Sergeant Oscar KL Jensen
Oscar Jensen was born on 3rd February 1916 and grew up in Manitoba, Canada. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air force and trained as a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner in February 1941. He transferred to Great Britain in April where he commenced training on Vickers Wellingtons.
At mid-day on 9th August 1942 he took off aboard Wellington L7845 ZT-Z on a cross country flight from Number 20 OTU at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. An hour after take-off the aircraft crashed on Muckle Cairn, Angus; killing Oscar and two of his Canadian colleagues. The crash was attributed to the port engine cowling detaching and fouling the propeller.
Like so many Canadians, Oscar had travelled thousands of miles to serve with Bomber Command. He was killed whilst training, a fate shared by so many young men; their number not included in the 55,573 who are recorded as being lost during operational flying.
Below is a transcript of a letter in a newspaper that was loaned to the archive some time ago. It’s written by a total stranger to Oscar’s father, Einar Jensen, in Carman, Manitoba.
Dear Sir,
I hope you will pardon me taking the liberty of writing to you. I have put off doing so for two weeks but still feel I must write, so here I am.
Three young Canadian officers were laid to rest in a cemetery not far from where I live. The name of one was Sergeant O K L Jensen, your son, I expect. Need I say our heartfelt sympathy goes out to you and yours in your loss. I expect all the information you got was “killed on active service.” I am not allowed to add anything to that meantime.
I thought you might like to know where your boy’s last resting place is. The cemetery is a little country one on high ground about three miles from here. The funeral was on the 14th August. A friend and I went to see the graves a day or two later and found them covered with wreaths and bunches of flowers. The cemetery keeper told us the coffins were covered with flags. The bugle sounded the Last Post and there was a firing party present. They each have their own resting place, not all in one grave. I wished I could have taken a snapshot to send to you, but at present we can’t get film for the camera. If we are spared till the war is won I will try to send a little snapshot of the place. Who knows but someday you may come over and see it yourselves. On the Sunday our minister spoke about the gallant lads who had given their lives and he prayed for the homes and loving hearts out in Canada that would be mourning the loss of their dear ones.
A lot more Canadian boys have given their lives lately and there will be many more sore hearts.
Somehow I felt a personal interest in the three lying not so far away. I’m just a plain working woman and can’t write a grand letter, but if it helps you parents just a little bit to hear about your boys, I will feel glad I wrote.
With Deepest sympathy, yours sincerely,
(Miss) M. J. Robertson
More on Oscar and his crew can be found here