Air Vice Marshal James Edgar "Johnnie" Johnson CB, CBE, DSO & two bars, DFC & bar, Air Medal (US) and Legion of Merit (US).
Johnson was born in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire on 9th March 1915 and grew up in Melton Mowbray. He was educated at Loughborough Grammar School (where his fees were paid for by an Uncle who had survived WWI). After leaving school Johnson attended Nottingham University and graduated as a Civil Engineer at the age of 22.
After the Munich Crisis of 1938 Johnson applied to join the Royal Auxiliary Air Force but was turned down due to his social status. After serving with the territorial unit of the Leicestershire Yeomanry Johnson applied to and was accepted into the RAF Volunteer Reserve and began flight training. Johnson's flying career was put in doubt by an old shoulder injury sustained whilst playing Rugby and he was forced to undergo surgery thereby missing the Battle of Britain.
Johnson's operational career began with 616 Sqn., part of the Tangmere wing where he found himself flying alongside Douglas Bader, Tony Gaze and Hugh Dundas. His first combat got off to a shaky start when he called 'Break' too early resulting in his flight frantically splitting up, losing each other and returning singly to base.
In 1942 Johnson was appointed Squadron Leader of 610 Sqn., flying the Spitfire Mk. V. The introduction of the Fw 190 however was taking it's toll on Spitfire squadrons.
'Yes, the 190 was causing us real problems at this time. We could out-turn it, but you couldn't turn all day. As the number of 190s increased, so the depth of our penetrations decreased. They drove us back to the coast really.'
By 1943 Johnson had risen to Wing Commander and appointed to lead 144 (Canadian) wing, equipped with the L. F. Mk. IX. Johnson was already a prolific ace and the number of his victories continued to mount. He had reached 23 victories by April 1944 and by the 27th June his score had risen to 31 making him the highest scoring RAF pilot still on operations. 144 Wing was the first to be stationed on French soil after the invasion. An encounter with 190s whilst on patrol on the 27th August brought his total to 33.
Johnson's last victory came over Nijmegen on the 27th September 1944 taking his final total to 34 confirmed, 7 shared, 3 shared probable, 10 damaged, 3 shared damaged and 1 destroyed on the ground. Unfortunately, it was on this operation that his friend Sqn Leader Wally McLeod, 443 Sqn. RCAF went missing (above photo, on the right). McLeod was last seen pursuing a 109 into Germany.
Johnson finished the war as a Group Captain commanding No. 125 Wing, flying Spitfire Mk. XIVs.
