This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Johnson, Gerald Walter, Lt Gen USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Owenton, Kentucky
Last Address Saint Petersburg, Florida
Date of Passing Sep 09, 2002
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
He destroyed 16.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat before he was shot down and became a POW in France Mar 27, 1944. He later had a distinguished career in the USAF.
His DSC citation: Awarded for actions during World War II
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Captain (Air Corps) Gerald W. Johnson (ASN: 0-659306), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 17 August 1943, in the European Theater of Operations On this date, Captain Johnson shot down two enemy aircraft and assisted in the destruction of a third. Captain Johnson's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 83 (1943)
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications StatsCentral Model Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Length 36.15 ft | 11.02 m Width 40.68 ft | 12.40 m Height 14.67 ft | 4.47 m Engine(s) 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double-Wasp eighteen cylinder radial engine generating 2,535hp. Empty Weight 9,949 lbs | 4,513 kg MTOW 17,500 lbs | 7,938 kg Max Speed 433 mph | 697 km/h | 376 kts Max Range 449 miles | 722 km Ceiling 40,994 ft | 12,495 m | 7.8 miles Climb Rate 3,200 ft/min (976 m/min) Hardpoints 3 Armament 8 x 12.7mm Machine Guns 10 x 5 in Air-to-Surface HE Rockets
Provision for bomb load, fuel drop tanks or rockets to a maximum of 2,500lbs (1,134kg). Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-47B - Prototype featuring XR-2800 radial generating 1,850hp. * P-47B - Production model based on XP-47B prototype; R-2800-21 radial engine. * P-47C - Extended fuselage; Later types of this model featuring R-2800-59 radial at 2,300hp; Provisions for drop tanks and bombs. * P-47D - Main production model of which 12,602 produced; R-2800-21W (2,300hp) or R-2800-59W (2,535hp) water-injected radial powerplants; Increased MTOW capacity; Provision for drop tanks and air-to-surface HE rockets. * P-47G - Wright-produced P-47D models of which 354 produced. * P-47M - 'Sprinter' interception model designed to combat the V1 / V2 rocket threat; Featured specialized airbrake system and R-2800-57(C) radial generating 2,800hp; 130 produced. * P-47N - Exclusive Pacific Theater model; Long range variant with increased and reinforced wing section of which 1,816 produced; Longer wingspan with blunt-tipped wing tips concealing fuel compartments; R-2800-77 radial generating 2,800hp.