Biographical Data Form
Everyone who records interviews in connection with the Veterans History Project, including
Official Partners who are retaining their collections or depositing them in a local archive or
library, must fill out this form to ensure that interviewed veterans or civilians appear in our
national catalog honoring their service and participation.
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY
Veteran/Civilian
Address
City
13}o1
\'"0
W
1,
~
M', If''e:,n ~hn.so t'\
W, '+ 2. n ~ S ~.
l1
middle
Z
..s, ot'!: s (.. l
Telephone ( '30
C,3 s:-
Po±±=er)
Place of Birth
Male ~
g ).
ff
V
Female
t:LI:; ZIP sQ1~~ .
£/~ Email ~ 0 nj ohns.on 2/Bh:try..:,·, tIl
l'te c.'(;\!Sr1:;r
Birth Date t1.a't /9 .. 1910
___
State
u
r
Date(s) of Enlistment/Service
t:'
h.
.. 2 -
~J -
C!v'"D" _,-'~t..-:('->1_~-'--~~?-------_
_t=~~_L~-:t_~ to L!l-t,Jj,J"l+:s=
W"iS) In which Indl,ld", s",,,d
~;~
1)+ ~
!!%
r
.,
.::l c::. ... t: I.. ' - ~
LJ.-t
J1.
.'IX
r
J
~~~~.a. - eo""f":'~ Q~yl.'). \\ ' Lc~~-
_rt.~
Locations of military or civilian service
.:J
t
-.('~ v.:1.l Av l ':4 To'C)
f"""t\i,3..t~~, -v ~o N ~ -1}l ~~y' S, v4~
lJ.5.. N2J..,
Vf
Battalion, Regiment, Division, etc.
h" e
~<."~-r~"'~, c:- .:::> ~",,-.J I,..~
l.:1.
-
<:";l 'Y "('\.11'1 ~'" -;)\v'i 19;) \~', _
.,.5g~~~ '?~ ... ~~ U:.... - ~ '".:T ..'q:I'\"~"
't t-\ ~ n., t= ~"( l-' r.. ';" >1""$ "",
e
Did the veteran or civilian sustain combat or service-related Injuries? Yes
Was the 'I(,reran a prisoner-of·war? Yes
Medals or special
maiden name
month/day/year '
Race/Ethnicity (optional) _ _ _,_ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ __
0
Branch of Service or Wartime Activity
Highest Rank
last
0
0
No.
No.
~ervice av.:anls. If so, ple~ list: DI ~ i 1~1.~hq) fl~'V\ ~ <::. ~~S~
""
Go\~ .sT~'< \~ \...,,~v D 'f ~~.) C'f€: - I-\-"... m~J:r1 ~G.,.~d ..st.:r~t. J.\" \....'4V
-0 F ~~:S -t:h.'~\J' l" cr A\~ - h'\4~~'" ~ f\Ei1",,-t'r'~t-"o'n: I. -t (2 "--t~o,,,S
LJ$.S G"d, !!1I"1v\.,5t ..... p.;-4~ \.cla..,±,~l!_j_I}~-.ct::._~_~n.~U\.. \I ~s. 80 ~nd .
Are photographs included? Yes ~ No
0
(If yes, please complete the Photograph Log in this kit)
Are manuscripts included? Yes ~ No
0
(If yes , please complete the Manuscript Data Sheet in this kit)
Does the veteran or civilian have
~\I~ maps
Yes
U
No
U
or wartime-related home movies Yes 81 No
Cl
that he or she would like to share WiUl the library of Congress? (If yes, we will contact you shortly.)
Please use reverse for additional lliographical information.
-- -,- - - - - -,., - , ---- - -- -,- - - - - - - - U!J.-ary I)f Con grc,s
Amrrican Folkllfe Canter VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT
BYRON M.
JOHNSON~Biographical
Residence Address:
Birth Place & Date:
Information
1450 0 St., P.O.Box 487,Gering,Nebr
69341
May 19, 1920, Potter, Nebraska
\vIFE: .
F. Ferne Evertson Johnson
CHILDREN:
Son, Bryce M;Daughters, Kim,
All grown and married.
Five Grandchildren
Karen
Education:
Nebraska Wesleyan, Bachelor of Arts
.
U. N. L.,College of Law, Juris Doctor
RECENTLY (SEPT iI.99a.lINDUCTED INTO NEBRASKA AVIATION ! ~.~
HALL OF FAME AT WINGS OVER NEBR BANQUET AT KEARNEY j
Military Service:
Graduate Naval Air Training Center at
I
Corpus Christi, TX, 1 9 4 3 , '
Fighter Pilot,F6F Hellcat, South Pacific,vnvII,
Served on Aircraft Carriers Enterprise,
.& Hornet.
Received 2 DFC's, 8 Air Medals,
Presidental Unit Citation,Letter of Commendation Sec. of Navy, Air Ace e ENENMY PLANESDa~~
I
Special Skills:
Public Offices
Past & Present:
.-
Maintained my Private Pilot's License
Toastmaster & Speaker for Civic Events
Attorney engaged in the General Practice of Law
':"
Elected Public Defender - 4 year terms; 1990, 199~
1'1'1 ~
Elected County Attorney 1954-1958
Elected Board of Governors, Western Nebraska
Cammunity College'in 13 County Area, 1976,
1980, 1984, 1988.
.
Engaged in General Practice of Law since 1952
in Gering,Nebraska
Executive Secretary' & Contracting Officer for
GeringValley Watershed, a 12 million dollar
Flood Control Project.
Have attended Legal Seminars and Special Course
for attorney's at Northwestern University in
Chicago; Practicing Law Institute, New York;
Nebraska Continuing Legal Education Seminars
and Programs in Lincoln and Omaha.
