Gerald R. Johnson
| Gerald Richard Johnson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
June 23, 1920 Kenmore, Ohio |
| Died | October 7, 1945 (aged 25) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit |
54th Pursuit Group 329th Fighter Group |
| Commands held |
9th Fighter Squadron 49th Fighter Group |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Cross (2) Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (6) Soldier's Medal Air Medal (12) |
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 at 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, Fourth 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-38 Lightning.[1][2]
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,[2] 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.[1][3] Johnson was promoted to captain in the 9th Fighter Squadron in August 1943.[1]
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.[2][3] In October, Johnson was promoted to the rank of major.[1]
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[4], who survived the subsequent crash and fire.[5]
Three more victories brought him to a total of twenty kills, a quadruple ace, and he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.[1][3]
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."[1]
Awards and decorations
His awards and decorations include:
  | Distinguished Service Cross with oak leaf cluster |
 | Silver Star |
 | Legion of Merit |
  | Distinguished Flying Cross with one silver leaf cluster |
 | Soldier's Medal |
 | Air Medal with two silver and oak leaf clusters |
 | Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with three oak leaf cluster |
 | American Defense Service Medal |
 | American Campaign Medal |
   | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with nine service stars |
 | World War II Victory Medal |
 | Army of Occupation Medal with 'Japan' clasp |
 | Philippine Liberation Medal with two service stars |
.svg.png){kind=small} | Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "P-38 Lightning PTO Aces of World War Two". Acepilots.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Veteran Tributes". Veterantributes.org. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Gerald R". Usfighter.tripod.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ↑ "WW2 Nominal Roll". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ↑ "RAAF A46 CAC Boomerang". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
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