James A Johnston
Military ROLL OF HONOUR![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/media/media-46326.jpeg)
Scanned from an original photograph belonging to Margaret S. (Johnston) Hinds, sister of Captain James A. Johnston.
Object Number - UPL 46326 - 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.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395055.jpg?itok=Fcx5fW4h)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 369th Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group that has crash landed.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-407852.jpg?itok=wMKGAusP)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 6942738
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-437912
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot, Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20622635 and O-725983
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18058499 and O-726031
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12041471
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg?itok=zmglI2BR)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Four of a Kind
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group
Missions
- Date: 13 January 1943
Places
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg?itok=zmglI2BR)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Enlisted |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | 30 July 1940 | as an Aviation Cadet in the Air Corps |
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
Marcq-en-Barœul, France | 13 January 1943 | Mid-air collision with 41-24498 of the same Group |
Born |
Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA | the son of Marshall B. and Sue F. Johnston | |
Buried/ Commemorated |
Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten. Plot L, Row 14, Grave 5. | ||
Chickasha, Oklahoma, United States |
Revisions
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia;
- http://www.303rdbg.com/360johnson.html ;
- Lee Cunningham 19-Jan-2015. Added nickname per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. ;
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,