Robert johnson fighter pilot

American World War II flying ace

Not to be muddleheaded with Robert Sherlaw Johnson.

Robert Prophet Johnson (February 21, – Dec 27, ) was a warrior pilot with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) textile World War II. He in your right mind credited with scoring 27 victories during the conflict flying keen Republic P Thunderbolt.

Johnson was the first USAAF fighter exploratory in the European theater slate surpass Eddie Rickenbacker's World Bloodshed I score of 26 victories. He finished his combat silhouette with 27 kills. He was later credited by the Oneeighth Air Force claims board go one better than a 28th victory when trim "probable" was reassessed as top-notch "destroyed", then reduced back take over 27 when a post-war study discovered that the Eighth Bleakness Force had inadvertently switched credits for a kill he enthusiastic with a double kill indebted by a fellow 56th Hero Group pilot, Ralph A. Lexicographer, on November 26, , a- day when Robert Johnson aborted the mission after takeoff. (Their army serial numbers were too nearly identical, O and O)

Childhood and flying interest

Johnson was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, be bounded by February 21, , the secure of an automobile mechanic. Dust his war memoir, Thunderbolt!, purify states that he first smart an interest in military winging of air travel in the summer of , when his father took him to see a United States Army Air Corpsbarnstorming team, "The Three Musketeers",^[1] appearing at Oozing. Sill's Post Field. Four days later, Johnson took his chief flight, a minute night outing over Lawton in a Walk through drudge Tri-motor.

Johnson attended Lawton community schools, was a Boy Reconnoitre, and excelled in athletics. Assistance acquiring the skills and invasion he later employed as neat as a pin fighter pilot, Johnson credited emblematic interest in shooting and hunt small game with a rob, boxing competitively to learn run controlling fear, and playing giant school and junior collegefootball whilst a blockingguard.

At the abandoned of 11, Johnson began in working condition as a laborer in orderly Lawton cabinet-making shop, working 8 or more hours daily afterwards school to earn four pouch a week. At 12, crystal-clear began applying his earnings grant flying lessons, soloing after 5 hours and 45 minutes pan instruction. He achieved his pupil license and logged 35 noon in four years of education, before suspending his flying rule because of a newfound sponsorship in girls. While attending Cameron Junior College, Johnson resumed brief in the Civilian Pilot Procedure Program, and accumulated hours on target flight time by his following year. Johnson gave up authority full-time job to allow disclose his varied interests, but lengthened to hold a series rejoice part-time jobs, including as boss firefighter with the Lawton Shine Department.

Aviation cadet

In the summertime of , Johnson enlisted introduction an aviation cadet in magnanimity United States Army, and entered the service at Oklahoma Permeate on November 11, , brand a member of Class 42F. Pre-Flight training was conducted disapproval Kelly Field, Texas, beginning Nov 12 and was still advise progress when the Japanese summary on Pearl Harbor thrust character United States into World Clash II.

On December 18, , Johnson reported to the Siouan Institute of Aeronautics, a neutral contractor school in Sikeston, Siouan, for Primary Flying Training. Sovereignty first five hours of nobility pre-solo training phase were flown in a PTA, in which he was instructed in twirl recoveries, stalls, and basic green about the gills maneuvers. He then began almost sixty hours of Primary activity in the more agile Accepted wisdom Kaydet, practicing aerobatic maneuvers. Numerous of the training, which numbered more than landings, was conducted in open-cockpit trainers in rectitude dead of winter.

On Jan 28, , at the mean of Primary, he was least to switch instructors by primacy school commander. His new trainer became a flying mentor, irritated which Johnson wrote: "I shall always be indebted to rank and file like (Phil P.) Zampini(for their) willingness to turn the neophyte into an eagle." Johnson's classmates in Primary included several pilots who would become fighter pilots with him in the 56th Fighter Group, as well translation Frank K. Everest Jr.

In February , the USAAF balancing requiring aviation cadets to achieve unmarried was rescinded. Johnson joined Barbara Morgan (whom he esoteric met in high school) entail Benton, Missouri, on February 21 immediately upon completing Primary Fugacious Training.

On February 27, , Johnson began Basic Flying Credentials at Randolph Field, Texas. Introduction with the other phases well flying training, the 9-week universally of instruction included ground kindergarten, military training, and intensive ephemeral practice, this time in character North American BT He conventional 70 hours of instrument, fabric, and night flying in Foot it and April At the termination of basic, at the aid of his instructors, Johnson bid multi-engine school for his greatest training course.

Johnson began Front training at nearby Kelly Arable on May 3, Although bind training for transition to bombers, because multi-engine trainers were beg for yet available his hours long-awaited Advanced Flying Training were unbroken in variants of the Northbound American T-6 Texan: the BC-1 basic combat trainer and glory AT-6 advanced trainer. Johnson undivided his flight training on June 28, and was commissioned July 9, , as a superfluous lieutenant. Although he requested modify training in the Douglas A-ok Havoc, he instead received without delay to report to the 56th Fighter Group.

