Johnny (Bill / W J) Johnson

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RAF Years

See also these links - Battle of Britain

Brandon at War - Servicemen decorated

Personal History of Squadron Leader William John Johnson
mostly referred to as Johnny Johnson but by his mother’s family as Jack Johnson and by the early RAF as Bill Johnson so as not to be confused with the other Johnnie Johnson

World War 2 (WW2) veteran fighting mostly in spitfires and hurricanes. Obtained DFC and bar and the Malta cross.

I would like to contact anybody who knew him in the RAF especially anybody who knows where his logbook is likely to be or where his medals are! I would also like to find any article written about him. Please email me - click here

Here is a brief history of the RAF by date

Apr 1939 Joined RAF Volunteer Reserves as pilot under training at Sywell. -

1 Sep 1939 Mobilised. U/T pilot RAF Volunteer Reserves

1939 - 1959 Qualified on aircraft including Hurricane, Spitfire, Typhoon, Tempest, Vampire, Meteor, Saber, Hunter, Dove. 2800 hours flying time as pilot including over 800 hours on jets and 150 hours on Doves. RAF Squadron Leader Fighter Command number 115410, twice shot down. His bravery were recognised and he was awarded the DFC and Bar.

26 Dec 1940 Managed time off to get married to Pamela Joyce Turner

Jul 1940 - Jun 1942 - NCO Fighter pilot.

1940-41 Fighter Pilot on Hurricanes and Spitfires.

Sep 1940 Flying Hurricanes.

30 Jan 1942 Angela was born in Northampton

Jan 1942 Commissioned - Twice Flight Commander, Three times squadron commander, two periods of operational instruction giving flying instruction and lecturing on operational tactics and other allied subjects. Latter period as Chief Flying Instructor.

30 Jan 1942 RAF awards listed to acting Flt Lt W J Johnson RAF Volunteer Reserves No 126 Squadron for Distinguished Flying Cross. Citation states "that on many occasions since his arrival in Malta, Johnson has participated in successful actions which has resulted in destruction by him of at least five enemy aircraft. He has proved himself a fearless pilot at all times, displaying great gallantry, determination and skilful leadership."

Jun - Aug 1942 Flight and Squadron Commander in Malta on Spitfires.

1943 Officer Commanding RAF in Scilly Isles - Hurricanes.

20 May 1943 Alan was born in West Byfleet

1943-45 Squadron Commander - Rocket firing Typhoons at home and on the continent.

21 Oct 1944 Total of 5 enemy aircraft destroyed. 64 dive bombing on flying bomb sites in northern France (near Bayeux).

6 Oct 1944 'Northampton Echo newspaper' tells of W J Johnson's attack on tanks on a farm in Holland.

1944-5 One of the first pilots to be offered a permanent Commission after the war. France and Germany.

1945 Chief Flying Instructor ground attack O?? Training Unit.

1947 Chatham House Current Affairs Course full time.

1948 Germany.

1948 Gunnery Instructor in Air-to-Air Firing.

1949-50 Flight Commander of Ground Attack Squadron in Malaya

1950 Part time study for RAF promotion examination and passed Staff College qualifying exam.

??? Chief Instructor at Day Fighter Leader School.

1 Jan 1954 Promoted to Squadron Leader No 74 Squadron, RAF Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk.
- Squadron Commander of Meteor Flight Squadron

20 Jun 1955 Congratulations on recent formation flying from Air Vice Marshall W J Crisham CB CBE (who also washed out the formation landing due to its dangers).

Jan 1956 - Jun 1958 - NATO HQ Planning training exercises in atomic procedures

1956-7 Local French language tests
Morris Oxford hit by a French lorry driver in Fontainbleau.

16 Sep 1957 Premature retirement refused.

From “Aces High”

JOHNSON, William John, joined '45 Squadron as a Sgt. in 1940. On 26 January 1941 he destroyed a Bf 109F. He was later commissioned, and in early 1942 served as a P0 in 611 Squadron. In April he was posted to Malta, where he joined 126 Squadron, destroying four more enemy aircraft at least, and became a flight commander. He got two Macchi 202s on 14 August 1942, and probably destroyed a Bf 109 on 5 October. He received a DFC in December, and returned to the United Kingdom. After a rest from operations, he was posted to command 257 Squadron in July 1944, and led this unit on ground-attack duties with Typhoons, receiving a Bar to his DFC in October 1944. His final score was at least 5.

From “Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942”

Suddenly, at 1515, on the scene came four Spitfires of 126 Squadron which were escorting the captured Cant floatplane, flown by Wg.Cdr. Satchell, still searching for the missing Beaufighter crew, Jay and McFarlane. Spotting the unsuspecting Italian fighters beneath them - and taking them to be Macchis -Flt.Lt. Bill Johnson (BR31I) and Sgt. Bill Marshall (BP860) undertook a perfect bounce, shooting all three down into the sea; two fell to Johnson's fire - his 4th and 5th victories - the other to his Canadian No 2; Pocek would later be rescued by a Do24T of Seenotst 6, while Scarpetta - the second commanding officer to be lost by the unit in little more than a month, was subsequently posthumously awarded a Medaglia d'Oro. Johnson recorded:

'1 was leading Dumbell Yellow Section escorting the Cant Out towards Linosa. Just north of Linosa I saw the enemy approaching. They immediately turned round and made off towards Pantelleria. I gave chase with my No 2 after telling Yellow 3 and 4 to stay with the Cant. The enemy made no evasive action until we were almost on top of them, and then the Macchis turned left. I attacked the centre one. They were in line astern. Attacked from port quarter and gave it a burst. I saw the hood come off and the pilot bale Out (almost certainly Ten. Pocek). I saw my No 2 firing at the first Macchi probably Magg. Scarpetta). which went straight into the sea. I turned round into the third Macchi and gave it a burst, and saw strikes on the wings and fuselage. It turned away streaming oil and climbing, so I climbed right up underneath him and gave him a burst, and he immediately rolled over and went into the sea. The pilot did not bale out.

RAF History (Typed from Dad’s handwritten notes with some bits torn and missing - see ……)

754371 Sgt W.J.Johnson 115410 Sqn Ldr

May 1939 Joiner RAFVR in Northampton as Sgt/u/t pilot.

1 sep 1939 Called up with RAFVR and posted to No 3 ITW Hastings (Shared room and subsequently went through training to operations with Sgt Neil Cameron, later Lord Cameron, Chief of Joint Defence Staff). Initial training on Miles Magister at London Air…. Park, Hanworth. Intermediate training ….Montrose on Miles Magister 1. OUT on H….. at Aston Down (staffed mainly by ?Pilots ….Squadron just back from France under ……. Halaham, Prosser Hanks etc).

16 Sep 1940 Posted to 85 Sqn - C.O. Peter Townsend, F…… Sammy Allard, also just back from France….

16 Oct 1940 Posted to 145 Sqn, Tangmere under John Pe…… Flt Cdr Mike Newling, flying Hurricanes … re-equipped with Spitfires from Jan 1941. D R S Bader assumed command of Tangmere Wi… March 1941 and 145 commanded by PS (Stan) Turner.

26 Jun 1941 1 Me109F destroyed (Note June, not January)

28 Jul 1941 145 Sqn moved to Catterick for rest period.

Oct 1941 A.D.J. (Tony) Lovell assumed command from Stan Turner.

7 Jan 1942 Commissioned and Posted to 611 Sqn at Drem under D.H.Watkins (Dirty Watkins), Flt Cdr J.C.F (Spud?) Hayter

1 Apr 1942 Posted with 14 other 611 pilots to Malta - on HMS Charybdin? to Gibraltar - aircraft assembled from crates and loaded on HMS Eagle at Gibraltar.

9 May 1942 No air tests! but all Spits flown off Eagle & USS Wash to Malta - carrying cigarettes and soap in ?communition? bayss and unloaded guns! Lead by Laddie Lucas.

14 May 1942 1 Me109 damaged

30 May 1942 ¼ share of Breda 20 destroyed.

29 Jun 1942 Returned to Gibralta by Hudson with three other Malta Pilots to bring back reinforcement Spitfires and Pilots. Promoted to Flt. Lt. to command A Flight 126 Sqn while in Gibraltar.

13 Jul 1942 Left Gibralta on board HMS Eagle and joined convoy with USS Wash with further aircraft and pilots.

15 Jul 1942 Led Eagle and Wash aircraft back to Malta. My 23^rd Birthday celebration!

18 Jul 1942 1 Me109 probable

27 Jul 1942 1 Ju 88 probable - assumed tempory command of 126 after C.O. - Sqn Ldr Phil Winfield shot down and wounded. He was later killed when pilots convalescent home in Torquay was bombed.

27 Jul 1942 Led section of 4 into Lead an interception of 4 JU88s and large fighter escort. Section claimed 3 88s and 2 Me109s destroyed. Perfect ground control.

31 Jul 1942 1 Me 109 destroyed.

14 Aug 1942 2 Macchi 202 destroyed.

19 Aug 1942 Posted back to UK to be Flt Cdr at 56 OUT Tealing.

9 May 1943 Posted to command 1449 Flight, Scilly Isles - Hurricanes

17 Nov 1943 Posted to 197 Sqn - Typhoon 1b bombers - Tangmere and under canvas at Needs Oar Point as unit of 146 Wing, 2 ATAF, Johnny Baldwin came as Wing Leader.

19 Jul 1944 Posted to command 257 Sqn - Typhoon bombers and later also R/P after D Day.

15 Nov 1984 Posted to 84 Group HQ Tactical Grp planning

7 Jan 1945 Posted as C.F.I. to 56 OUT Milfield - Tempest V

28 Sep 1945 Posted to command 631 Sqn Llambedr.

Nov 45 to Jan 48 Permanent commission promulgated and posted to Air Ministry.

Mar 1948 Flt Cdr 33 Sqn Tempest IIs, Germany and Malaya.

1 Aug 1951 2^nd I/C Day Fighter Leader School, West Raynham. Meteors.

29.11.53 to 23.1.56 Posted to command No 74 Sqn Horsham St. Faith

The following comments on events outlined in the text in which I have personal interest are offered for cross checking, disregard if the detail is not of sufficient matter or memory of 50 years ago is faulty!

Page 42 and 43

1. In July 1940, I was with 8 FTS Montrose. I think 145 Sqn at this time had a Flight at Montrose and the other at Dress.

2. I joined 145 at Tangmere in Oct 1940 - we had Hurricanes until Mid January 1941 when Spitfire I were received for training and Spitfire IIs were not available until late Feb when Squadron again became operational. During this short re-equipment the squadron remained at Tangmere where we stayed, or at Merston, the satellite to Tangmere. The Spit Vs arrived in early July 1941, about two weeks before we moved to Catterick on ‘rest’. There was no move south in early 1941, we were already there! - as part of the Tangmere Wing soon to be led by D R S Bader.

Page 45

3. 197 Squadron - I was with 197 from Nov 43 until I was posted to command 257 - and later as Wg Co Planning? 84 GOC - at no time di 197 have R/P, only bombs. This is also true of other Squadrons in 146 Wing. i.e. 193, 266 and 486. I took Fairwld? Common then No 18 Armament Practice Camp? on 11 Aug 1944 until 31 Aug 1944 for re-equipment with R/P. I feel certain that no other squadron in 146 Wing had R/P in this period.

4. The above is also relevant to 257 Sqn on P.50 and 266 Sqn on P.52

5. No 193 on P.45? - I knew them on 146 Wing

6. Page 255. Larry Robilland was flying with 145 (on 2 Jun 1941) when he was shot down over France. He evaded capture and returned to UK to rejoin the Sqn at Catterick 31 Aug 1941. He was successful on 2 Jun 1941 when he was shot down, and the DFM recognised this and getting back to the squadron.

7. Page 276 - Barry Sutton, with whom I shared a desk & played cricket at school in Northampton, wrote ‘Way of a pilot’ and ‘Burma Pilot’

8. Boby Yale, Page 305 - While Wg Co Flying at Wattisham, was killed when in collision with another meteor in the formation.

Record of Service

Unit	From	To
RAFVR Sywell	23 Apr 39	15 Sep 39
3. ITW St Leonards	15 Sep 39	25 Mar 40
5. EFTS Hanworth	25 Mar 40	25 May 40
10. EFTS Latesbury	25 May 40	7 Jun 40
8. ITS Montrose	7 Jun 40	29 Aug 40
5. OUT Aston Down	29 Aug 40	14 Sep 40
85 Sqdn Church Fenton	16 Apr 40	16 Oct 40
145 Sqdn Tangmere	17 Oct 40	7 May 41
145 Sqdn Merston	7 May 41	28 Jul 41
145 Sqdn Caterick	29 Jul 41	5 Jan 42
611 Sqdn Drem?	6 Jan 42	1 Apr 42
P.D.C. West Kirby	2 Apr 42	13 Apr 42
H.M.S. Charibdis? at Sea	13 Apr 42	18 Apr 42
R.A.F. Gibraltar	18 Apr 42	7 May 42
H.M.S. Eagle in Medtn.	7 May 42	9 May 42
126 Sqdn Luqa Malta	9 May 42	29 Jun 42
Attached H.M.S. Eagle	30 Jun 42	15 Jul 42
126 Sqdn Luqa Malta	15 Jul 42	18 Aug 42
Gibraltar in Transit	19 Aug 42	21 Aug 42
Attached Wilmslow on Leave	21 Aug 42	15 Sep 42
No 56 O.T.U. Tealing	16 Sep 42	28 Oct 42
Attached F.I.S. Hullavington	28 Oct 42	2 Dec 42
No. 56 O.T.U. Tealing	8 Dec 42	9 May 43
1449 Flight Scilly Isles	9 May 43	17 Nov 43
197 Squdn Tangmere	17 Nov 43	16 Mar 44
197 Sqdn Manston	16 Mar 44	1 Apr 44
197 Sqdn Tangmere	1 Apr 44	10 Apr 44
197 Sqdn Needs Oar Pt	10 Apr 44	25 Apr 44
Attached Fighter Leader School Millfield	25 Apr 44	12 May 44
197 Sqdn Needs Oar Point	12 May 44	3 Jul 44
197 Sqdn Hurn	3 Jul 44	17 Jul 44
197 Sqdn St. Croix B.3. France	17 Jul 44	18 Jul 44
257 Sqdn St. Croix	19 Jul 44	11 Aug 44
257 Sqdn Fairwood Common	11 Aug 44	30 Aug 44
257 Sqdn St. Croix	30 Aug 44	4 Sep 44
257 Sqdn Manston	4 Sep 44	6 Sep 44
257 Sqdn B23. Thierville	6 Sep 44	8 Sep 44
257 Sqdn Bradwell Bay/Tangmere/Manston	8 Sep 44	11 Sep 44
257 Sqdn Lille-Vendeville