B: 1915
John Gordon Jensen (known as Jack) was the middle son of the five children of John K Jensen and Maria Ruby Gordon. His father was a long standing senior public servant of note and Jack was following in his footsteps. He graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from University of Melbourne in December, 1941.
Held in high esteem by his employers, tributes to Jack appeared in a number of newspapers and reports of the crash.
The Minister for Munitions, Mr. Makin, last night paid a great tribute to Mr. John Gordon Jensen, production manager of the Commonwealth Government ammunition factory at Mildura, who was one of the killed in yesterday’s plane disaster. He said-: “The department has suffered the loss of a zealous and highly competent officer. By devotion to duty and concentration on the theory and practice of engineering, he had qualified at an early age for appointment to a responsible managerial post within the Government munitions organisation. His work had marked him out as a young man destined for promotion to the highest rank in the service”.
The Bulletin – briefly recorded his career and passing:
John and Dorothy Brown were married on 15 April 1944.
JENSEN-BROWNAt. St Aloysius’ Church, Caulfield, on Saturday the marriage was celebrated with Nuptial Mass of Dorothy Brown, WAAAF, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs A. J. Brown, Balaclava rd, Caulfield, and John Gordon, elder son of Mr and Mrs J. K. Jensen, Illawarra rd, Hawthorn. Rev J. O’Brien officiated, and the bride, who wore a gown of white moss crepe and tulle veil, was attended by Miss Alleen Brown. Mr Stewart Wright was best man.
Although some media reports at the time indicated he had no children, Dorothy was just pregnant at the time of the crash and their only daughter was born later in 1945.
JENSEN (nee Brown). — On September29, at St. George’s, to Dorothy, wife of thelate John —a daughter.
John was interred at Box Hill Cemetery where Dorothy was laid to rest beside him in December 2014. After Dorothy’s death at 95 years old, a moving tribute to her life was written by her brother-in-law, Kevin Peoples. This tribute can be found here.
JENSEN.-On January 31 (result of plane accident). John Gordon Jensen. 71 Illawarra road. Hawthorn, dearly beloved husband of Dorothy, loved son of Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Jensen, loved brother of Margaret (Mrs. Murray), Kathleen (Mrs. Draper). Frank, and Eileen, aged 29 years. -Requiescat in pace.
Family Notices (1945, February 1). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1098079
JENSEN–Mrs. J. G. JENSEN, Mr. and Mrs. J. K. JENSEN and Relatives gratefully ACKNOWLEDGE the many expressions of sympathy received during their recent bereavement. Particularly they wish to mention the devoted help given by Messrs H. P. Breen, R. H Doyle, J. J. Sheils, and J. T. Loorham, of the Ministry of Munitions, Melbourne, and Mr. J. W J, Byrne, of the Ministry of Munitions, Sydney. They desire also to acknowledge the assistance given by the Hon. Norman Makin, M.P., Minister for Munitions; the police of New South Wales and Victoria, and the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Grateful thanks are due to many others, particularly the Jesuit Fathers at Hawthorn and Mr. J. E. Turner, of Illawarra road, Hawthorn.
Family Notices (1945, February 10). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), p. 14. Retrieved January 28, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1104214
The Stinson Memorial 