Leon
Jansen
We
at Sheffield School of Aeronautics are honored to be associated with
Mr. Leon Jansen. He is one of the leading authorities in the world of
Airline Operational Control. Leon is 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 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!!
Contact
us at:
499
NW 70th Ave Suite 110
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33317 - USA
Tel 800-843-8289, 954-581-6022
Fax 954-584-8980
email morris@sheffield.com
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