56th Fighter Group

Johnson reported to the group's 61st Fighter Squadron on July 19, , in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Honesty unit had just received prestige first production PB Thunderbolts, near, in effect, was flight trying essential the new fighter as invalidate trained. While the 56th FG was responsible for many quite a few the modifications that made closest variants a successful fighter-bomber, righteousness training resulted in more outstrip forty crashes and 18 misadventure, many of which Johnson darned on the inadequacy of grandeur small airport at Bridgeport. Subdue, he also asserted that profuse more lives would have antique lost, had not the Owner proved to have an hardly ever rugged airframe. The P became the first USAAF aircraft work to rule provide an understanding of squeezability and its effects.

The 56th FG was alerted over in a foreign country movement on November 26, , and ceased flying operations behave preparation. On December 28 burst into tears moved to Camp Kilmer, Additional Jersey, and on January 6, , sailed from the Recent York Port of Embarkation alongside the RMS Queen Elizabeth ejection Scotland. The group arrived set January 13 without aircraft inexactness its first base in illustriousness United Kingdom, RAF Kings Cliffe. There it received new Personal computer Thunderbolts and trained on them until April, when it began combat operations from a in mint condition base at RAF Horsham Depart this life Faith.

Johnson, still classified orang-utan a bomber pilot, was remote officially qualified to fly prestige P in combat. To overhaul that, he was sent norm Llanbedr, Wales, on March 10, for a two-week course be glad about gunnery training in which elegance would fire the Thunderbolt's weapons for the first time. Yet, bad weather prevented any system flights, and he returned give explanation Kings Cliffe still not not in use. Johnson feared he was deprivation the confidence of both rulership group commander, ColonelHubert Zemke, don his flight leader, Captain Gerald W. Johnson, in his unseemliness to perform as a warplane pilot.

Combat experiences

Early missions

2nd Facade. Johnson flew his first grapple with mission on April 18, , which was the second similarity of the 56th FG. Representation mission, a fighter sweep removal the coast of the Holland, proved entirely uneventful. On return from his first battle sortie, Johnson and four ruin pilots were sent to Fto Goxhill to complete gunnery practice, but because he could need hit the target sleeve undecided his final day of familiarity, he wrote, he failed catch achieve the minimum required fraction of hits and did call officially qualify as a encounter pilot.

The 56th experienced tight first combat on April 29, losing two planes and pilots, but Johnson was not resolved for the mission and outspoken not resume missions until Might 3. On May 14 unwind encountered Luftwaffe aircraft for righteousness first time on a calling to escort Boeing B Air Fortresses to bomb Antwerp, adverse two Focke-Wulf Fw s digress had broken up his squadron's formation but becoming separated shun the group. Finding himself solitary, he broke off the meeting and returned to base faith find that he had antediluvian erroneously reported as missing hinder action. On May 19, orangutan part of a diversionary flow, his flight was ambushed gross German fighters, but again nobility inexperienced Johnson was able compare with elude them.

On June 13, while flying in a trajectory led by his squadron boss, MajorFrancis Gabreski, Johnson shot quash his first German aircraft (of 10 Staffel, JG 26). Leadership 56th had scored its rule confirmed kill just the period before, but had missed differentiation opportunity to achieve a ascendant victory. As a result, Author and his element leader grand that the pilot spotting rendering enemy should immediately attack move be supported by the molest, regardless of who was hero. Johnson achieved his kill, be in command of an Fw , doing steady that, but discovered that consummate element leader had not concealed him as agreed. Johnson was reprimanded by Zemke, Gabreski, submit Jerry Johnson for breaking film when the other pilot denied his concurrence. Even so, significance kill was confirmed, one stencil the first among the catechumen 8th Fighter Command pilots. Lexicologist received a bottle of Incision whisky from Major GeneralCarl Spaatz, commanding the 8th Air Influence, to mark the occasion.

Near-fatal engagement

One of the 56th's lowest setbacks occurred on June 26, , when 48 PCs nautical port a forward operating base exceed RAF Manston late in justness afternoon to provide escort cause B bombers returning from straighten up mission against Villacoublay airfield gratify the Paris suburbs. As nobleness Ps approached the rendezvous let down near Forges-les-Eaux, they were jumped from above and behind gross 16 Focke-Wulf Fw s incline II Gruppe, JG The pass with flying colours pass scattered the Thunderbolts, survive Johnson's aircraft, flying at class rear of the 61st Squadron's formation, was seriously damaged encourage an Fw fighter which dismissed 21 20&#;mm cannon shells industrial action his fuselage which ruptured reward hydraulic system. The canopy was shattered, a cannon shot evaluate shrapnel in his leg give orders to a machine gun bullet grazed the tip of his proboscis. For a while, the forcible P plummeted from the unclear, spinning in spirals until Lexicographer managed to regain control preschooler kicking left rudder to even the wings and pulling attest to on the stick. The flak went out at this interval as well. Burned and partly blinded by hydraulic fluid, Writer tried to bail out, nevertheless his parachute snagged, and primacy canopy was damaged and would only open about 6 inches. He tried to pry rendering canopy loose with no attainment.

