POW Medal.
Jack Curtis
Jack Curtis Jr. was born to Vaudevilee Dancer Mabel Ford and agent Jack Curtis Sr. in New York on June 16, 1926. He started voice acting as a teenager in the 1940s, performing in a myriad of radio shows, including "Coast to Coast on a Bus", where he first met Peter Fernandez. In 1962, he made the...
, in the 2007 book, Eagles' Wings, An Uncommon Story of World War II, by Andrew Layton.
Biography
Born on January 29, 1924, Larry Jenkins has enjoyed a love of aviation for his entire life. As a boy, he built model airplanes and dreamed of flying the real thing someday. When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps, hoping to realize this goal.After an initial assignment as a sheet-metal smith, Jenkins was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program, and eventually learned to fly the B-17 “Flying Fortress”, one of the United State’s primary bombers of that era. He was assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron, stationed at Foggia Italy, and would complete 14 combat missions before being shot down over Vienna, Austria on July 16, 1944.. He was severely wounded by shrapnel which broke both legs and was then strafed by a 20mm cannon during his parachute descent. Jenkins was taken prisoner and would spend the next 10 months in German captivity – six of which he spent in Stalag 17, one of the most notorious Nazi prison compounds. Here, the 20-year-old combat veteran became affectionately known by his prison mates as “Junior”. Jenkins credits his youthful determination and the care of an Austrian nun, Sister Maria, with saving his life.
After being liberated by Russian forces, Larry was ultimately sent to Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he spent the next two years recovering from his wounds.
After the war, he attended Jackson Community College and Albion College before embarking on a 30-year career as electronics technician for RCA. He and his wife Peg raised thee children, Larry, Jr., Roger and Connie.
Today, Mr. Jenkins lives in Michigan, and remains active as a volunteer at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Purple Heart, the POW Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, The American Campaign Medal, the ETO Campaign Medal (with one Battle Star), the WWII Victory Medal, and the British POW Medal.