A special place, this.

[Sir Limpsalot]

At the weekend I came accross the "Stars and Stripes" being flown at a road junction in Kent. Not an everyday occurance, so a little investigation was in order.

The tale is a good one. Trust me.

At 4:40 AM on the morning of Friday 13th April 1944 a B17 took off from Rattlestone in Suffolk as part of a large attack on the Messerschmitt factory at Ausberg, Germany.

The pilot was L/T W. Johnson, and his crew were as follows:
L/T G. Nye - Bombardere.
L/T W. Francher - Navigator
Sgt J Higgins - Radio op and gunner.
Sgt F Hazzard - Engineer and gunner.
Sgt K Zerger - Gunner.
Sgt E Williams - Gunner.
Sgt P Bartkus - Gunner.
Sgt P Simpson - Gunner.
Sgt E Williams - Gunner.

They crossed the enemy coast at Ostende and all was quiet for the first 90 miles then "All hell broke loose!" Anti aircraft fire caught the plane and one engine was put out of action with a second running badly. The decision was made to abort the mission and try and make home.

At the French town of Abbeville the lone aircraft was again hit by anti aircraft guns and was badly damaged. The wings had gaping holes, as did the fuselarge. Several of the crew were injured with shrapnel wounds and the bad engine quit.

The bomb load was jettisoned and the crew began throwing out all but the most essential equipment. They were losing height at about 500 feet per min.
It would be touch and go if they would make it accross the channel.

Parachuting into the sea would be difficult at best and almost suicide for the injured men.

A third engine lost oil pressure and stopped.

With one engine remaining Johnson crossed the English coast at Hythe and ordered the crew to jump. With the able bodied assisting their injured brothers they all got out. The last man jumped over the hamlet of lympne at just 800 feet.

It was too late now for L/t Johnson. The aircraft would crash before he could make the escape hatch..
He attempted an emergency landing in a field near Ivychurch and was killed in the resulting crash.

All his crew survived and to a man insisted that Johnson had sacrificed his own life to save theirs.
He was nominated for the Congressional medal of Honour and posthumously awarded the DSC.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/193520881-L.jpg

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/193520138-L.jpg

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/193521481-L.jpg

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/193521466-L.jpg

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/193520119-L.jpg

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/193520880-L.jpg

There is much I don't know about L/t Johnson. What his first name was, which part of the 'States he called home and how old he was when he died. But I do know one thing, guys. He maybe gone but his memory will be honoured here in England, in this quiet corner of Kent, where his flag proudly flies.

Simon.

[Deans BMW]

A very special place indeed, a memorial to a very special man.

I just finished reading what Move on dot Org had to say about Gen Petraeus and then saw your post, I am at a complete loss of words over the venom and discusting bile that some in this world spew and even worse their enablers.

L/T W. Johnson a true hero in a long line of true heros and great men, and women that we should be proud of.

Thanks Si

[1MPH]

A very nice memorial. Thanks for taking the time to post this Si.
Brings a lump to my throat. You Brits are the "bomb".

[DarthRider]

Thank you Si, we Yanks all appreciate you taking the time, and presenting it so well.
I had never heard of this mission, it may not be typical but it was certainly not unusual for the B-17 missions during that time.
I don't know of Lt. Johnson either, but at that time, rank & job, he was most likely 21-23 or so. Just a kid really, but obviously a courageous man as well.
My Dad was a B-29 radio operator in the Pacific War, first "Flying the Hump" from India, later bombing mainland & home-islands, Japan, out of Tinian Island, South Pacific. This is where the B-29s were based that dropped the two A-bombs that dramatically shortened the war and saved hundreds of thousands, some estimates say millions of American, Allies & Japanese lives. He was 25 at that time.
Thanks again.

[Wild Will]

Thanks Si. Very interesting stuff, our collective history vs. The Hun. Had Germany won the war, I wonder if they would have overseen the rebuilding of the war torn world like the Allies did. Ha! And now we gladly pay their rich prices to buy their opulent machines, 2 and 4 wheel.

Full circle?

Dean, we are truly in deeper shiite than any of us realize.

My old dad, still trying to catch a skirt or two, was a gunner in a B26 in Europe in 43 - 45. He has some very interesting tales to share. Unbelievable stuff. Last visit I taped them while we sat next to the pool in Calistoga, Ca.
Remember stopping traffic so you could take a picture from the middle of the road there, Old Hoon?

[Deans BMW]

Will, how well I do.

While reading Si's post, could not get a pic of my Dad flying a B 24 out of North Africa, he lead one of the raids on Plosti, was on the same mission as the Lady Be Good and new all of them well. He told me stories of comming back from Germany in ground effect over the water only two engines running at full military power and doing a straight in bouncing on to the runway.

One time in the cockpit at 30,000 ft leaning over to get something off the floor and when sitting back , falling thru the back of the seat, was blown out by flack.

Nothing in my experience allows me to relate to such as this and Lt Johnsons ordeal.

[Dirty Doug]

[IMG]http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff296/dougbunch/johnson_w-harvard-


1.) Lt. William H. Johnson
2.) Lt. Harold W. Whitely
3.) Lt. William S. Fancher
4.) Lt. George H. Ney
5.) Sgt. Frank J. Hazzard
6.) S/Sgt. John A. Higgins
7.) S/Sgt. Kenneth L. Zieger
8.) Sgt. Elbert J. Williams
9.) Sgt. Paul E. Simpson
10.) S/Sgt. Peter Bartkus


Havard ABB Oct. 1943


K-Rider
Doug

[geechie]

Wow, Si.

Thanks a lot for posting that. What a great story.

George

[Dirty Doug]

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff296/dougbunch/johnson_w-harvard-lk.jpg

[Sir Limpsalot]

Well I'll be damned! There they all are..

The wonder of the internet, and of knowing how to use it.

Thanks mate. Thanks all of you for your kind comments and interest.

Si.

[jamming]

Thanks SI.

WWII, the war to end all wars. Wish it could have been true.

A very nice sentiment for LT. Johnson.

[mnnden]

Simon, very touching, Thanks, It brings to mind a quote. I do not know the author but I think is appropriate.

"Amidst the uncertainties of war, every soldier is entitled to one certainty...that he will not be forgotten or abandoned."

[Sir Limpsalot]

I hadn't heard that quote before, but am most pleased to do so now.

Many thanks.

Si.