Captain Johnson became the first ACE of the 56th Fighter Group and the second ACE in the European Theater. He flew 88 missions in the 15 months of combat duty, shooting down 16 enemy aircraft to become a TRIPLE ACE, before being shot down on March 27, 1944, and spending 13 months in a German prison camp. He was officially credited with a total of 16.5 aerial victories in World War II. He retired on September 1, 1974, as a U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General.
Sponsored by:
Gerald
Walter
Johnson
POW (WWII)
July 10, 1919
–
September 9, 2002
Cemetery:
Arlington National Cemetery
Awards Received
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
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Legion of Merit
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Service Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Major (Air Corps)Division:
Prisoner of War (Germany)Action Date:
March 27, 1944 – May 1945
NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 – 8079Major (Air Corps) Gerald Walter Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Army Air Forces, was captured by German forces after his fighter airplane was shot down by ground fire on 27 March 1944, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his return to U.S. Military Control at the end of hostilities in May 1945.
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Major GeneralAction Date:
September 1971 – October 1973
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major General Gerald Walter Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander of EIGHTH Air Force at Andersen AFB, Guam, from September 1971 to October 1973. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Johnson and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Lieutenant GeneralAction Date:
October 1972 – September 1974
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant General Gerald Walter Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, culminating as Inspector General of the Air Force from October 1973 to September 1974. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Johnson culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.
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Legion of Merit
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant General Gerald Walter Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Air Force, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Johnson and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Captain (Air Corps)Batallion:
61st Fighter SquadronRegiment:
56th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain (Air Corps) Gerald Walter Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a P-47 Fighter Pilot of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
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Distinguished Service Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Captain (Air Corps)Batallion:
61st Fighter SquadronRegiment:
56th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
August 17, 1943
Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 83 (November 11, 1943)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Gerald Walter Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 17 August 1943, in action over continental Europe, 17 August 1943, while serving as a flight leader in a mission escorting withdrawing bombers. Through the aggressiveness, courage, and persistent attacks of the flight led by Captain Johnson, the withdrawal of bombers escorted by his flight was successfully accomplished. Though repeatedly attacked by enemy aircraft, Captain Johnson, through initiative, resourcefulness, and leadership adequately protected his convoy and personally destroyed two enemy aircraft and assisted in the destruction of a third. Captain Johnson, by his repeated acceptance of heavy odds and by his aggressive spirit in the attack, has been an inspiration to his fellow pilots and reflects the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Captain (Air Corps)Batallion:
61st Fighter SquadronRegiment:
56th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain (Air Corps) Gerald Walter Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a P-47 Fighter Pilot of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Captain (Air Corps)Batallion:
61st Fighter SquadronRegiment:
56th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain (Air Corps) Gerald Walter Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a P-47 Fighter Pilot of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Major (Air Corps)Batallion:
360th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
356th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major (Air Corps) Gerald Walter Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a P-47 Fighter Pilot of the 360th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Major (Air Corps)Batallion:
360th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
356th Fighter GroupDivision:
8th Air ForceAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major (Air Corps) Gerald Walter Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a P-47 Fighter Pilot of the 360th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.