Leon W. Johnson

General Leon William Johnson (13 September 1904 – 10 November 1997) was a United States Air Force general who was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading the attack on the Ploesti oil fields during World War II.

A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, Johnson was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry in 1926. He joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1929, and qualified as a pilot. He earned a Master of Science degree in meteorology from California Institute of Technology in 1936.

During World War II, Johnson was one of the first four flying officers of the Eighth Air Force, and served on it staff during its formative period at Savannah, Georgia. In 1943, he assumed command of the 44th Bombardment Group, which flew the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. Johnson led the attack on the German naval installations at Kiel in May 1943 and the attack on the Ploesti oil fields in August 1943, for which the 44th Bombardment Group received Distinguished Unit Citations. He commanded the 14th Combat Bombardment Wing from September 1943 until May 1945.

After the war, Johnson commanded the Strategic Air Command's Fifteenth Air Force. He returned to England in 1948 to lead the 3rd Air Division, and then the Third Air Force, as it was redesignated in 1951. Despite his lowly rank of major general, he was able to hold his own in dealings with more senior British officers and officials, and performed his duties with diplomacy and sensitivity. He returned to the United States in 1952 as head of the Continental Air Command. He was air deputy to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, at SHAPE Headquarters from 1958 until he retired in 1961, but later that year he was recalled to active duty to become director of the National Security Council's Net Evaluation Subcommittee Staff at the Pentagon. He finally retired in 1965.

Early life

Johnson was born in Columbia, Missouri, on 13 September 1904. He had an older brother, a younger brother, and a sister. In 1919, the family moved to Moline, Kansas, where he went to high school. He played on the high school football team as a halfback, and was vice president of his senior class. After graduation, he worked in the family's bank.

Johnson entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, on 1 July 1922, and graduated 60th out of 152 graduates in the class of 1926 on 12 June 1926. In his final year, he was the First Sergeant of Company C. With the United States now a belligerent in World War II, promotion accelerated, and he was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 5 January 1942, and then colonel on 1 March 1942. He accompanied the Eighth Air Force to England in June 1942.

In addition, for his leadership of the 44th Bombardment Group, Johnson was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals. commanded the 14th Combat Bombardment Wing from 3 September 1943 until 10 May 1945. He was promoted to brigadier general on 6 November 1943.

Death and legacy Johnson donating his uniform to Col. Robert Ceruti, commander of the 44th Strategic Missile Wing, at a ceremony held at Ellsworth Air Force Base (1983) Johnson settled in McLean, Virginia and worked as a consultant. His hobbies included growing flowers,

He died of a respiratory infection on 10 November 1997 at Belvoir Woods health care facility in Fairfax, Virginia, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery next to his wife, Lucille Taylor Johnson, who had died in 1983. He was survived by his two daughters, Sarah Abbott and Sue Vandenberg, who had married Hoyt S. Vandenberg Jr., the son of General Hoyt S. Vandenberg.

Medal of Honor citation Johnson receiving his Medal of Honor from Lieutenant General Jacob L. Devers in a ceremony at RAF Shipdham Medal of Honor citation Rank and organization: Colonel, U.S. Army Air Corps, 44th Bomber Group, 9th Air Force. Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania, 1 August 1943. Entered service at: Moline, Kans. Born: 13 September 1904, Columbia, Mo. G.O. No.: 54, 7 September 1943.

Awards and decorations

BadgeCommand Pilot Badge1st rowMedal of HonorAir Force Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clustersSilver Star2nd rowLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf clusterAir Medal with three oak leaf clusters3rd rowAir Force Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf clusterAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign Medal4th rowEuropean-African-Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with nine campaign starsWorld War Two Victory MedalArmy of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and Berlin Airlift Device5th rowMedal for Humane Action with Berlin Airlift DeviceNational Defense Service Medal with service starAir Force Longevity Service Award with seven oak leaf clusters Foreign Awards

Distinguished Flying Cross United KingdomLegion of Honor FranceFrench Croix De Guerre with PalmBelgian Croix De Guerre with Palm

Dates of rank