Camps
Held In: LUFT III AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND, FRANKFURT, MEININGEN,
OBERMANSFELD 9C HOSPITALS
How
Long Interned: 294 days
Liberated
/ repatriated:Repatriated
Date
Liberated: 01/17/45
Age
at Capture: 24
Medals
Received: PURPLE HEART MEDAL, AIR MEDAL W/3 CLUSTERS, POW
MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ETO & ASIA MEDAL W/1 STAR, PRESIDENTIAL
UNIT CITATION W/3 STARS
Military
Job: ENGINEER, TOP TURRET GUNNER
Company:
POPULAR CLUB AND VOGUE MAGAZINE
Occupation
after War: PHOTOGRAPHER
Bio:
Lee T. Jenks, born in Agawam, MA, November 16, 1920. Enlisted in the
reserve corps. On September 19, 1942 with the U.S.A.A.F. and went to
basic training in Atlantic City, NJ, on September 23, 1942. He later
went to Airplane Mechanics School in Lincoln, NE, and specialized in
B-17's in Longbeach, CA., he also went to Gunnery School at Wendover
Field, UT, Crew Formation in Moses Lake, WA, and the Crew Training for
B-17's in Geiger Field, Spokane, WA. After his training he was sent on
the troop ship "Queen Elizabeth" from New York City to
Glasglow, Scotland to the home base of the 8th Air Force, 306th Bomb
Group (H), 423rd Bomb Squad in Bedford/Thurleigh, England.
Their B-17, "The Wampus Cat" was hit over Brunswick, Germany
on March 29, 1944 during Lee's 23rd mission. He bailed out southwest of
Amsterdam, Holland but his leg was shattered by a 20-MM shell on the way
down. Upon landing Lee was met by young German teenager of the Peoples
Army or Hitler Youth. The teenage put a pistol to Lee's head and pulled
the trigger. There was only a click, luckily enough the gun had jammed,
but while the teenage tried to fix the gun, he proceeded to kick Lee
hard in the back and the injured leg until a group of Dutch women
between Lee and the teenager. The Dutch woman stayed with Lee until more
Germans had arrived with the rest of Lee's crewmembers. Lee was taken to
a German hospital were a German doctor repaired his injured leg, without
any anesthesia. He spent six months in Stalag Luft III hospital
(Wilhelmina Hospital) and then to three other hospitals until he was
exchanged for German POW's at Lake Constance in Switzerland.
Lee finally returned home on the hospital ship "The Gripsholm"
on January 17, 1945 and was discharged on December 7, 1945 as a
T/Sergeant.
Lee retired after 40 years as a Photographer and Studio Manager for
Popular Club. He is a member of the Florida State Chapter #1 and is
currently a State Jr. Vice Commander in Florida. He lives New Port
Richey, Florida with his wife Doris, a National Service Officer for the
American Ex-Prisoners of War.
