James Melford Johnson
MilitaryStanding, L to R: Cpl. Robert Braun (Ball Turret), Lt. Don D Aver (Navigator), Lt. William Woodcock (Bombardier), F/O Ted Novey (Co-Pilot) Lt. James M Johnson (Pilot)
Kneeling L to R: Cpl. Forest Beighle (Tail Gunner), Cpl. James Moore (Engineer), Cpl. David Daniels (Radio), S/Sgt. Frank E Lewis (Waist Gunner)
398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum. Museum object reference number: USB1-110
Flew 36 missions out of Nuthampstead between July and December 1944. Shot down September 9th in B-17 43-37509 over Mannheim and crash landed in France. The crew made their way to Paris and then returned to Nuthampstead to resume flying. Johnson’s crew flew missions to France, Germany, the Netherlands (Operation Market Garden), and Czechoslovakia. His co-pilot for 29 of those missions was Theodore Novy.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron 603rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19182423, O-770966
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 9 September 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Revisions
National Personnel Records Center in St Louis, Missouri, and the 398th Bomb Group web site (www.398th.org). I am also James Johnson's nephew, was named after him when I was born in December 9, 1944, and done research concerning his military history.
398th History Vol II / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia