Tribute page: WW2 Fighter Pilot Eric Johnson
Hi and welcome to this site;
I met Gavin Johnson over the internet who is the son of Eric Johnson. Gavin kindly sent me photograph scans of his dad's photo album and also a copy of his most amazing war story in the form of a booklet. We subsequently decided to construct this tribute page in memory of Eric's war service.
Eric Horace Johnson Joined the South African Air Force in 1941 and qualified as a fighter pilot. He was sent to the Middle East and did operational service with No. 5 Fighter Squadron in North Africa.
He participated in the Alamein battles of 1942 and the subsequent push where the Germans were eventually defeated in North Africa by mid 1943.
Flying Tomahawk and Kittyhawk aircraft, their squadron did various duties including protection/defensive sorties to own troops, bomber escorts, armed recces, ground attack sorties and others.
Eric had an eventful combat tour. At one stage he was shot down, wounded and hospitalised.
For the remainder of the war Eric was involved with pilot training in the Middle East, Italy and South Africa.
After the war Eric had a long and successful career as an Industrial Chemist until his retirement in 1984.
Western Desert 1942
With sadness to announce that Eric passed away on 6 April 2015 at the age of nearly 97.
Condolences to his family and friends.
This is a living web site. Any input and/or participation will be much appreciated regarding additional information, correctness, information from relatives of members who served with Eric, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me.
If you perhaps have a family member who served as a SAAF fighter pilot during WW2 and you would want to find out more about his war service please contact me, hopefully I can be of some help.
Tinus le Roux
February 2015
A profile of the 5 Squadron Tomahawk GL-H flown by Eric. Graphics done by Gavin Johnson.
MILITARY CAREER
22/07/1941
15/09/1941
02/01/1942
03/03/1942
03/05/1942
02/07/1942
06/07/1942
04/08/1942
05/08/1942
24/10/1942
08/12/1942
Feb 1943
27/03/1943
10/05/1943
29/06/1943
02/04/1944
03/05/1944
24/07/1944
14/08/1944
09/11/1944
01/09/1951
16/08/1952
No.1 Air School, Baragwanath, elementary flying training, Tiger Moths
No. 21 Air School, Kimberley, Service flying training, Hawker Harts
Qualified for SAAF flying badge
SAAF base camp Amirya Egypt
No. 71 Operational Training Unit, Sudan
No. 5 SAAF fighter squadron, Tomahawks and Kittyhawks
First operational sortie, bomber escort.
Aircraft damaged by enemy fire, made a forced landing, sustained cuts above the eye from the crash and wounded in legs from shrapnel. Walked from the crash site and was picked up by friendly forces the next day.
Hospitalised in Cairo
Resume with operations
5 Squadron withdrawn from the front for a rest.
5 Squadron resume with operations, Tunisia campaign
Aircraft holed by 88mm AA shell but did not explode
Flew last operational sortie, strafing of enemy troops and vehicles.
SAAF 7 Wing Training Unit, flying instruction
Returned to South Africa
62 Air School Bloemfontein, flying instruction
2 AS Randfontein, flying instruction
5 AS Witbank, flying instruction
4 AS Benoni, flying instruction
After the war, part-time Civil Force involvement:
7 Fighter Squadron Ysterplaat, Harvards
27 Squadron Ysterplaat , Venturas.
Eric on the wing of his Tomahawk, Western Desert 1942
Eric with his pilot friends in Cairo, all except Eric were killed in the war.
Eric with a nurse when he was discharged from hospital 1942
2009