Tuskegee airman Jack Johnson dies at 82

VALLEY PRESS ^ | VALLEY PRESS | VALLEY PRESS STAFF

[BenLurkin]

Jack Arthur Johnson, 82, who joined the famous Tuskegee Airmen in the winter of 1941, died Nov. 4, after a 12-year-battle with prostate cancer.

Mr. Johnson made his first solo flight at age 18 in 1938.

During World War II, he was a flight instructor recruited to train men the basics of flying. His comrades recruited instructors from all over the country, and he was one of those selected to go to Tuskegee.

The name Tuskegee Airmen was given to the first group of black men to become pilots, bombardiers, navigators and support personnel during World War II, at a time when segregation practices restricted the participation of African Americans in service units.

Under pressure from groups like the NAACP and leaders including then-first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and then-Sen. Harry S Truman, the War Department undertook the training of black air crews.

Trained at Òseparated, but equal" facilities at the Army Air Corps base near the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, the 332nd Fighter Group, including the 99th Pursuit squadron and other fighter squadrons, flew more than 1,500 missions and destroyed more than 400 enemy aircraft.

Teaching 165 cadets, Mr. Johnson saw about 60% of his class pass their basic flying skills test.

The Tuskegee Airmen never lost a bomber aircraft to enemy fighters, though it did lose 66 of its pilots. An additional 33 were prisoners of war.

In March 1999, Mr. Johnson was one of about 30 Tuskegee Airmen who turned out from all over the western United States to view the unveiling of Lancaster's monument to the Tuskegee Airmen. The monument stands on the Aerospace Walk of Honor.

Mr. Johnson said during the ceremonies that, ÒI had the best candidates to work with, and they were able to get the job done in a short amount of time."

Engraved on the monument in Lancaster are the words of Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the first black general in United States history: ÒÉ the privileges of being an American belong to those brave enough to fight for them."

At the ceremony, Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts said, ÒThis (monument) will forever memorialize the special place in history reserved for the Tuskegee Airmen. Those red-tailed angels who soar above the rest have flown into the pages of history."

Brig. Gen. Richard Reynolds, then the commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, said, ÒWe lust for the future, while we cherish the past. The Tuskegee Airmen, in their history, have brought the United States to where we are today. They opened the way to diversity."

Mr. Johnson was also one of the Tuskegee Airmen recognized and honored at an awards ceremony at the Tuskegee Airmen National Convention in San Antonio, Texas. He was awarded the Tuskegee Airmen Heritage Award for Primary Flight Instructor.

He was born Dec. 20, 1920, in Little Rock, Ark. The family subsequently moved to Chicago, where Mr. Johnson's father became a member of the Challenger Air Pilots Association operating out of a small airport in Robbins, Ill. Mr. Johnson's love of flying was instilled by his father.

Mr. Johnson went on to own Johnson and Crane Real Estate in Detroit.

When he moved to California he worked in real estate as an appraiser until he retired. After retirement he was active in a program at Edwards Air Force Base to give children who had never flown their first chance to fly.

His family members said he loved family, friends and life passionately, always trying to inspire everyone to love one another. He walked at least two miles a day listening to his favorite jazz marches, always encouraging friends to join.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Winnie Lambert Ellis Johnson, his son Ardis Johnson, his daughter Judith Johnson Baker, his grandson Mathew Johnson, his five stepchildren (Cristi Garvey, Claudia Tattersall, Shelly Dixon, Susan Canup and Douglas Ellis), nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Donations in his memory may be sent to The Wall of Honor Project, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, c/o Michael Donegan, 7071 South Washington Street, Littleton, CO 80122

[clee1]

America loses another brave hero.

May God bless you and your family, Mr. Johnson.

[L`enn]

Here is a story on one of the 66 who did not make it.


http://www.suathletics.com/news/Football/2003/8/9/sidat%20singh.asp

[U S Army EOD]

The saying goes in the South about blacks is they like the man but hate the race, whereas in the North they don't like the man but love the race.

I too grew up in the segregated South and found it not uncommon for a well repected Black man to have more social clout than the so called po' white trash. We had a big KKK orginization where I live and they would go after the low lives and it didn't seem to matter what color they were. They also would protect respected black families from the trouble makers, black or white.

Prior to the Civil War and reconstruction, if you read the history books from that era written by people who lived during that era, you will find a lot of harmony between the races. There are many, many examples of blacks who prospered in the South and who were well respected. This included large land owners, doctors, etc. This was probably the most true around the New Orleans area.

I haven't been able to find that in the North. The only example of notable blacks during that era in the North were politicians or writers.

When I say it is a wonder that the locals accepted the blacks more than the Army, I mean the Army should have done better. The black pilots to my knowledge were not allowed in white officer clubs.

One of my old girl friend's fathers flew B24's during WWII. He on several occasion were escorted by the TA. He had nothing but praise for them. He is from South Carolina.

[onedoug]

Thanks for posting this.

I was privileged to have known Robert Williams, who drew from his own experiences to write the premis for HBO's The Tuskegee Airmen.

As thrilled as I was when we met, he seemed even more honored that he had met a Vietnam veteran in me.

What all these guys did makes me proud to be an American.