Description

Jensen was born on December 20, 1900 on a farm, built an engine when he was about 10. He moved to Kansas City, Nebraska and learned about mechanics, joined the National Guard in 1916 or 1917. However, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1918, becoming an airplane mechanic. He was placed on the United States Ship Roper and later the United States Ship Aroostook. He applied for discharge in 1921 and started working on airplanes for "other people," eventually doing his own flying. Jensen learned to fly at Rockwell Field, an Army air base located in Coronado, California. He won second prize in the Dole Derby in 1927, which was an air race to cross the Pacific Ocean from California to the Territory of Hawaii. He barnstormed in the Imperial Valley. He once barnstormed from San Diego to the East Coast in a Curtiss JN-4 Jenny. In this interview, Jensen recalls his duties as a naval aviator at North Island. He also discusses barnstorming and other early flying experiences, Captain William "Billy" Mitchell, and his experiences designing and building airplanes for the United States Navy. The interview was conducted for the San Diego Living History Project.