Jay Jensen

Jay Jensen was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program as a Second Lieutenant on April 18, 1956, and went on active duty on May 12, 1956. He completed Undergraduate Navigator Training at Harlingen AFB, Texas, in May 1958, and then completed Electronic Warfare Officer School at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, in March 1959. His first assignment was as an RB-66C Destroyer Electronic Warfare Officer with the 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Yakota AB, Japan, where he served from March 1959 to April 1960. Jensen then transferred to the 4677th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah, where he flew aboard B-57 Canberra's from April 1960 to November 1963. He was then assigned to the 31st Air Division at Oklahoma City AFS, Oklahoma, from November 1963 to April 1966, before going through F-105 Wild Weasel Training at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Jensen began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia in January 1967 with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, and he was forced to eject over North Vietnam while flying his 13th combat mission on February 18, 1967.