Roger S Johnson

Military
A veteran named Roger of the 351st Bomb Group, May 1991, aged 67. Associated caption: 'Picture (3): Picture taken when I graduated from Southern Methodist University Law School – May, 1991, at age 67 years.' media-413377.jpg FRE 4697 Roger Johnson, a veteran of the 351st Bomb Group, May 1991, aged 67.

Associated caption: 'Picture (3): Picture taken when I graduated from Southern Methodist University Law School – May, 1991, at age 67 years.' Roger Freeman Collection

Identified as Roger Johnson after correspondence with Dr Mike Wasse of Northants Family History Society, Oundle Branch.

Object Number - FRE 4697 - Roger Johnson, a veteran of the 351st Bomb Group, May 1991, aged 67. Associated caption: 'Picture (3): Picture taken when I graduated from...

News article from 10 May 1992:



'POLEBROOK, ENGLAND POLEBROOK, England (AP) A former U.S. airman, moved by gratitude and guilt, has given 93 bicycles to the children of this town to repay a 48-year-old debt.



Roger Johnson was an Army lieutenant in 1944 when he borrowed a bicycle in Polebrook one day to get back to his base at a nearby airfield, where he was stationed briefly during World War II.



The war intervened, and the bike was never returned.



To make amends, he has spent $18,000 on bikes for the children of Polebrook, 45 miles north of London.



''For almost 50 years I've regretted taking that bike,'' Johnson, 68, said as he handed the bicycles over Saturday. ''It's only now that I've been able to come up with a plan that will ease my conscience and even the score.''



''The English people were just tremendous to all American airmen that showed up over here and you people now are just as good as they were 50 years ago, so I hope you all have fun on your bikes,'' he said.



Johnson is now a doctor in Irving, Texas, 12 miles west of Dallas.'

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

351st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lucky Jewell" of the 351st Bomb Group, named after the pilot's wife at Polebrook. Associated caption: 'Picture (4): Picture of the “Lucky Jewell” named after our pilot’s wife. Picture taken on the Polebrook Field.'

43-38753

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description
Irving, TX, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

News articles about Roger Johnson's return to Polebrook in 1992. See: http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1992/Former-U-S-Airman-Repays-Debt-to-Brit…

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.351st.org/ken.harbour/

Roger S Johnson: Gallery (7 items)

An airman named Roger of the 351st Bomb Group after his 35th mission. Associated caption: 'Picture (2): Picture of me taken at Polebrook Airbase on completion of my 35th mission. Age 20.'

Object number: FRE 4694 - Roger Johnson of the 351st Bomb Group after his...

An airman of the 351st Bomb Group with a crashed truck. Associated caption: 'Picture (5): Picture of Army truck wreck. After 35 missions, they almost got me on the hi-way. I was riding in the back of this canvas covered 2 ½ ton Army truck on the way to the ship to take me to the U.S.A. We struck another similar truck. Ours did a “snap-roll” and I was dragged along the roadway upside down with just the canvas top between me and the road.'

Object number: FRE 4695 - Roger Johnson of the 351st Bomb Group with a...

A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lucky Jewell" of the 351st Bomb Group, named after the pilot's wife at Polebrook. Associated caption: 'Picture (4): Picture of the “Lucky Jewell” named after our pilot’s wife. Picture taken on the Polebrook Field.'

Object number: FRE 4696 - A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lucky Jewell" of...

A veteran named Roger of the 351st Bomb Group, May 1991, aged 67. Associated caption: 'Picture (3): Picture taken when I graduated from Southern Methodist University Law School – May, 1991, at age 67 years.'

Object number: FRE 4697 - Roger Johnson, a veteran of the 351st Bomb Group...

A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress whilst training in Louisiana. Associated caption: Picture (1): My crew with whom I trained in Louisiana, U.S.A. We then picked up a brand new Fort in Kearney, Nebraska, flew to Manchester, New Hampshire, then to Goose Bay, Labrador, then to Iceland and then to Wales. We lost one plane flying with us over the Atlantic – he iced up badly and crashed in Greenland. His navigator actually bailed out in that terrible environment.'

Object number: FRE 4698 - A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group with a B-17...

An airman of the 351st Bomb Group on the wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress at Polebrook. Assciated caption: 'Picture (7): Picture of me on wing of Fortress at the airbase at Polebrook.'

Object number: FRE 4699 - Roger Johnson of the 351st Bomb Group on the wing...

A bombardier named Roger of the 351st Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Associated caption: 'Picture (8): Picture of me in my “office” (bombardier’s area). Note the patches where flak fragments entered the nose. Following missions, I could place a string from entrance holes back to points of exit and the string would pass thru my body area. Why wasn’t I struck? I was probably leaning forward at the time!.'

Object number: FRE 4700 - Roger Johnson, a bombardier of the 351st Bomb...