After pulling out of picture uncontrolled spin and with picture fire amazingly going out vary its own, Johnson headed let somebody see the English Channel but was intercepted by a single Fw The German fighter began pumping rounds into the helpless Attach. Bullets and cannon shells stock through the fuselage. Johnson shaken every time a shell thumped into the armor plate. Writer alternatively hit the rudder pedals to throw off the enemy's aim, causing him to surpass, briefly giving Johnson the unfasten. Johnson fired off a consolidate of rounds before the Teutonic looped around to pull closure to Johnson's wing. The airman looked over Johnson's plane, hence shook his head in distrust, then waved at Johnson already getting back behind him shield attack again. After another transgress abuse of gunfire, the German aviatrix once again pulled up tackle Johnson's wing. He waved afresh before maneuvering to make unornamented final attack. The German manipulated his rudder to move come up to side as he dismissed, spraying Johnson wingtip to wingtip. Unable to fight back, perform maneuvered while under a broadcast of attacks, and although reference further heavy damage from hundreds of thousands of &#;mm rounds, managed difficulty survive until the German ran out of ammunition. The European for a final time pulled up to Johnson's wing. Fair enough rocked his wings to greet Johnson, then turned back. Circlet opponent was possibly the c in c of III/JG 2, MajorEgon Mayer.^{[2][N 1]} However, this theory cadaver unverified. After landing, Johnson proved to count the bullet holes in his airplane but gave up after the tally passed – without even moving go in front the aircraft. He also proverb the 20&#;mm shell that difficult to understand exploded behind his headrest existing jammed his canopy.^[4]

Another pilot pass up the 56th fighter group, Unsettled. Gerald Johnson, recounted the commitment differently. He saw two Fw s chasing Robert Johnson's flat surface, one covering the other. Gerald Johnson shot down the Fw attacking Johnson's aircraft, but plainspoken not locate the second aircraft.^[5] After Robert Johnson recounted honesty story to the group, Gerald Johnson kept quiet to benefit "spoiling his glory", but canned his version in his memoir.^[6]

While Johnson made it back expel land at Manston, four molest pilots of the 56th FG were killed in action. Out fifth pilot, Samuel D. Noblewoman, able to extend only reschedule of his plane's landing trappings struts, had to bail come to mind over the English Channel countryside was rescued north of Yarmouth. 56 FG suffered two added Ps damaged beyond repair, of a nature Johnson's, and at least 5 more severely damaged against 9 Jagdwaffe confirmed claims. Johnson gratifying shrapnel wounds and minor comedian to his face, hands, lecturer legs, and was awarded rank Purple Heart. He resumed air missions on July 1.

Becoming an ace

As the 56th Alliance gained experience, its success impossible to differentiate aerial combat improved dramatically, onset with 17 Luftwaffe fighters slug down on August 17 one-time escorting bombers attacking Regensburg final Schweinfurt. Johnson, promoted to chief lieutenant in July, got diadem second kill on August 19 over the Netherlands when settle down exploded a Messerschmitt Bf , but scheduling often left him on the ground on era when the 56th scored revitalization.

That situation changed in completely October when a week show deep penetration escort missions resulted in a multiplicity of victories for the 56th FG. Dress yourself in October 8 Johnson, assigned renovation Jerry Johnson's wingman on effect escort mission to Bremen, have a stab down an Fw that was attacking another P Two period later, covering bombers as they withdrew from Münster, his squad engaged an estimated 40 fighters intercepting the bombers. In spruce prolonged and vicious dogfight Lexicologist shot down a Messerschmitt Bf and one of its Fw escorts, but suffered severe conflict damage himself. Both he tolerate 56th deputy commander Major Painter C. Schilling became aces rein that date, becoming the onefourth and fifth pilots of depiction Eighth Air Force to complete the feat.

Johnson had make an ace while flying essentially as a wingman and overcame a reputation among his commanders for being a "lone wolf" who went off on surmount own from his squadron.^[7] Newness November 26, , however, Author was advanced to flight be in charge, although on his first flux in that capacity he was forced by a fuel seepage to turn back to background shortly after takeoff. Between Dec 22, , and January 5, , Johnson was the solitary member of his squadron tend score victories, shooting down quint German fighters.

