In 1942, the 23rd Fighter Group of the US Armey Air Force replaced the American Volunteer "Flying Tigers" in China. They acquired the P-40's as well as a very difficult mission. They were always short of pilots, fuel, and ammunition. They flew out of primitive air fields often cut into the jungle.
Nevertheless, this group became the highest scoring aerial unit in the China-Burma-India theater achieving 594 aerial victories and destroying nearly 400 Japanese aircraft on the ground.
Meet Wayne Johnson!
Wayne was born in a small farm near Ortonville, Minnesota. He started flying as a teenage and often swapped flying lessons for farm chores. He joined the Air Corp on December 8th, 1941. Yup...that's the day after Pearl Harbor.
He was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001. And, the Silver Bay airport was renamed in his honor in 2005.
Check out his book!
Nevertheless, this group became the highest scoring aerial unit in the China-Burma-India theater achieving 594 aerial victories and destroying nearly 400 Japanese aircraft on the ground.
Meet Wayne Johnson!
Wayne was born in a small farm near Ortonville, Minnesota. He started flying as a teenage and often swapped flying lessons for farm chores. He joined the Air Corp on December 8th, 1941. Yup...that's the day after Pearl Harbor.
He was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001. And, the Silver Bay airport was renamed in his honor in 2005.
Check out his book!
Thanks Wayne!
No comments:
Post a Comment