Jensen, Hans Lundby

Date of birth:: October 5th, 1924 (Blackfoot/Idaho, USA)
Date of death:: November 27th, 1944 (Ponam, Papua New Guinea)
Nationality:: American

Biography

Ensign Lundby was inducted into the Utah Aviation Hall of Fame.

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Navy Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Ensign
Unit:: Group Composite Squadron (VC-20), USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76), U.S. Navy
Awarded on:: March 26th, 1945

for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Composite Squadron TWENTY (VC-20), attached to the U.S.S. KADASHAN BAY (CVE-76), in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar on 25 October 1944. Flying anti-submarine patrol, Ensign Jensen discovered and reported a powerful force of Japanese battleships, cruisers and destroyers approaching our escort carriers undetected through the San Bernardino Strait. Watching helplessly as the enemy closed in on our unprotected units, he unhesitatingly risked his life to strike fiercely in defense of the trapped carriers when he observed the enemy's shellfire about to envelop our nearest vessel and, fearlessly plunging through the merciless concentration of anti-aircraft fire, executed a daring and effective depth-bomb attack on the leading Japanese heavy cruiser. Stout-hearted and indomitable, Ensign Jensen fought a gallant battle in the face of overwhelming odds and his superb airmanship, relentlessly aggressive tactics and great personal valor throughout the critical emergency upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 02507 (posthumously awarded)