Leon
Jansen
We
at Sheffield School of Aeronautics were honored to be associated
with Mr. Leon Jansen. He was one of the leading authorities
in the world of Airline Operational Control. Leon was a mentor
and school friend. His philosophy of hard work and objectives
of educational quality and "anti-minimalism" have always had
a home at Sheffield. We will always respect and admire his continuous
efforts to strive for improvements in the aviation industry.
BIOGRAPHY
Leon
E. Jansen, the eldest of three children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Nels L. Jansen, that grew to adulthood was born April 21st,
1919 in Wichita, Kansas. His father was employed as a locomotive
Fireman/Engineer by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and most
of Leon's early life was spent in Wichita and Yates Center where
his father was based.
Following
the Crash of the Stock Market and the ensuing Great Depression
Leon's parents were faced with cutbacks and layoffs from the
railroad and ultimately returned to the sole source of livelihood
which was farming.
Most
of Leon's elementary schooling was in local country schools
in the area in which his parents resided in south central Kansas.
He attended and graduated from Attica Senior High School at
Attica, Harper County, Kansas.
Shortly
after his graduation from High School Leon's parents moved to
the State Of Wyoming. Leon's fortunes seemingly failed even
though he spent some time in the Civilian Conservation Corps
before returning to Kansas and Oklahoma in search of better
opportunities. This never occurred and he eventually extended
his search for greater opportunities to the State Of Washington.
Jobs were easier to find in the State Of Washington and the
pay was considerably better, however, opportunities for advancement
in manual labor and farming type employment is very limited,
hence he continued his search for better opportunities to make
a livelihood.
Experiencing
some of adulthood's trails and tribulations he learned a great
deal more about what life is all about during the two years
he spent in Washington. With nearly four years in the College
of Hard Knocks at the University of Experience and the growing
turmoil of war throughout much of the world it seemed to him
that much greater opportunities existed in the State Of California
where a great deal of activity was taking place in the manufacture
of wartime equipment, specifically in Leon's mind the aviation
industry. In the spring of 1941 Leon arrived in Los Angles where
he had previously enrolled in the Anderson Aviation School of
Engineering with expectations of subsequently obtaining a job
in the aviation manufacturing industry.
Previously
while living in Wyoming Leon was required to register for military
service in accordance with the Selective Service law. Not long
after he began his training at Anderson Aviation Engineering
School it became evident that the number of men being drafted
was steadily increasing and in all probability he would soon
be called into the military service. With the passing of time
this probability was rapidly reaching the point of action. So
being Leon and three of his classmates at the school all joined
the army and was initially assigned to a coast artillery unit.
Leon grasped an opportunity to accept a short discharge for
the convenience of the government and reenlisted for a four
year term in order to get reassigned to an Army Air Corps unit.
This transition occurred and he soon found himself in the Aircraft
Armament School at Lowry Field, Denver, Colorado. Upon graduation
from the Armament School he was ordered to remain there as an
instructor. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor he was told
not to request a transfer as all instructors were frozen in
their current assignment for the duration of the war. Initially
this sounded like a great break, however, after a period of
time a voice from within kept urging him to press forward.
Leon
is on the right
A
desire born when as a child he became enthralled at seeing huge
flying machines fly over his grandfather's farm. This desire
grew and in 1939 a private pilots certificate was obtained.
While instructing in the Aircraft Armament School at Lowry Field
Leon became friends with an Air Corps pilot based at Lowry and
expressed his desire to fly for the Army Air Corps. Leon and
his new found friend knew the monstrous obstacles that they
must overcome in order to get him into the Army Air Corps Aviation
Cadet Program. Their efforts succeeded and Leon was accepted
into the Aviation Cadet Class of 43-H. Classified for pilot
training he successfully completed the pilot training course
and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. with a pilot rating in the Army
Air Corps, August 30, 1943.
Following
graduation he was assigned to a Operational Training Unit where
he checked out in the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, the newest
and heaviest front-line single engine fighter plane in the Air
Corps inventory. Completing this operational training he was
ordered overseas for combat duty. The first of Feb. 1944 he
was assigned to the 57th Fighter Group, 66th Fighter Squadron
where he flew a total of 155 combat sorties, a total of 353
hours 55 minutes of combat time in the P-47 before being returned
to civilian life in 1945.
Forty-five
days after his release from military service he began a forty
year career with Eastern Airlines. This included eight years
as a station operations agent and in 1953 he was promoted into
the flight dispatch department where he remained until his retirement
in April 1984 and later recalled under contract to flight operations
where he monitored and built computer flight plans for nineteen
different airlines buying the computer flight plan services
of Eastern Airlines. At the termination of his services with
Eastern he did Airline Flight Operations consulting work for
a period of time and for the past ten years has been assigned
to the Sheffield School of Aeronautics located in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida as an FAA Designated Aircraft Dispatcher Examiner.
Associate
Member of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators.
Member Alabama Air National Guard for seven years flying P-51's
from 1945-1953.
Eastern
Airlines Dispatcher 7/5/53-5/30/76 Dispatcher
Eastern
Airlines Chief Dispatcher 6/l/76-4/30/84 Rt, Chief Dispatcher
Eastern
Airlines Special Assignment 1987 (Worked on Computer Flight
Planning System when Federal Airways changed.)
Graduated USA Air Corps flight training, Aug. 1943.
Flew
two tours of combat W.W.II fighter type a/c single engine.
Recalled to active duty.
Korean
conflict, flew single engine fighter type recips and jets.
Eastern
initial/recurrent training Martin 404, Convair 440, DC-9,
B-727, B-720, DC-8, L-188, L-1011, Airbus 300, & B-747.
Nine
years as National Safety Director of Air Safety & Standards Air
Line Dispatchers Association.
Member
Int 111 Federation Air Line Dispatchers, Airline Operational Control
Society.
Leon
enters Hall of Fame!!
