Johnnie Johnson (pilot)

James Edgar Johnson
Wing Commander Johnson at Bazenville Landing Ground, Normandy, July 1944
Nickname(s)	"Johnnie"
Born	(1915-03-09)9 March 1915 Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire
Died	30 January 2001(2001-01-30) (aged 85) Buxton, Derbyshire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1939–1966
Rank	Air Vice Marshal
Service number	754750 (airman) 83267 (officer)
Commands held	Air Forces Middle East (1963–65) RAF Cottesmore (1957–59) RAF Wildenrath (1952–54) No. 124 Wing (1945–46) No. 125 Wing (1945) No. 127 Wing (1944–45) No. 144 Wing (1944) No. 610 Squadron (1942–43)
Battles/wars	Second World War Korean War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Officer of the Order of Leopold with Palms (Belgium) Croix de guerre (Belgium) Legion of Merit (US) Distinguished Flying Cross (US) Air Medal (US) Commander of the Legion of Honour (France)
Other work	Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Leicestershire

Air Vice Marshal James Edgar Johnson, CB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, DFC & Bar (9 March 1915 – 30 January 2001), nicknamed "Johnnie", was a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot and flying ace—defined as a pilot that has shot down five or more enemy aircraft in aerial combat—who flew and fought during the Second World War.

Johnson grew up and was educated in the East Midlands, where he qualified as an engineer. A sportsman, Johnson broke his collarbone while playing rugby, an injury that later complicated his ambitions of becoming a fighter pilot. Johnson had been interested in aviation since his youth and applied to join the RAF. He was initially rejected, first on social, and then on medical grounds; he was eventually accepted in August 1939. The injury problems, however, returned during his early training and flying career, resulting in him missing the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain between May and October 1940.

In 1940 Johnson had an operation to reset his collarbone, and began flying regularly. He took part in the offensive sweeps over German-occupied Europe from 1941 to 1944, almost without rest. Johnson was involved in heavy aerial fighting during this period. His combat tour included participation in the Dieppe Raid, Combined Bomber Offensive, Battle of Normandy, Operation Market Garden,the Battle of the Bulge and the Western Allied invasion of Germany. Johnson progressed to the rank of group captain by the end of the war.