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Lloyd L. Johnson
LLOYD L. JOHNSON, born on Octoher 9,1923 in Oakdale, Nebraska. He graduated from the Oakdale High SChool in 1941.
He attended Nebraska Wesleyan University
and graduated from the University of Nebraska with a BS degree in 1950. He attended
Squadron Officer School in 1951, Forward
Air Controller 1952, Air Force Special
Weapons School in 1952, Jet Instrument
School in 1953, National War College
Defense Seminar in 1962 and 1969 and
completed Air Command and Staff School in
1974.
Colonel Johnson entered military service
as a cadet in the United States Army Air Corps
on 25 February 1943. He graduated from
Flight Training on 14 April 1944, at Luke
Field, Phoenix, Arizona. He served in the
European Theatre in 1944-1945 as a fighter
pilot with the 50th Fighter Group and the
81st Fighter Squadron. He was credited with
four aerial victories and one of the first
American pilots to shoot down a German ME262 jet fighter while flying an American
P-47 Thunderbolt. He flew 99 combat missions over Europe in the P-47. The 100th mission ended in a mine field west of the
Rhine River due to engine failure. He was
promoted to First Lieutenant on 10 March
1945. He was released from active duty on
25 November 1945 at Offutt Field, Nebraska.
Colonel Johnson joined the 173rd Fighter
Squadron, Nebraska Air Guard on 31 July
1949. Following graduation from the University of Nebraska in 1950 he worked in
Lincoln, Nebraska for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad and as an aerial spray pilot.
He was mobilized with the 173rd Fighter
Squadron during the Korean Conflict during
the period 1 March 1951-21 August 1953.
He was promoted to Captain while on active
duty on 1 June 1952. He joined the Air
National Guard technician program as the
State Air Administrative Assistant to the
Nebraska Adjutant General following return
from active duty in August 1953. He was
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 6 September 1963. He was appointed Chief of
Staff, Nebraska Air National Guard and promoted to Colonel on 24 November 1973.
Brig. Gen. on 8 Feb. '79.
Colonel Johnson served as President of the
Nebraska National Guard Association in
1967. He served as Nebraska Air National
Guard Liaison Officer for the Air Force
Academy, Aerospace Coordinator, Liaison
Officer for the University of Nebraska
AFROTC. He has served on numerous committees of the National Guard Association of the United States. He is an active supporter of
the Arnold Air Society, Air Force Association, YMCA, Boy Scouts, Chamber of Commerce, Church, American Legion, National
Guard Association and Ak-Sar-Ben.
AWARDS: European African Middle East
Medal with three campaign stars for Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes offensives, Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters,
WW II Victory Medal, Combat Readiness
Medal, American Campaign Medal, National
Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces
Reserve Medal.
RESIDENCE: Colonel and Mrs. Johnson
(Barbara) live in Nebraska. Their family includes:
Lisa (Mrs. Gregory Nicklas), Jeffrey and
Kristen.
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Pilot Name
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Biography Summary
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John Abbotts
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P-47 transition followed at Pocatello, Idaho and Greenville, Texas after which he was assigned to the 56th Fighter Group in England. When the news of his arrival reached Berlin, Hitler retired to his bunker with his cyanide capsule and revolver. Eva found the news equally depressing.
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Asa A. Adair
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He returned to the States in August of 1944 after participating in the invasion "D" Day. He flew P-63's, P-51's, F-80's, T-33's, F-84's, T-38's, P-47's in numerous assignments during the following twenty years in in, Japan, U.S.A. and Europe before retiring after twenty-six years of Active Duty.
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Edward B. Addison
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The 507th Fighter Group, equipped with P-47N's, won the Presidential Unit Citation for destroying 32 Japanese aircraft in the air on one mission to Seoul, Korea. The average flying time for raids to Korea and Japan would be 7 to 9 hours flying time. In a total of 31 months, the 507th not only provided top cover for B-29's, but also
dive-bombed, napalm-bombed and flew low-level on strafing missions.
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Levon B. Agha-Zarian
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It is rumored that he, took his primary training on a flying rug. He flew Spits, briefly, in England, but as the, war moved to the East, he was sent to India as a Sgt. Pilot and first saw action from Ceylon, flying the Curtiss P.36, the Brewster Buffalo, and the Hurricane. At this point he might have opted for the rug! This was at the time of the fall of Singapore and the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse.
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George N. Ahles
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Posted to A-20 light bomber squadron Barksdale Field, Louisiana. . Group moved to Hunter Air Base Savannah, Georgia. Qualified for Pilot training November 1940. Entered Aviation Cadets January 1942. Presented wings November 1942 class of 42-J. Married Mary Louise while in Advanced Pilot Training at Craig AFB, Selma, Alabama, September 1942.
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Roy J. Aldritt
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Shortly after the group moved to France he ran into some unseen flak and was forced to make a nylon descent behind the lines; some evasion and a lot of luck had him back with his unit
in 24 hours.
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Eugene J. Amaral
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After graduation from Stonington High School he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in December 1942 and was called to active duty in March, 1943. He received his wings and commission at Spence Field, Georgia as a member of the Class of 43-C.
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Talmadge L. Ambrose
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Flew 84 missions thru VE Day, was downed by 22mm ground fire over Siefried Line. He destroyed 11 enemy aircraft, 9 known confirmed in air and on
ground, including 4 FW 190-D's in one afternoon over Hanover, Germany, April 8, 1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 17 man, Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, Pacific Theatre and European Theatre Meda1s with 5 Battle
Stars and Unit Citation Medal.
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John C. Anderson
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After P-47 transition he was assigned to the 406th Fighter Group, 512th Fighter Squadron. (E.T
.0.) He flew 56 missions through January, 1945 destroying supply routes, bridges, and railroads; he also flew close support missions with the ground forces, with attacks on tanks, artillery and enemy positions.
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William Anderson
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It was not always flak,two ME-109's beat the hell out of me one day. The central controller called me and said "Basher-Red Leader do you have contact Bandits," I replied, "I sure do, I'll bring them over the field in 3 minutes, they're chasing me home." Got all the usual medals including two Belgium and two French but one I'm most proud of is the Silver Star -it is the greatest.
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