January 17, 1918 (New York, NY) – March 27, 1944; 26 years old
Unmarried
Last local address: 14 Spring Street, South Norwalk
Enlisted August 13, 1941
Service number: O-667159
Unit: 11th Photographic Group, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron
Born to Samuel/Salomon Jobrack/Szabrack (1890-1964) and Bessie Tarlov Jobrack (1894-1961). Sister Dorothy “Dutchy” Jobrack Wilensky (1919-1998) [husband Julius Wilensky was Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut], brother Harry (1925-2006).
Listed as “Died Non-Battle”. Circumstances are unknown.
Norwalk High School Class of ‘35
High School Class President
From the Connecticut Military Portrait Collection, Connecticut State Library, Identifier: PG570; used with permission
From The Norwalk Hour May 20, 1942
Ellington Field, Texas — Showing the route to victory through the skies will be the destiny of a Connecticut Aviation Cadet taking basic training at the World’s largest multi-motor advanced flying school here. learning the basic rules of navigating an Air Corps war-wagon is a full time job for Judah Leonard Jobrack of South Norwalk, Connecticut, but even after the interesting course here, Jobrack will not be ready to take to enemy air. He’ll go to an advanced navigators’ school, where he’ll win his commission in the U.S. Air Corps Reserve. In civilian life, Jobrack was manager of the Leonard Company in Sough Norwalk. He attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, and received his B.A. degree there in 1939. Jobrack is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Jobrack of 14 Spring Street in South Norwalk, Connecticut. He is 24 years old. At the Air Force Preflight Training Center at Ellington, these young men are learning to become key men in Uncle Sam’s aerial combat teams. The pilot, who flies the ships; the navigator, who guides the pilot to his objective; and the bombardier, who launches the bombs — all receive their instruction here. An old World War I field, which was rebuilt two years ago, Ellington Field now is one of the most modern air bases anywhere. Where creaky “Jenny’s” once took off from unpaved runways and were housed in rickety hangars, swift multi-motored training ships now operate on the greatest network of concrete ramps and runways in the world and are maintained and serviced in huge, up-to-date steel and concrete hangars.
From The Norwalk Hour April 12, 1944
LIEUT. JOBRACK DIES IN CRASH
Spring St. Youth Killed As Planes Collide In Egypt
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Jobrack of 14 Spring Street are waiting further word today of the death of their son, Lieutenant J. Leonard Jobrack, a 26-year-old Air Force navigator. They received a telegram from the War Department saying their son was killed in Egypt in a collision between two planes on March 27th. Lieutenant Jobrack graduated from Norwalk High School in February 1935 and was President of the class. He was also a graduate of Bates College, Lewiston, Maine where he served as editor-in-chief of the Bates College yearbook in 1939. He joined the Air Corps in August 1941, served with the ground forces, and became an air cadet in February 1942. He received his commission and wings at the Army Air Force Navigation School in Hondo, Texas. Lieutenant Jobrack had served on other missions in the European war theater. In August of last year, he returned from Africa after a mission. Lieutenant Jobrack has a brother, Harry, who is at Camp Robinson, and a sister, Mrs. Dorothy Wilensky of Stamford.
Buried in North Africa American Cemetery, 553, Rue Roosevelt; 2016 Carthage, Tunisia; Plot I Row 16 Grave 1. Photo provided by Atef Gadrib, Cemetery Associate, North Africa American Cemetery.
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