Jack W. Jenkins Collection
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of a digital surrogate of a bound scrapbook kept by Jack W. Jenkins and preserved by his family, captured as 64 page-level scans. The scrapbook contains photographs, official military documents, correspondence, and mementos from Jenkins's service, many annotated in his own hand with locations and dates including Kwajalein, Guam, and Kukuka Point, Oahu. Photographs depict squadron life in the Central Pacific, B-24 aircraft including nose art, stateside training and maneuvers, family visits, and pre-war scenes dating to 1939. Documents include movement orders and letter orders naming Jenkins and fellow members of the 98th Bombardment Squadron, an authorization to wear decorations, and related official papers. Ephemera includes a Series 481 Military Payment Certificate and envelopes containing newspaper clippings. Materials were assembled by Jenkins and may include items relating to family members and acquaintances; not all content necessarily relates directly to his own service. Jenkins was a resident of Macon, Georgia; the scrapbook came to the library through his family, residents of the Opelika area. The family retains additional documents, photographs, and ephemera that are not part of this collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1939 - 1946
Conditions Governing Access
The digital collection is open for research. Select images may be restricted pending access review.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright status varies. Official military documents are in the public domain. Photographs and personal materials may carry rights held by the Jenkins family or others. Users are responsible for determining copyright status before publication. Contact the Special Collections and Archives with questions.
Biographical / Historical
Jack W. Jenkins (Army Serial No. 14045603) of Macon, Georgia, served as a Staff Sergeant with the 98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Air Force, in the Central Pacific during World War II. Photographs in the scrapbook trace his path from Georgia in the late 1930s through Army maneuvers in 1941 to service at Kwajalein, Guam, and Oahu in 1944 and 1945, where his squadron flew B-24 Liberator bombers. On May 8, 1945, during a mission against the enemy base at Marcus Island, Jenkins manually released his aircraft's bombs after a mechanical failure, allowing his plane to break formation and cover a damaged wingman under anti-aircraft fire. For this action he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (General Order No. 120, September 17, 1945). His decorations also included the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal with one bronze star, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars. In June 1945 he was designated group leader for his rotation group's return to the United States. [Add birth and death dates and the family's Opelika connection as research allows.]
Full Extent
1 Volumes (Digital surrogates)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Jack W. Jenkins scrapbook documents the World War II service of Staff Sergeant Jack W. Jenkins of Macon, Georgia, an aircrew member with the 98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Air Force, in the Central Pacific. The scrapbook contains photographs, military orders, correspondence, and mementos spanning roughly 1939 to 1946, many captioned in Jenkins's own hand. The collection consists of a digital copy of the scrapbook; the physical scrapbook remains with the family, who donated the digital copy to the library.
Custodial History
The scrapbook was kept by Jack W. Jenkins and passed down within his family. In 2026 it was loaned to the Opelika Public Library by his grandchild for digitization. The original was returned to the family, and the family donated the digital copy to the library under a signed agreement.
- Author
- Murray Rice
- Date
- 2026
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Opelika Public Library Archives Repository