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Personal info

Full name
JOHNSON, Alvin Arendt
Date of birth
4 October 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Fairmount City, Clarion County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
O-700272
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
378th Fighter Squadron,
362nd Fighter Group
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
19 November 1944
Place of death
Near Merzig, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
E 15 79

Immediate family

Members
Charles A. Johnson (father)
Nellie N. Johnson (mother)
Charles E. Johnson (brother)
Phyllis M. Johnson (sister)
Betty P. Johnson (sister)
Lois A. Johnson (sister)
Joan Johnson (sister)
Nellie M. Johnson (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29131
Data
Type: P-47D-28
Destination: Saarbrücken, Germany
Mission: Strafing trucks
MACR: 10515

More information

1st Lt Alvin A. Johnson volunteered for the U.S. Army in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 19 January 1942.

Statement from 2nd Lt Duncan M. Morton:
"I was flying red four in Firebrick Squadron. We were at 1,000 feet and were strafing trucks. I saw Lt Johnson’s plane underneath me and on the deck. His plane hit a pole supporting high tension wires, and he tore three feet from his left wing. The plane went over on its back, and it flew for two or three seconds and went into the ground. There was an explosion as the plane hit the ground and the engine tore loose from the plane and rolled about 100 yards. There wasn’t a large piece of the plane left. I circled and didn’t see him get out of the wreckage."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Pennsylvania Veteran Compensation Application Files WWII / 1920 Census / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Luxembourg American Cemetery / Joel Frampton Gilfert, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-K, Majors Field, Greenville, Texas