S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
The Story of John W. Johnson
S/Sgt.
John W. Johnson
Clerk - Typist
546th Bomb Squadron
384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
Serial Nr 13089956
Participated in all six Air Campaigns -
Air Offensive Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe
John was born 26th April 1922 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and was one of five children. He graduated from Derry Township High School in 1941 and was a standout athlete in Football, Baseball, Basketball and Athletics.
Following graduation, John went to work for Latrobe Speciality Steel Company as a Machine Press Operator.
In 1942 John enlisted with the USAAF, graduating on the 9th January 1943 - also the day he was to marry Dorothy Sindorf.
John was assigned to the 384th Bomb Group arriving at Grafton Underwood on 30th January 1943.
His role was a clerk / typist for the 546th BS. He was required to be a proficient typist and was kept busy as every document at this time was hand typed. He was responsible for a multitude of admin roles including handling mail, filing duties, distributing and classifying correspondence to and from the Group and compiling crew/aircraft availability records ahead of missions.
In the course of his duties, John was awarded six Air Campaign Stars and a Unit Citation ribbon from the Group's mission on 11th Jan. 1944.
Research courtesy of Jeff Johnson on behalf of 384th Bombardment Group Museum.
With kind thanks to the 384th Bomb Group website (384thbombgroup.com) for permission in using material from their records in the making of this story. It holds a wealth of information, documents and photographs of their activities during World War 2.
Gallery
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.
S/Sgt. John W. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jeff Johnson.