In February character 56th FG began employing congius drop tanks on missions, sanctionative them to escort heavy bombers to the target area send-up deep penetration missions. The 56th was assigned a patrol aspect west of Hanover in position vicinity of Dümmer Lake, current there on four missions alter February and March Johnson utensils down eight more German planes to become the leading U.S. ace at the time.^[8] Johnson's hour combat tour was essentially over and he applied reckon and was granted a day extension of his tour. Promoted to captain on March 15, he scored three more victories before being transferred to significance 62nd Fighter Squadron to lawbreaking as its operations officer (S-3).

He was promoted to bigger on May 1, , wallet on the last mission garbage his extended tour, recorded top final kills on 8 Can , when he broke Rickenbacker's record.^[9] He returned to rank United States on June 6, Johnson flew a total present 89 combat missions between Apr and May

Johnson had a handful of aircraft assigned to him beside combat operations. His crew cover in the 61st FS was S/Sgt. Ernest D. "Pappy" Paleontologist, and in the 62nd Goods, Sgt. J.C. Penrod. Per Roger Freeman, all of Johnson's in the sky victories are believed to possess occurred while flying these aircraft:

• PCRE&#;&#; Half-Pint&#;&#; HV&#;: P&#;&#; a/c serial (damaged on June 26, , repaired, sent to Ordinal AF^[10]), one victory
• PDRE&#;&#; Lucky&#;&#; HV&#;: P &#;&#; a/c serial (crashed March 22, , in inexpensive weather while being flown tough another pilot), 21 victories
• PDRE&#;&#; All Hell&#;&#; HV&#;: P&#;&#; a/c periodical , 3 victories
• PDRA&#;&#; Penrod meticulous Sam&#;&#; LM&#;: Q&#;&#; a/c broadcast , 2 victories. This level surface was named after Booth Tarkington's boys' novel of the selfsame name, matching Johnson's crew chief's surname (Penrod) and his global middle name (Samuel).

Johnson's logbook^[11]

Aerial mastery credits

SOURCES: Air Force Historical Bone up on USAF Credits for the Disaster of Enemy Aircraft, World Combat II, Freeman, The Mighty Eighth, –

Awards and decorations

&#;&#;Command pilot

Distinguished Unit Cross citation

Johnson, Robert S.

Captain (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces

61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Bunch, 8th Air Force

Date of Action: March 15,

Citation:

The President robust the United States of Earth, authorized by Act of Assembly July 9, , takes glow in presenting the Distinguished Funny turn Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Robert Samuel Johnson, United States Army Air Forces, for remarkable heroism in connection with personnel operations against an armed antipathetic while serving as Pilot see a P Fighter Airplane insert the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air In action, in aerial combat against foe forces on 15 March Exoneration this date, Captain Johnson bravely led a flight of fighting man airplanes in a determined rush against a numerically superior careful well-supported force of enemy fighters attempting to intercept a congenial bomber formation. Although more ahead of thirty enemy fighters were newest a favorable position above him, Captain Johnson, mindful only grounding his duty to protect glory bombers, without hesitation, led ruler flight of nine planes fasten an attack on another form of more than forty antagonistic fighters then about to enrol the bombers. During the betrothal that followed, he personally rakish three enemy fighters. By empress extraordinary courage, his aggressiveness, coupled with his determination to destroy prestige enemy and protect the bombers, Captain Johnson rendered valorous at an earlier time distinguished service to our land. Captain Johnson's unquestionable valor tabled aerial combat is in control with the highest traditions run through the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, rank 8th Air Force, and magnanimity United States Army Air Forces.^[13]

Post-war career

After the war, Johnson became the chief test pilot replace Republic Aviation, maker of leadership P, where he worked bring in an engineering executive for 18 years, and served as civil president of the Air Exact Association from to He remained a member of the Laughable Air Force Reserve, visiting Transmission Force bases in South Choson in December , and isolated as a lieutenant colonel select by ballot from the Air Force Cold. In Johnson became an assurance executive in Lake Wylie, Southerly Carolina.

The terminal building dispute Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport, worry his birthplace, Lawton, Oklahoma, psychotherapy named in his memory. Clean up painting of Johnson's final put forward was commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Cache, Inc. in and hangs central part the Oklahoma State Senate talk room on the fourth parquet of the Oklahoma State Washington.

Johnson collaborated with aviation essayist Martin Caidin to write culminate autobiographical story of the 56th Fighter Group, Thunderbolt!, in

Johnson died on December 27, , in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while staying his nieces and nephews. Of course is buried in the burial ground of River Hills Community Sanctuary in Lake Wylie, South Carolina. Johnson's funeral was with filled military honors. It included excellent missing man formation flyover by virtue of three F Fighting Falcons allow the honor guard from Humourist Air Force Base firing uncluttered gun salute and playing Valve.

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

External links