Gerald R. Johnson

Jerry Johnson was a World War II Flying ace flying for the US Airforce. He is distinguished with several Military honors.

Post-Japanese Career
Jerry Johnson was born the in the small town of Kenmore, Ohio. He entered the U.S. Army Aviation Cadet Program at Luke Air Force Base in the spring of 1941, and received his Pilot Wings in fall of 1941. Johnson was commissioned to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was then moved to the 54th Fourth Fighter Group of the Eleventh Air Force. Johnson flew in the P-39 Aircobra and P-40 Warhawk where he had 58 air combat missions in the horrible conditions of Alaska where he scored 2 enemy aircraft kills while flying the P-39.

Japanese Career
Johnson was then moved to Australia and assigned to the 49th Fighter Group of the Fifth Air Force.

During a mission, planes from the 49th and 348th Fighter Groups flew up to intercept the Japanese. They caught 20 aircraft. As they maneuvered into position, one of Johnson's flight couldn't drop fuel tanks, and another blew a supercharger. Several other planes escorted these planes back home. Johnson and several other aircraft were left alone. During the dogfight, Johnson chased an enemy airplane off his comrade's plane and blew it to pieces.. Suddenly an enemy fighter came diving at him. Heavy fire tore off the Japanese fighter's wing and sent it spiraling, in the process, ripping off Johnson's port tail assembly. Johnson managed to regain control of his plane and was escorted back to base of the remaining friendly planes. He scored 3 victories, but with the cost of his P-38 lightning.

Johnson was promoted to Captain of the 9th FS in August, 1943.

While escorting B-17 Flying Fortress, Johnson scored a kill, when a Japanese fire after finishing a firing run flew straight into Johnson's line of fire. He quickly swooped behind another enemy aircraft and quickly sent it down in a fiery ball of flames.

In October, Johnson was promoted to the rank of Major, after showing his flying ability.

After 3 more victories gave him a total of 20 kills, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant colonel.

Death and Awards
A few weeks after World War II ended, Johnson was flying a B-25 Mitchell as a transport aircraft. The plane flew into a Typhoon and would be hopelessly lost in the skies. One of his crew members didn't bring a parachute, and Johnson immediately gave his parachute to him. While the other crew members parachuted out, he and the Co-Pilot stay in the aircraft trying to guide it back to the airfield, but they didn't make it. Lt. General George C. Kennedy, commander of the Fifth Air Force during WWII, 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."

Johnson ended the war with 22 kills and was award with the DSC, DFC, Silver Star, Air Medal, and Legion of Merit.