Aviator Profiles #2: Gerald Richard Johnson

[Scott Rose]

Gerald Richard Johnson
Gerald R. "Jerry" Johnson (June 23, 1920 – October 7, 1945) was a World War II flying ace who flew for the United States Army Air Forces. He ended his war career with 22 kills and was awarded with the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal.



Early career
Johnson was born in Kenmore, Ohio on June 23, 1920.

In 1941, he joined the U.S. Army Aviation Cadet Program at Luke Air Force Base. He received his pilot wings in the fall of 1941 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He was then assigned to the 54th Fighter Group of the Eleventh Air Force, where he flew the Bell P-39 Airacobra and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. In Alaska, on fifty-eight air combat missions he scored two enemy aircraft kills while flying the P-39.

South Pacific career

Johnson was then moved to Australia and was assigned to the 49th Fighter Group of the Fifth Air Force. During one mission, while piloting a P-38 Lightning, he and other aircraft from the 348th Fighter Group intercepted twenty Japanese aircraft. As they maneuvered into position, one of the aircraft in Johnson's formation could not drop its auxiliary fuel tanks, while another blew a supercharger. Unable to fight effectively, these aircraft were escorted back home, leaving Johnson and a few other aircraft alone.



During the dogfight, Johnson chased an enemy aircraft off his wingman's tail and destroyed it. Johnson's aircraft was then attacked by the enemy. His heavy fire tore the wing off a Japanese fighter and sent it spiraling, in the process ripping off Johnson's port (left) tail boom assembly. Johnson managed to regain control of his aircraft and was escorted back to base by the remaining friendly planes. He scored three victories that day, but at the cost of his own aircraft. Johnson was promoted to captain in the 9th Fighter Squadron in August 1943.



While providing an escort for B-17 Flying Fortresses bombers, Johnson scored another kill when a Japanese aircraft, concentrating on the bombers, flew straight into his line of fire. Opening fire, he quickly swooped behind another enemy aircraft and sent it down in a ball of flames. In October, Johnson was promoted to the rank of major.

On 15 November 1943 while flying a P-38, Johnson attacked a formation of two Royal Australian Air Force CAC Boomerangs and two Curtiss P-40 Warhawks who were returning to base. He shot down Boomerang serial number A46-136 piloted by Flying Officer Robert McColl Stewart, who survived the subsequent crash and fire.



Three more victories brought him to a total of twenty kills, a quadruple ace, and he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Death
A few weeks after World War II ended, Johnson was flying a B-25 Mitchell when it flew into a typhoon. He gave up his parachute to allow the other crew members to bail out of the aircraft, while he and the co-pilot attempted to guide it back to the airfield. The two men went down with the plane and were killed.

Lt. General George C. Kenney, commander of the Fifth Air Force during World War II, told Johnson's father, "You are the father of the bravest man I ever knew and the bravest thing he ever did was the last thing, when he did not need to be brave."

Awards
Distinguished Service Cross (x 2)
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross (x 6)
Soldier's Medal
Air Medal (x 12)

Source(s)
Text: Wikipedia
Images: Jack Cook Collection

[Adam Kline]

Interesting that he was involved in a friendly fire incident and still promoted.

[bearoutwest]

Hi there. I'm in the process of illustrating a number of CAC Boomerang air defence squadron magazine articles. Does anyone know where I might be able to obtain a high-resolution scan of the photo of Jerry Johnson's P-38J 'scorecard' with the Australian flag?

I intended to caption it along the lines of: "....as a forceful reminder of his blue-on-blue error in the shootdown of 4 SQN's Boomerang...".

Regards,
...geoff

[Dennis7423]

Reviving an old topic, as I am looking for some information. Does anyone know the serial number of Gerald Johnson's P-38L-5-LO named "Barbara"? I can only make out part of it on the photo, it's 44-25???. Anyone know the full serial number?

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA

[bdk]

Great story Scott, thanks for sharing that!

[Jack Cook]

Reviving an old topic, as I am looking for some information. Does anyone know the serial number of Gerald Johnson's P-38L-5-LO named "Barbara"? I can only make out part of it on the photo, it's 44-25???. Anyone know the full serial number?

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA

P-38L-5 44-25460

[Jack Cook]

Hi there. I'm in the process of illustrating a number of CAC Boomerang air defence squadron magazine articles. Does anyone know where I might be able to obtain a high-resolution scan of the photo of Jerry Johnson's P-38J 'scorecard' with the Australian flag?

I intended to caption it along the lines of: "....as a forceful reminder of his blue-on-blue error in the shootdown of 4 SQN's Boomerang...".

