Gerald W. Johnson

Gerald Walter Johnson (July 10, 1919 – September 9, 2002) was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force and a World War II flying ace. Enlisting in 1941, Johnson served as a fighter pilot in Europe, and was credited with shooting down 16.5 enemy aircraft before being shot down himself and taken prisoner. After the war, he continued his military career rising to command several fighter and bomber wings during the 1950s and 60s. He commanded the Eighth Air Force for a period during the Vietnam War, and retired in 1974 after serving as Inspector General of the Air Force.

Early life Johnson was born in Owenton, a small town in northern Kentucky, on 10 July 1919.

He was a graduate of Boston University and did graduate work at George Washington University. He was credited with 16.5 air-to-air victories. After fifteen months of combat he was shot down on March 27, 1944, and spent 13 months as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I when it was liberated by The Red Army on May 2, 1945. He then commanded the 825th Strategic Aerospace Division. He became vice commander of Second Air Force in 1968 and commander of the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division in 1969.

Military Command and General Staff School National War College

Aeronautical ratings Command pilot wings Senior Missile Badge