stukapilot jakob jenster

[Doug Stankey]

Here is what we have about this fellow:

JENSTER, Jakob.
(DOB: 14.03.17 in Kleve/Rheinland).
01.10.35 entered the Kriegsmarine and received flight training.
01.01.36 trf to the Luftwaffe.
1935-39 assigned to I.(Stuka)/Trägergruppe 186 from its inception in 09.39.
09.39 Uffz. with Stukaschule 1 (to 04.40).
04.40 trf to 7./St.G. 1 (to 20.03.41).
03.41 trf to Stukaschule Graz as an instructor (to 06.42).
06.42 trf to 7./St.G. 1.
05.06.42 Ofw., awarded the Ehrenpokal.
10.11.42 Ofw., awarded DKG, 7./St.G. 1.
12.42 trf to Versuchskdo. für Panzerbekämpfung and then to 10.(Pz.)/SG 2.
1943-44 with 6./St.G. 2.
29.02.44 Ofw., awarded Ritterkreuz, 6./St.G. 2.
1944 Lt., flight instructor at the Stuka school in Graz.
10.07.44 trf to 10.(Pz)/SG 2 (to 05.45).
[†1945 in a plane crash at the beginning of the year, according to some sources].
16.06.45 handed over by the Americans to the Russians.
09.49 released.
Credited with nearly 1,000 combat missions and the destruction of more than 100 tanks.


We hope that this helps.


HLdZ
DGS

[Ian Jewison]

Interesting reading. I have a group to Jakob Jenster's wingman whilst with 7/StG 1, his name was Siegfried Plappert DKiG. They both transferred to Versuchskdo. für Panzerbekämpfung together but due to illness and a previous accident Plappert was hospitalised and after recovery became an instructor again with SG 151.
Incidentally they were both at Stukaschule 1 together also, however Herr Plappert did not transfer to 7/StG 1 until 1941 after the invasion of Russia and the release of certian instructors.
I have some letters from Herr Jenster regarding their shared experiences....even celebrating their 70th birthdays together!

Regards,
Ian