Purple Heart recipient.
George was the son of James Everett Johnson and Mary "Alice" Wheatley. He was born and raised in Seaford, Delaware. He married Lucille Butler of Federalsburg, Maryland in June of 1943.
Flight Officer Johnson entered the Army from the Delaware National Guard and graduated from George Field, Illinois. As a member of the 261st Coastal Artillery he showed aptitude for flight training and attended pre-flight schools in the south and in Illinois before graduating as a full fledged flight officer. His training included twin engine planes that were growing in popularity in World War II.
On 21 Jan 1944 U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lieutenant George M. Johnson, age 23 was assigned to the 38th Bombardment Squadron, 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), stationed at Hawkins Field, Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, Pacific Theater of Operations, when the B-24J Liberator bomber aircraft he was co-piloting crashed into Tarawa lagoon shortly after takeoff. Johnson and all nine other servicemen aboard the aircraft were killed and were unaccounted for until December 12, 2019 when the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that his body had been identified. He was finally brought home and laid to rest with full military honors on October 2, 2021.
His name is permanently inscribed on the Honolulu Memorial Courts of the Missing: Find A Grave Memorial 56112088.
George was the son of James Everett Johnson and Mary "Alice" Wheatley. He was born and raised in Seaford, Delaware. He married Lucille Butler of Federalsburg, Maryland in June of 1943.
Flight Officer Johnson entered the Army from the Delaware National Guard and graduated from George Field, Illinois. As a member of the 261st Coastal Artillery he showed aptitude for flight training and attended pre-flight schools in the south and in Illinois before graduating as a full fledged flight officer. His training included twin engine planes that were growing in popularity in World War II.
On 21 Jan 1944 U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lieutenant George M. Johnson, age 23 was assigned to the 38th Bombardment Squadron, 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), stationed at Hawkins Field, Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, Pacific Theater of Operations, when the B-24J Liberator bomber aircraft he was co-piloting crashed into Tarawa lagoon shortly after takeoff. Johnson and all nine other servicemen aboard the aircraft were killed and were unaccounted for until December 12, 2019 when the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that his body had been identified. He was finally brought home and laid to rest with full military honors on October 2, 2021.
His name is permanently inscribed on the Honolulu Memorial Courts of the Missing: Find A Grave Memorial 56112088.
Purple Heart recipient.
George was the son of James Everett Johnson and Mary "Alice" Wheatley. He was born and raised in Seaford, Delaware. He married Lucille Butler of Federalsburg, Maryland in June of 1943.
Flight Officer Johnson entered the Army from the Delaware National Guard and graduated from George Field, Illinois. As a member of the 261st Coastal Artillery he showed aptitude for flight training and attended pre-flight schools in the south and in Illinois before graduating as a full fledged flight officer. His training included twin engine planes that were growing in popularity in World War II.
On 21 Jan 1944 U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lieutenant George M. Johnson, age 23 was assigned to the 38th Bombardment Squadron, 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), stationed at Hawkins Field, Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, Pacific Theater of Operations, when the B-24J Liberator bomber aircraft he was co-piloting crashed into Tarawa lagoon shortly after takeoff. Johnson and all nine other servicemen aboard the aircraft were killed and were unaccounted for until December 12, 2019 when the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that his body had been identified. He was finally brought home and laid to rest with full military honors on October 2, 2021.
His name is permanently inscribed on the Honolulu Memorial Courts of the Missing: Find A Grave Memorial 56112088.
George was the son of James Everett Johnson and Mary "Alice" Wheatley. He was born and raised in Seaford, Delaware. He married Lucille Butler of Federalsburg, Maryland in June of 1943.
Flight Officer Johnson entered the Army from the Delaware National Guard and graduated from George Field, Illinois. As a member of the 261st Coastal Artillery he showed aptitude for flight training and attended pre-flight schools in the south and in Illinois before graduating as a full fledged flight officer. His training included twin engine planes that were growing in popularity in World War II.
On 21 Jan 1944 U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lieutenant George M. Johnson, age 23 was assigned to the 38th Bombardment Squadron, 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), stationed at Hawkins Field, Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, Pacific Theater of Operations, when the B-24J Liberator bomber aircraft he was co-piloting crashed into Tarawa lagoon shortly after takeoff. Johnson and all nine other servicemen aboard the aircraft were killed and were unaccounted for until December 12, 2019 when the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that his body had been identified. He was finally brought home and laid to rest with full military honors on October 2, 2021.
His name is permanently inscribed on the Honolulu Memorial Courts of the Missing: Find A Grave Memorial 56112088.
Inscription
2nd Lieut. Air Corps, A U.S. - 819th Bomb Squadron 30th Bomb Group - Born May 8, 1920 - Lost his life on bombing mission - From Tarawa to Kwajalein - January 21, 1944
