George Owen Johnson
Encyclopedia
Air Marshal
George Owen Johnson CB
, MC
(January 24, 1896 – March 28, 1980) was a Canadian aviator
.
in 1896, George Owen Johnson initially served as a subaltern with the Corps of School Cadet Instructors (CSCI) from 1913 to 1916. He was accepted for the Royal Naval Air Service
(RNAS) in Canada, but transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
before going overseas in May 1917. Serving with No. 84 Squadron he became an ace with one aircraft destroyed, two shared aircraft destroyed, and three 'out of control'. Later, serving with No.24 squadron, he was credited with one aircraft destroyed, one shared balloon destroyed, two 'out of control', and one shared aircraft captured including Leut. Kurt Wüsthoff
. In total he was credited with 11 victories.
He served as a fighter pilot in Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
aircraft on the Western Front—in No. 84 Squadron RAF
, 22 October 1917 to 18 April 1918; in No. 24 Squadron RAF, 18 April to 19 June 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross
(MC) and Croix de Guerre
avec Etoile en Bronze. After some months instructing in England in training squadrons (served at Training Depot Station (TDS) No.56, Cranwell, No.4 TDS, Hooton (Flight Commander and Instructor) and No.51 TDS, Shotworth), he was posted to No. 1 (Canadian) Squadron upon its formation overseas in November 1918.
His MC citation read in part:
in the Air Board. He participated in the first trans-Canada flight (which started from Halifax, October 7, 1920) as a navigator. He commanded flying stations, commanded Station Winnipeg (May 1925 to August 1927), attended RAF Staff College, Andover
, commanded CFB Trenton
for two years; attended Imperial Defence College (1936–37) (now known as Royal College of Defence Studies
), and became Assistant Director of Civil Government Air Operations. From June to December 1933 he was Acting Senior Air Officer, RCAF
. In March 1938 appointed first Commanding Officer of Western Air Command, based in Vancouver
at Jericho Beach
Seaplane base. Throughout this period he was involved in the expansion of civil and military aviation, the use of aircraft in the exploration and mapping of Canada, and the creation of national and international air mail service.
, then served as Deputy Chief of Air Staff (November 1940), AOC No.1 Training Command of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
(July 1942), AOC Eastern Air Command (January 1943), and AOC RCAF Overseas (April 1945 to July 1946). He was awarded the Commander of the Bath
(Military), the Legion of Merit
(Commander) and the Légion d'honneur
(Commandeur) as a result of his World War II service. He retired as Air Marshal in 1947. He died in Vancouver
, Canada
, March 28, 1980.
His CB citation read in part:
. The Air Marshal Johnson School opened its doors in 1949 and served as an elementary school for the children of Canadian Forces personnel from Kindergarten through Grade IX until the base was closed in 1989.
According to Air Marshal Robert Leckie
:
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Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
George Owen Johnson CB
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. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(January 24, 1896 – March 28, 1980) was a Canadian aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
.
World War I service
Born in Woodstock, OntarioWoodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River...
in 1896, George Owen Johnson initially served as a subaltern with the Corps of School Cadet Instructors (CSCI) from 1913 to 1916. He was accepted for the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
(RNAS) in Canada, but transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
before going overseas in May 1917. Serving with No. 84 Squadron he became an ace with one aircraft destroyed, two shared aircraft destroyed, and three 'out of control'. Later, serving with No.24 squadron, he was credited with one aircraft destroyed, one shared balloon destroyed, two 'out of control', and one shared aircraft captured including Leut. Kurt Wüsthoff
Kurt Wusthoff
Leutnant Kurt Wüsthoff was a German fighter pilot credited with 27 victories during World War I. He was the second youngest winner of Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Merite or Blue Max.-Early life:...
. In total he was credited with 11 victories.
He served as a fighter pilot in Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
aircraft on the Western Front—in No. 84 Squadron RAF
No. 84 Squadron RAF
No. 84 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is at present a Search and Rescue Squadron based at RAF Akrotiri, it uses the Bell Griffin HAR.2 helicopter. It is currently part of the RAF's Search and Rescue Force-History:...
