2nd Lt Edwin R. Johnston was a pilot of the 10th Fighter Squadron, flying Thunderbolts in the ETO. He was born on the 13th of August 1919 in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Mark Graham Johnston and his wife Jessie (née Coogler) who were married in September 1914.



In 1920 the family were living in Decatur, a little east of Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia. By 1930, the family had moved to 529 Langhorn Street, Atlanta, in Fulton County, Georgia, no doubt to live near Jessie’s widowed mother who lived at 530 Langhorn Street.



By 1935 they also lived at number 530 moving in with Mrs Coogler, here they stayed and were recorded there in 1940. According to his registration card Edwin was then employed as a clerk at the Fulton National Bank. He was 5ft 11in tall and weighed in at little over 12 stone; he had brown hair, hazel eyes and a light complexion.



He enlisted on the 19th of January 1943, and ended up serving with the 10th Fighter Squadron in Europe. He was forced to bail out of his P-47D following a mid-air collision over the Solent on the 19th of April 1944. Due to the crash he suffered slight burns to his face and injured his shoulder, for which he was sent to the 95th General Hospital, at St. Leonards, near Ringwood.



He survived the war and lived until 64 years of age, passing away on the 17th of September 1983, being buried at the Arlington Memorial Park, Sandy Springs, Fulton County, Georgia.