Gerald R. Johnson
Gerald Richard Johnson | |
---|---|
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 Richard Johnson (June 23, 1920 – October 7, 1945) was a
Early life
Johnson was born in
Johnson earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
Johnson was married to Barbara Hall on June 1, 1944.
Military career
In 1941, he joined the U.S. Army Aviation Cadet Program at Luke Field. He received his pilot wings in the fall of 1941 and was commissioned a second lieutenant.[2]
World War II
Johnson was then assigned to the
Johnson served with the
On October 15, 1943, while defending the allied shipping at
While providing an escort for
On November 15, 1943 while flying a P-38, Johnson attacked a formation of two
Later, an Australian flag indicating this Boomerang was painted on Johnson's P-38 Lightning.In late 1943, the 9th Fighter Squadron received the Republic
Returning to the Pacific in October 1944, he was one of the first USAAF fighter pilots to arrive at Tacloban on Leyte in the Philippines, as P-38s from the 49th FG touched down on the freshly carved airstrip. The strip was under attack night and day as the Japanese tried to destroy the American foothold on Leyte. Four hours later, Johnson shot down two enemy planes, over Balikpapan, in Borneo. 13 days later, he shot down two more enemy planes, on the lead up to the Philippines campaign.[10]
During the spring of 1945, the 49th Fighter Group occupied
On November 11, he downed two more Zeros over Ormoc Bay, and on December 7, the third anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he shot down three Oscars and one Nakajima Ki-49 "Helen" bomber over Cebu, for which he received his second Distinguished Service Cross.[3] These victories brought him to a total of 21 aerial victories, a quadruple ace, and he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He became Deputy Commander of the 49th Fighter Group until March 1945.[3][6]
Johnson served as 49th FG commander from March to July 1945, and became one of the youngest colonel in the USAAF. He scored his last aerial victory on April 2, when he shot down a Nakajima Ki-44 "Tojo", during a fighter sweep over Hong Kong.[12]
During World War II, Johnson flew a total of 265 combat missions. He was credited with the destruction of 22 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 2 probables and 1 damaged, which includes 20 in P-38 Lightning and 2 in P-47 Thunderbolt.[13]
Death and legacy
A few weeks after World War II ended, Johnson was assigned as commander of Atsugi Air Base, Japan.
On 7 October 1945, Johnson was flying a
Johnson posthumously received the
The
Awards and decorations
His awards and decorations include:
USAAF Pilot Badge
| ||
Distinguished Service Cross w/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster |
Silver Star | Legion of Merit |
Distinguished Flying Cross w/ 1 silver oak leaf cluster |
Soldier's Medal | Air Medal w/ 2 silver and 1 bronze oak leaf clusters |
American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | campaign stars
|
World War II Victory Medal
|
Army of Occupation Medal w/ 'Japan' clasp |
Philippine Liberation Medal w/ 2 service stars |
Army Presidential Unit Citation w/ 3 bronze oak leaf clusters |
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation |
Distinguished Service Cross citation (1st Award)
- Johnson, Gerald R.
- Major (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces
- 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force
- Date of Action: October 15, 1943
- Citation:
The
Distinguished Service Cross citation (2nd Award)
- Johnson, Gerald R.
- Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces
- 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force
- Date of Action: December 7, 1944
- Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Gerald Richard Johnson, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a
Aerial victory credits
Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | # | Type | Location | Aircraft flown | Unit Assigned |
July 26, 1943 | 1 | Nakajima Ki-43 |
Markham Valley, New Guinea | P-38 Lightning |
9 FS, 49 FG |
July 26, 1943 | 1 | Kawasaki Ki-61 | Markham Valley, New Guinea | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
September 2, 1943 | 1 | unknown twin-engine fighter (possibly Kawasaki Ki-45) | Cape Gloucester, New Guinea | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
October 15, 1943 | 2 | Aichi D3A | Oro Bay, New Guinea | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
October 15, 1943 | 1 | Nakajima Ki-43 | Oro Bay, New Guinea | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
October 23, 1943 | 1 | Mitsubishi A6M |
Rabaul, New Guinea | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
November 2, 1943 | 2 | Mitsubishi A6M | Simpson Harbour, New Guinea | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
December 10, 1943 | 1 | Kawasaki Ki-61 | Gusap, New Guinea | P-47 Thunderbolt |
9 FS, 49 FG |
January 18, 1944 | 1 | Mitsubishi A6M | Wewak, New Guinea | P-47 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
October 14, 1944 | 1 | Nakajima Ki-43 | Balikpapan, Dutch East Indies | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
October 14, 1944 | 1 | Nakajima Ki-44 | Balikpapan, Dutch East Indies | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
October 27, 1944 | 1 | Nakajima Ki-43 | Tacloban, Philippines | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
October 27, 1944 | 1 | Aichi D3A | Carigara Bay, Philippines | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
November 11, 1944 | 2 | Mitsubishi A6M | Ormoc Bay, Philippines | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
December 7, 1944 | 3 | Nakajima Ki-43 | Cebu, Philippines | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
December 7, 1944 | 1 | Nakajima Ki-49 | Cebu, Philippines | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
April 2, 1945 | 1 | Nakajima Ki-44 | Hong Kong | P-38 | 9 FS, 49 FG |
- SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II
Further reading
- Bruning, John (2004). Jungle Ace: Col. Gerald R. Johnson, the USAAF's Top Fighter Leader of the Pacific War. Potomac Books. ASIN B00FBBV2R8.
See also
- Thomas B. McGuire
- Richard Bong
- Charles H. MacDonald
- List of World War II air aces
References
- ^ "Col. Gerald R. Johnson - P-38 Pilot, 5th Air Force, 49th Fighter Group, 9th Fighter Squadron". Pacific Wrecks. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Veteran Tributes". Veterantributes.org. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "P-38 Lightning PTO Aces of World War Two". Acepilots.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Veteran Tributes". Veterantributes.org. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ISBN 9781472800862. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ISBN 9781472800862. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- Air Force Magazine. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- Air Force Magazine. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ISBN 9781472800862. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ "Col. Gerald R. Johnson - P-38 Pilot, 5th Air Force, 49th Fighter Group, 9th Fighter Squadron". Pacific Wrecks. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- Air Force Magazine. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Col. Gerald R. Johnson - P-38 Pilot, 5th Air Force, 49th Fighter Group, 9th Fighter Squadron". Pacific Wrecks. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "Valor awards for Gerald Richard Johnson". Valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2020-06-02.