Spitfire ace Johnnie Johnson was remembered at Royal Air Force Wittering yesterday as the Cambridgeshire Station was presented with a bust of the legendary pilot.
Image By: Cpl Paul Robertshaw
Air Vice Marshal James Edgar Johnson, nicknamed Johnnie, was a famous Royal Air Force pilot and flying ace. His record during World War Two included 34 individual victories over enemy aircraft. Outstandingly, Johnnie Johnson flew no less than 700 operational sorties and engaged enemy aircraft on 57 occasions.
Image: Courtesy Imperial War Museum
The Johnnie Johnson Appreciation Society is dedicated to celebrating his life and preserving the memory of one of Britain’s greatest fighter pilots. The group holds an annual lunch at RAF Wittering every year and the silver bust of Air Vice Marshal Johnson takes pride of place at the table.
Image: Courtesy The RAF Historical Branch
John Edwards is the group’s organiser. Mr Edwards (79) of Stamford first met Johnnie Johnson 25 years ago and they remained in contact until AVM Johnson’s death in 2001. Mr Edwards personally paid for the crafting of the superbly detailed bust, which was sculpted by Helen Barber of Hatfield University. Ms Barber had recently completed a bust of Douglas Bader.
Image By: Cpl Paul Robertshaw
Mr Edwards said: “We’ve given RAF Wittering the bust to safekeep because this is the place where he would have loved it to be kept. He was an exceptional man, he was one out of the ordinary. They’d got to be that way to win the day.
Image: Courtesy The RAF Historical Branch
Johnnie Johnson has the distinction of being the highest scoring RAF pilot against the Luftwaffe. After the war he saw action in Korea and also became Station Commander at Royal Air Force Cottesmore, now Kendrew Barracks.
Image: Courtesy The RAF Historical Branch
An informal ceremony took place at RAF Wittering Officer’s Mess when the Station accepted the bust, which will be kept in a specially lit cabinet just outside the main dining hall where it can be seen every day. After the presentation Mr Edwards, and fellow appreciation society member Mr John Westcombe, attended the Station’s annual formal reception.
Image By: Cpl Paul Robertshaw
Wing Commander Nick Maxey is Officer Commanding Operations Wing and President of the Mess Committee at Royal Air Force Wittering. He said: “We have had the privilege of hosting Mr Edwards and the Johnnie Johnson Appreciation Society for almost ten years. We will keep the bust of Johnnie under our care and it will be our privilege to do so.”
Wing Commander Maxey concluded: “We thank Mr Edwards and the members of the Johnnie Johnson society for keeping his memory alive. If people like Johnnie Johnson are not remembered then we as serving officers will never know about their sacrifices, it is essential that we maintain our understanding of their contributions to the rich history of the Royal Air Force.”