, 22 October 1917 to 18 April 1918; in No. 24 Squadron RAF, 18 April to 19 June 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(MC) and Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
avec Etoile en Bronze. After some months instructing in England in training squadrons (served at Training Depot Station (TDS) No.56, Cranwell, No.4 TDS, Hooton (Flight Commander and Instructor) and No.51 TDS, Shotworth), he was posted to No. 1 (Canadian) Squadron upon its formation overseas in November 1918.
His MC citation read in part:
- "He has destroyed two hostile machines, has driven down two others out of control, and has always displayed the greatest courage and coolness in the most difficult situations."
Interwar years
In July 1919 he returned to Canada and was commissioned as a Flight Lieutenant in the Canadian Air Force (CAF) in 1920 (His service number was 4—just four), and appointed an Assistant Director of Flying Operations under Wing Commander Robert LeckieRobert Leckie (aviator)
Air Marshal Robert Leckie CB, DSO, DSC, DFC, CD was a Canadian aviation pioneer and Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1944 to 1947.- First World War service :...
in the Air Board. He participated in the first trans-Canada flight (which started from Halifax, October 7, 1920) as a navigator. He commanded flying stations, commanded Station Winnipeg (May 1925 to August 1927), attended RAF Staff College, Andover
RAF Staff College, Andover
The RAF Staff College at RAF Andover was the first Royal Air Force staff college to be established. Its role was the training of officers in the administrative, staff and policy apects of air force matters.-Foundation:...
, commanded CFB Trenton
CFB Trenton
Canadian Forces Base Trenton , is a Canadian Forces base located northeast of Trenton, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad...
for two years; attended Imperial Defence College (1936–37) (now known as Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
), and became Assistant Director of Civil Government Air Operations. From June to December 1933 he was Acting Senior Air Officer, RCAF
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
. In March 1938 appointed first Commanding Officer of Western Air Command, based in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
at Jericho Beach
Jericho Beach
Jericho Beach, a popular Vancouver beach, is located west of the seaside neighbourhood of Kitsilano. It is surrounded by Jericho Beach Park, a large grassy area with a pond, which is a good picnic destination. In the local Indigenous Sḵwxwú7mesh language, Jericho Beach is iy'a'l'mexw meaning "good...
Seaplane base. Throughout this period he was involved in the expansion of civil and military aviation, the use of aircraft in the exploration and mapping of Canada, and the creation of national and international air mail service.
World War II service
He was made Air Member for Organization and Training (October 1939) and began work on creating and executing the British Commonwealth Air Training PlanBritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
, then served as Deputy Chief of Air Staff (November 1940), AOC No.1 Training Command of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
(July 1942), AOC Eastern Air Command (January 1943), and AOC RCAF Overseas (April 1945 to July 1946). He was awarded the Commander of the Bath
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. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(Military), the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(Commander) and the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(Commandeur) as a result of his World War II service. He retired as Air Marshal in 1947. He died in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, March 28, 1980.
His CB citation read in part:
- "Air Vice Marshal Johnson, as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, was responsible for the excellent planning and construction of the vast number of stations required for the successful operation of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan as well as the increased Home War plans."
Legacy
There was a school named in his honour at the The Royal Canadian Air Force base and training school in Summerside, Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
. The Air Marshal Johnson School opened its doors in 1949 and served as an elementary school for the children of Canadian Forces personnel from Kindergarten through Grade IX until the base was closed in 1989.
According to Air Marshal Robert Leckie
Robert Leckie (aviator)
Air Marshal Robert Leckie CB, DSO, DSC, DFC, CD was a Canadian aviation pioneer and Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1944 to 1947.- First World War service :...
:
- "During Air Marshal Johnson's many senior appointments in the Royal Canadian Air Force, including his responsibilities in such positions as Deputy Chief of Air Staff, and Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Eastern Air Command and the Royal Canadian Air Force Overseas, he at all times was considered a brilliant leader and an inspiration to those with whom he came in contact."
External links
- TheAerodrome.com WWI memorial site
- Royal Canadian Air Force honours list WWI
- Royal Canadian Air Force honours list WWII
- RCAF service number
- His portrait at The Canadian War Museum - Image not public domain
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