Jenner Joseph De Santis was born on December 12, 1922, in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey. He resided in Passaic County, New Jersey prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 15, 1942, in Newark, New Jersey. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Single, without dependents.

Jenner served in the 850th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator on the B-17G #43-38009 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 13, 1944, in the crash of his plane in Germany.

B-17G #43-38009 took off, with a crew of 9, from Eye, England, on a bombing mission over Ludwigshafen, Germany. Near the target, they were hit by anti-aircraft fire, which blew their left-wing off and crashed near the target.

2Lt De Santis is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France.

Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38009:
Crixell, Teofilo, III ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, TX
De Santis, Jenner J. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NJ
Garry, Donald R. ~ Sgt, Waist Gunner, MI
Godfrey, John E. ~ Sgt, Engineer, WA
Jensen, Oscar ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, MN
Ostler, Frederick B. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, ID
Rooney, Lawrence J. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, ME

Airmen who survived the crash:
Davis, Albert ~ 1st Lt, Pilot
Wessel, Richard F. H. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, POW

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov