Sandy Johnstone
| Alexander Vallance Riddell Johnstone | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Sandy" |
| Born |
2 June 1916 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 13 December 2000 (aged 84) Denham, Buckinghamshire |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1934–1968 |
| Rank | Air Vice Marshal |
| Commands held |
No. 18 Group (1965–68) RAF Middleton St George (1958–61) RAF Ballykelly (1951–52) RAF Fairwood Common (1943–44) No. 602 Squadron (1940–41) |
| Battles/wars | Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross Air Efficiency Decoration Mentioned in Despatches |
Air Vice Marshal Alexander Vallance Riddell Johnstone, CB, DFC, AE, DL (2 June 1916 – 13 December 2000), better known as Sandy Johnstone, was a Scottish airman. He served as a Royal Air Force squadron, wing and station commander during the Second World War and the commander of Commonwealth forces operating in Borneo during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation.
Alexander Vallance Riddell Johnstone was born in Glasgow on 2 June 1916 and was educated at Kelvinside Academy. He worked in an Edinburgh footwear company and in 1934 he joined No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Auxiliary Air Force Squadron as a weekend flier.
Early in 1938, Johnstone was a civilian navigation instructor at Scottish Aviation, moving later to the Civil Air Navigation School at Prestwick. In August 1939 he was called to full-time service with No. 602 Squadron. On 24 November 1939 George Pinkerton was promoted to squadron leader and given command of No. 65 Squadron RAF, with Johnstone taking over command of 'B' Flight from Pinkerton.
After participating in engagements with lone German raiders off the Scottish coast in late 1939-early 1940, he was given command of 602 Squadron in July 1940 at the age of 24. By this time Johnstone had already claimed a Heinkel He 111, a Junkers Ju 88 and a Dornier Do 17 damaged. The squadron was transferred south to RAF Westhampnett in West Sussex, where it was stationed throughout the Battle of Britain.
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