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Personal info

Full name
JOHNSON, Guy W
Date of birth
7 April 1917
Age
27
Place of birth
Danbury, Woodbury County, Iowa
Hometown
Parkersburg, Butler County, Iowa

Military service

Service number
O-681431
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
506th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 April 1944
Place of death
Otternhagen near Neustadt am Rübenberge, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 36 2

Immediate family

Members
Clarence E. Johnson (father)
Bertha Johnson (mother)
Eva R. Johnson (sister)
Mary M. Johnson (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-73506
Data
Type: B-24
Nickname: Black Jack
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aviation industry
MACR: 3852

More information

Guy Johnson joined in the Army Air Corps on 14 April 1942 and received his wings and commission on 24 May 1943 at Lubbock Field, Texas. He was sent overseas in November 1943.

The primary target was the aviation industry at Brunswick. This target as well as the secondary were obscured by a smoke screen, so a target of opportunity, Langenhagen/Hannover Aerodrome was bombed instead.
According to the co-pilot, Leroy M. Williamson, the aircraft was hit by flak in the nose section, bomb bay, tail and left wing, immediately catching fire over Brunswick.
Others sources also mention attacks of enemy fighter aircraft over Langenhagen.

Orders to bail out were given and all jumped successfully. Co-pilot Williamson stated that, after all personnel had cleared the aircraft and were descending to earth, they were fired upon by small arms. Upon hitting the earth, he recognized the voice of 1st Lt Guy W. Johnson saying, 'I give up. Don't shoot' – or words to that effect. Then followed a burst of rifle fire. Lt Williamson was wounded himself and did not see Lt Johnson, although he would judge from the sound of his voice he was about 400 feet away. He could see a number of German soldiers running in the direction of Lt Johnson.

Lt Johnson was the only casualty. The rest of the crew was taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - Waterloo Daily Courier 11 April 1945 / 1920 Census / Iowa, Birth Index, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.americanairmuseum.com, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot Class Book 43-E, Coleman Flying School, Texas