Air Vice Marshal James 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 flying ace with the most "kills" during the war. An Air Vice Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Vice Marshal is the third most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand Cross... Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and other formerly Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... This article is about the award given in the United Kingdom; a separate article describes the award given in the United States. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the UK Armed Forces. ... Aviators are people who fly aircraft either for pleasure or for a job. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was by far the bloodiest, most expensive, and most significant war in... The   Luftwaffe? (German: air force, IPA: [luftvafÉ™]) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... A flying ace is a military aviator who has shot down five or more enemy aircraft. ...

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 was expelled from the school due to this incident. He sustained a broken collar bone playing rugby that did not properly heal. Location within the British Isles Melton Mowbray or Melton is a town in the borough of Melton north-east Leicestershire, England. ... Leicestershire (abbreviated Leics) is a landlocked county in central England. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... Loughborough Grammar Schools quad Loughborough Endowed Schools (LES) consists of three independent schools in Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom — Loughborough Grammar School (LGS), a boys day and boarding school, Loughborough High School (LHS), a girls day school and Fairfield Preparatory School. ... © University of Nottingham   The University of Nottingham is a leading research and teaching university in the city of Nottingham, in the East Midlands of England. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus The bane of Australian farmers - the wild rabbit An old rabbit trap Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae, found in many parts of the world. ... Orders Many - see section below. ... Rural areas are sparsely settled places away from the influence of large cities and towns. ... A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) relating to any area of human activity or social custom declared as sacred and forbidden; breaking of the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society. ... In anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a bone that makes up part of the shoulder girdle. ... Rugby Union is a team sport that was developed from the rules used to play football at Rugby School in England. ...

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 an operation that would correct the problem, but this meant he would miss the Battle of Britain. A major campaign of World War II, the Battle of Britain is the name for the attempt by Germanys Luftwaffe to gain air superiority of British airspace and destroy the Royal Air Force (RAF). ...

In 1942 he married Pauline Ingate, and they had two sons. This article is about the year. ...

After the war

Johnson was offered a full commission by the RAF after the war, and went on to fight in the Korean War. He also established the Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust in 1969. The Korean War (Korean: 한국전쟁/韓國戰爭), from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea. ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ...

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

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

Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and other formerly Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... This article is about the award given in the United Kingdom; a separate article describes the award given in the United States. ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand Cross... Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... French Legion of Honour The Légion dhonneur (Legion of Honor (AmE) or Legion of Honour (ComE)) is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of France. ... The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of both Belgium and France which was first created in 1915. ... Order of Léopold The Order of Léopold is the highest military order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Léopold I. The decoration was established in 1832 and is awarded for extreme bravery in combat or for meritorious service of immense benefit to the Belgian... The Distinguished Flying Cross. ... The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158, signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, on May 11, 1942. ... The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. ...

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
• Biography