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The Airmen's Stories - P/O C E Johnson

 

Charles Edward Johnson was born on 11th July 1905, the son of Charles Henry and Helen Johnson.

He was educated at Brentwood School. After leaving he trained as a tailor and was employed by Hector Powe Tailors, working in the Nottingham area.

He married Doris Ena May Hawes on 14th July 1929 in Harrow.

On the outbreak of war Johnson and his younger brother Louis volunteered for aircrew duties and were both accepted as commissioned Air Gunners.

Johnson joined 264 Squadron as a Defiant gunner at Kirton--in-Lindsey in mid-August 1940.

 

 

 

 

Johnson was in Defiant L7026 on his first operational sortie when it was shot down by Me109s of JG26 over Thanet on 28th August. The aircraft crashed in flames on Sillibourne Farm, Hinxhill, east of Ashford. Both Johnson and the pilot, P/O PL Kenner, were killed.

Johnson had known Kenner at Brentwood School.

Johnson was 35 and is buried in Folkestone New Cemetery, Kent.

His brother survived three tours of bomber operations and ended the war as a Squadron leader DFC.

 


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