Regards,
...geoff

Attachments

[Dennis7423]

Reviving an old topic, as I am looking for some information. Does anyone know the serial number of Gerald Johnson's P-38L-5-LO named "Barbara"? I can only make out part of it on the photo, it's 44-25???. Anyone know the full serial number?

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA

P-38L-5 44-25460

Jack, you are an absolute stud! Thanks so much.

I wanted to pick the brain trust about another thing, too. In a well-known shot of one of Jerry Johnson's P-38L-5's, bearing the name Barbara at the time, you can see that the starboard spinner is painted, rather than bare metal. The colors and markings (solid color with a white stripe, and a lighter shade of the solid color) appears to show the colors of the 7th FS (light blue). Additionally, SSgt. Bolita, was a crew chief with the 7th FS at this time. It's also known that Johnson's P-40N that he flew for a time as a hack and to train new P-38 pilots as an adversary, bore 7th FS colors as well.

Would it be too far-fetched to believe that Barbara wore 7th FS colors at this time? Johnson was the CO of the 49th FG at the time, and the 7th FS was part of the 49th. Also, would it be too far-fetched to believe that this bird bore the number "83" on the radiator housings, Johnson's favorite aircraft number, that was worn on several of his machines? Jack, I'm particularly curious what you think.

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA

[Jack Cook]

Reviving an old topic, as I am looking for some information. Does anyone know the serial number of Gerald Johnson's P-38L-5-LO named "Barbara"? I can only make out part of it on the photo, it's 44-25???. Anyone know the full serial number?

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA

P-38L-5 44-25460

Jack, you are an absolute stud! Thanks so much.

I wanted to pick the brain trust about another thing, too. In a well-known shot of one of Jerry Johnson's P-38L-5's, bearing the name Barbara at the time, you can see that the starboard spinner is painted, rather than bare metal. The colors and markings (solid color with a white stripe, and a lighter shade of the solid color) appears to show the colors of the 7th FS (light blue). Additionally, SSgt. Bolita, was a crew chief with the 7th FS at this time. It's also known that Johnson's P-40N that he flew for a time as a hack and to train new P-38 pilots as an adversary, bore 7th FS colors as well.

Would it be too far-fetched to believe that Barbara wore 7th FS colors at this time? Johnson was the CO of the 49th FG at the time, and the 7th FS was part of the 49th. Also, would it be too far-fetched to believe that this bird bore the number "83" on the radiator housings, Johnson's favorite aircraft number, that was worn on several of his machines? Jack, I'm particularly curious what you think.

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA

This profile by Zbigniew Kolacha should help!! I hope it's viewable I had to downsize it 4 times to get it loaded here. BTW I have photos of his P-40N & P-47D

Attachments

P-38J Johnson.jpg (26.87 KiB) Viewed 1937 times

[Dennis7423]

This profile by Zbigniew Kolacha should help!! I hope it's viewable I had to downsize it 4 times to get it loaded here. BTW I have photos of his P-40N & P-47D[/quote]


Nice Jack, huge help! As I suspected, 7th FS colors. I'd love to see photos of his P-47D and P-40N to compare to what I've already gathered. Any idea what the script is on the side of the cowling? The thumbnail you posted isn't large enough to see it. Or know where I can find the larger profile? It doesn't appear that it's posted on his website.

I've also heard rumors that Johnson flew a P-40E after his P-39 stint, and before he began in P-38's. Is there any credence to this?

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA

[Jack Cook]

This profile by Zbigniew Kolacha should help!! I hope it's viewable I had to downsize it 4 times to get it loaded here. BTW I have photos of his P-40N & P-47D

Nice Jack, huge help! As I suspected, 7th FS colors. I'd love to see photos of his P-47D and P-40N to compare to what I've already gathered. Any idea what the script is on the side of the cowling? The thumbnail you posted isn't large enough to see it. Or know where I can find the larger profile? It doesn't appear that it's posted on his website.

I've also heard rumors that Johnson flew a P-40E after his P-39 stint, and before he began in P-38's. Is there any credence to this?

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA[/quote]

''Jean Richard''

Attachments

[Dennis7423]

Jack, I wanted to confirm the serial number, too. I notice the serial in the profile is 44-25450, while you noted Barbara's serial was 44-25460.

Thanks for posting the larger profile, that's a huge help.

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA

[Jack Cook]

Jack, I wanted to confirm the serial number, too. I notice the serial in the profile is 44-25450, while you noted Barbara's serial was 44-25460.

Thanks for posting the larger profile, that's a huge help.

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA

60

[Dennis7423]

Thanks again Jack, a huge, huge help.

- Dennis S.
Mount Juliet, TN USA