Following recent government announcements the museum is currently closed, there is plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
Military
Captain James A. Johnston
He was an original crew member of the Group.
Killed in B-17 41-24471 'Four of a Kind', involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 41-24498 ( 306BG/369BS) on 13 January 1943 about 3 miles north of Lille, France, while on a mission to bomb the railroad factories of Ateliers D'Hellemmes at Lille, France.
Aircraft crashed at Marcq-en-Barœul, France.
KIA. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 15502.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner, Top Turret Gunner ; Flight Engineer | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He was an original crew member. On 13 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24471 'Four of a Kind' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner the aircraft was involved in a mid air collision with B-17F 41-24498 306BG/369BS and broke in two just north of the target...
Military | Captain | Co-Pilot, Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He reported to group on 27 Mar 1942. He graduated Pilot class 42-B at Brooks AAB, TX.
...
Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
On 13 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24471 'Four of a Kind' while serving as Navigator the aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17F 41-24498 306BG/369BS which broke the aircraft in two just north of the target of Lille, France. He was either...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He was assigned to the James A. Johnston crew. Reported to group on 19 Jun 1942.
...
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He flew on James Johnston crew. Reported to the ETO on 01 Jul 1942.
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
On 13 January 1943 in B-17F #41-24471 'Four of a Kind' while serving as Right Waist Gunner the aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17F #42-14498 306BG/369BS and broke in two just north of the target at Lille, France. He managed to...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
On 13 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24471 'Four of a Kind' while serving as Radio Operator the aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17F 41-24498 306BG/369BS and broke in two just north of the target at Lille, France. He was able to scramble...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
On 13 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24471 'Four of a Kind' while serving as Left Waist Gunner the aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17F 41-24498 306BG/369BS and broke in two just north of the target at Lille, France. He was unable to get...
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
On 13 January 1943 in B-17F #41-24471 'Four of a Kind' while serving as Tail Gunner the aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17F #41-24498 and broke in two just north of the target at Lille, France. He managed to get out of the falling...
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW- ] Westover 17-Aug-42; Thurleigh 2-Oct-42; Missing in Action 13-Jan-43 on a mission to bomb the railroad factories of Ateliers D'Hellemmes at Lille, France. Aircraft was sliced in two and the crew members were trapped in the...
13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...
Military site : airfield
Built for RAF use in 1941-42, Thurleigh was initially used by RAF Bomber Command before being handed over to the Eighth Air Force. Its runways and hardstandings were improved, and the B-17s of the 306th Bomb Group began using the base. It was their...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA | 1919 |
|
the son of Marshall B. and Sue F. Johnston |
||
| Lived in | Chickasha, Oklahoma, United States | 1940 |
| Enlisted | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | 30 July 1940 |
|
as an Aviation Cadet in the Air Corps |
||
| Killed in Action (KIA) | Marcq-en-Barœul, France | 13 January 1943 |
|
Mid-air collision with 41-24498 of the same Group |
||
| Buried | ||
|
Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten. Plot L, Row 14, Grave 5. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 14 February 2016 11:24:21 | ED-BB | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Corrected typos |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 February 2016 13:01:08 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from: |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 04 October 2015 15:29:50 | ED-BB | Changes to service number, biography, awards, events, person associations, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
NARA WW II Enlistment records |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:14:03 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15502 / MACR 15502, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 63, First Over Germany pg. 1, 40 & 63, Russell Strong Index Cards, 306th BGA Collection, http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/cemetery/search/pframe.as / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pic... |
||
