Air Vice Marshal John Edgar "Johnnie" Johnson CB, CBE, DSO and two Bars, DFC and Bar (9 March 1915 - 30 January 2001) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot who during World War II shot down 38 Luftwaffe aircraft, thus becoming the British and Commonwealth flying ace with the most "kills" during the war.

Biography

Early Life

Johnson was born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England, and was educated at Loughborough Grammar School and Nottingham University, where he qualified as a civil engineer. He would shoot rabbits and birds in the countryside. There is also a story of him being found in the school's swimming pool with a young lady, which was very taboo at the time. He sustained a broken collar bone playing rugby that did not properly heal.

Johnson applied to join the Auxiliary Air Force, but the collar injury meant he was rejected on medical grounds. He successfully aplied to join the Royal Air FOrce Volunteer Reserve.

Fighter Pilot

In August 1939 Johnson was called up, and after training posted to an operational squadron. However his injury continued to trouble him, and he found flying extremely painful. He opted to have oan operation that would correct the problem, but this meant he would miss the Battle of Britain

In 1942 he married Pauline Ingate, and they had two sons.

After the war

Johnson was offered a full commission by the RAF after the war, and went on to fight in the Korean War.

Medals

• 3 Distinguished Service Orders
• 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1960)
• Companion in The Most Honourable Order of the Bath

• Legion d'honneur (France)
• Croix de Guerre (Belgium)
• Order of Leopold (Belgium)
• Distinguished Flying Cross (USA)
• Air Medal (USA)
• Legion of Merit (USA)

Bibliography

• (1956) Wing Leader (Fighter Pilots) ISBN 0907579876
• (1985) The Story of Air Fighting ISBN 0091598206
• (1992) Courage in the Skies ISBN 0752904159

External links

• Times obituary
• Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust