Johnnie Johnson (RAF officer)

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Johnnie Johnson (RAF officer) : biography

9 March 1915 – 30 January 2001

Later life

Johnson was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Leicestershire in 1967. He established the Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust Ltd in 1969. The trust manages over 4,000 properties to date. After the death of his friend Douglas Bader in 1982, Johnson, Denis Crowley-Milling and Sir Hugh Dundas set up the Douglas Bader Foundation, to continue supporting disabled charities, of which Bader was a passionate supporter.Sarkar 2001, p. 298.

Johnson was also the first to recognise the skills of Robert Taylor, the famous aviation artist in the 1980s. Depictions of aircraft and battle scenes in print began to become popular and helped Taylor promote them. The venture was very successful. Johnson’s sons set up their own distribution networks in the United States and Britain.

Johnson spent most of the 1980s and 1990s as a keynote speaker, fundraiser and spending time on his hobbies; travelling, fishing, shooting and walking his dogs.Sarkar 2011, pp. 294–295. Johnson appeared on the long–running British television show This Is Your Life on 8 May 1985, the 40th anniversary of VE Day. Among the program’s guests was German fighter ace Walter Matoni. British wartime propaganda had alleged Johnson had challenged Matoni to a personal duel; a version of events denied by Johnson. The two men arranged to meet after the war but were unable to do so until the TV program. Among other guests was Hugh Dundas, "Nip" Nepple, who flew alongside Johnson on his first operation—in which he earned a rebuke from Bader—Crowley-Milling, Johnson’s former Wing Commander Patrick Jameson and his Uncle, Charlie Rossell who was over 100 years old at the time.Sarkar 2011, pp. 235–237, p. 303.

Medals

  • Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars
  • Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
  • Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1960 New Year Honours)
  • Companion in The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (1965 Queen’s Birthday Honours)
  • Légion d’honneur (France)
  • Croix de Guerre (1940) with Palms (Belgium)
  • Order of Léopold with Palms (Belgium)
  • Distinguished Flying Cross (USA)
  • Air Medal (USA)
  • Legion of Merit (USA)

Personal life

As a teenager Johnson soon become fascinated by speed and joined the Melton Car Club with two boyhood friends. Johnson enjoyed the lifestyle of cars and "pacey women". Although he had many early interests, Johnson would later settle and add to his family. During a period of leave, on 14 November 1942, he married Pauline Ingate and they had two sons;Johnson 2000, p. 149. Michael (16 October 1944)Sarkar 2011, p. 275. and Chris (born 1 December 1946). During the war Pauline worked for the Norwich Fire Service. After Pauline’s death, Johnson lived with his partner Janet Partridge.Sarkar 2011, p. 301.

On 30 January 2001, Johnson, aged 85 years, died from cancer. The New York Times, 30 January 2001. A memorial service took place on 25 April 2001 at St Clement Danes and the hymns Jerusalem and I Vow to Thee, My Country were played.Sarkar 2011, p. 303. His children scattered his ashes at his Chatsworth Estate in East Derbyshire. The only memorial was a bench dedicated to him at the estate on his favourite fishing spot. The inscription reads; In Memory of a Fisherman.Sarkar 2011, pp. 303–304.

Early years

Johnson was born in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, England, the son of local policeman Alfred Johnson and Beatrice May Johnson. Johnson was close to his uncle, Charlie Rosswell, who had won the Military Cross with the Royal Fusiliers in the Great War. His uncle’s stories inspired his nephew to seek adventure. Seeing the potential in Johnnie, Charlie paid for his education at Loughborough Grammar School.Sarkar 2011, p. 13. According to his brother Ross, during his time there, Johnson was always getting into mischief. He was nearly expelled after refusing punishment for a misdemeanour, believing it to be unjustified: "he was very principled and simply dug his heels in".Sarkar 2011, p. 11.