Gerald Richard JohnsonGerald 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 careerJohnson 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 careerJohnson 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.
DeathA 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."AwardsDistinguished Service Cross (x 2)
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross (x 6)
Soldier's Medal
Air Medal (x 12)
Source(s)Text:
WikipediaImages: Jack Cook Collection
_________________
Scott Rose
Editor-In-Chief/Webmaster
Warbirds Resource Group - Warbird Information Exchange - Warbird Registry
Be civil, be polite, be nice.... or be elsewhere.-------------------------------------------------------
This site is brought to you with the support of members like you. If you find this site to be of value to you,
consider supporting this forum and the Warbirds Resource Group with a VOLUNTARY subscription
For as little as $2/month you can help ($2 x 12 = $24/year, less than most magazine subscriptions)
So If you like it here, and want to see it grow, consider helping out.
Thanks to everyone who has so generously supported the site. We really do appreciate it.Follow us on Twitter! @WIXHQ
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
