George Jacob Ensslen, Jr. was born 29 December 1923, in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, the son of George Jacob Ensslen and Amy Wolf (nee Hafer) Ensslen. He attended grade school in Abbottstown, and then went to the Hershey Industrial School, studied the Agricultural Course, and graduated in 1941. He was employed at the Harrisburg State Hospital, and in July 1941, he accepted a position at the York Ice Machinery Company.

On 11 March 1942, George J. Ensslen, Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, as an Aviation Cadet. He was sent for training to Santa Ana, California. In June of 1942, Aviation Cadet George J. Ensslen, Jr. was transferred from Santa Ana, California, to the Primary Pilot Training School at Rankin Field in Tulare, California, followed by more training at Lamoore, California. He completed his Aviation Training at Luke Field, near Phoenix, Arizona.

In December 1942, George Jacob Ensslen, Jr. received his pilot's wings and commission as Second Lieutenant. He was a skillful and highly trained Pilot of Lockheed P-38 Lightning Fighter Aircraft, and was assigned to the 449th Fighter Squadron. He went overseas in March 1943, to the North African Theater, and participated in raids on Tunisia, Sicily, Pantelleria and Sardinia. After completing more than 50 Combat Missions, normal routine was that he be "rotated" home to the U.S. for some well deserved Rest and Relaxation, before being re-assigned. However, In July 1943, Lieutenant George J. Ensslen, Jr., volunteered for service in China.

On 31 August 1943, Lt. George Jacob Ensslen, Jr. was Killed in Action over Changsha, China (Changsha is the capital of China's Hunan province), when his plane crashed in friendly territory. His remains were interred in China until long after the War. In October 1947, the remains of Lt. Ensslen, Jr. were among the first to be brought back from the Pacific Theater, arriving in San Francisco, California, aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship, the Honda Knot. His remains are now interred at the Northwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Lt. Ensslen was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China but his surname is inscribed as Ennssler.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com