.
Community Participation: Past District Governor Toastmasters
International,District #55 Area Governor (Nebr. Wyo. Colo) and
Past President Local Club 11944; Me.t hodist Church Board of Trustees
Lay Leader and Certified Lay Speaker,Chairman Ecumenical Affairs;
Past President Cooperative Ninistry Council; Past President Camp
Fire Girls; Past President, Board Member, North Platte Valley
Historical Association; Past Commander American Legion Post 17;
Member American Legion Post #36; Post #36l8VFW; Pas~-S~~~€-Chei~
Member of Elks and Eagles clubs; Member of Nebraska & Scotts Bluff
County Bar Association; Award Certificates: Admiral in Nebraska
Navy; Certificates from Law Enforcement Institutes as Speaker &
Lectures; Coordinator for Speechcraft & youth Leadership Courses
J
1f. . .I n '"lNSON
NE
LAw
ST .
. 8-.1. 487
:. . HE
683.il
, 12080
Veteran's Release Form
TO BE COMPLETED BY VETERAN OR CIVILIAN
ceased veterans, to be compl,;tI~ d by the donor of the materiaL)
~
I,
,S'O rLam a parricipant in the Veterans
Histo Projec (hereinafter "VHP") . I understand that the purpose of the VHP is to collect
audio- and video-taped oral histories of America's war veterans and of those who served in
support of them as well as selected related documentary materials (such as photographs and
manuscripts) that may be deposited in the permanent collections of the American Folklife
Center at the Library of Congress. The deposited documentary materials will serve as a
record of American veterans' wartime experiences; and may be used for scholarly and eduational purposes. I understand that the American Folklife Center plans to retain the product
of my participation as part of its permanent collection and that the materials may be used
for exhibition, publication, presentation on the World Wide Web and successor technologies, and for promotion of the Library of Congress and its activities in any medium.
I hereby grant to the Library of Congress ownership of the physical property delivered to
the Library and the right to use the property that is the product of my participation (for
example, my interview, performance, photographs, and written materials) as stated above.
By giving permission, I understand that I do not give up any copyright or perfqrmance
rights that I may hold.
.
I also grant to the Library of Congress my absolute and irrevocable consent for any photograph(s) provided by me or taken of me in the course of my participation in the VHP to be
used, published, and copied by the Library of Congress and its assignees in any medium.
I agree that the Library may use my name, video or photographic image or likeness, statements, performance, and voice rerrNlunion, or other sound effects without further
approval on my part.
I release the Library of Congress, and its assignees and designees, from any and all claims
and demands arising out of or in connection with the use of such recordings, documents,
and artifacts, including but not limired to, any claims for defamarion, invasion of privacy,
or right of publicity.
Date
Address
II
0
2
w.
Lf-~
nd .s+.
~c.o t-h (;.1" fF
State t!.£-.
Telephone ( '3o~ ) - C, 3 S"- 5"1~
City
ZIP
library of Congress
3/1
i'~03
month/d y/year
-':1 :3 c. {.
Ameri can Folklife Center VffiRANS HISTORY PRQJECT
Interviewer's Release Form
TO BE COMPLETED BY INTERVIEWERS, RECORDING OPERATORS, AND PHOTOGRAPHERS
Mary J 0 Davis
, am a parcicipant in the Veterans
History Project (hereinafter "VHP"). I understand that the purpose of the VHP is to collect
audio- and video-recorded oral histories of America's war veterans and of those who served in
support of them as well as selected related documentary materials such as photographs and
manuscripts that may be deposited in the permanent collections of the American Folklife
Center at the Library of Congress. The deposited documentary materials will serve as a
record of American veterans' wartime experiences; and may be used for scholarly and educational purposes. I understand that the American Folklife Center plans to retain the product ·
of my participation as part of its permanent collection and that the materials may be used for
exhibition, publication, presentation on the World Wide Web and successor technologies,
and for promotion of the Library of Congress and its activities in any medium.
I,
I hereby grant to the Library of Congress ownership of the physical property delivered to
the Library and the right to use the property that is the product of my participation (for
example, my interview, performance, photographs, and written materials) as stated above.
By giving permission, I understand that r do not give up any copyright or performance
rights that I may hold.
I also grant to the Library of Congress my absolute and irrevocable consent for any photograph(s) provided by me or taken of me in the course of my participation in the VHP to be
used, published, and copied by the Library of Congress and its assignees in any medium.
I agree that the Library may use my name, video or photographic image or likeness, statements, performance, and voice reproduction, or other sound effects without furcher
approval on my part.
I release the Library of Congress, and its assignees and designees, from any and all claims
and demands arising out of or in connection with the use of such recordings, documents,
and artifacts, including but not limited to, any claims for defamation. invasion of privacy,
or right of publicity.
ACCEPTED AND AGREED
,/7
(,~h,
:
Gl 1;' ,
'i-f-i;.Lc'-r'-'""-'--"("'-;/
~'{..:.{._i"_'_'- _"'_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Date ) .- / ,f - () 3
/
DaVl'
s _ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _month/day/year
--=]/7
Ma
o
Printed Name _ _ _~-,-,£JL::JL.--='<:f'-O1--=-=..:..-.:-=-=-_
_ _ __
Signature _ _ _ _ _-I./:....L-{.
!0
-=-.
( '-_.
Signature of Parent or Guardian (if interviewer is a minor) _ __ _ _ _ _ __
Date _ _-c:-c-:--:-_
month/day/year
Printed Name of Parent or Guardian
Address _ _ _ _ _S-'7-=1::..:1=--H--:.i-<-gl..-h'--w-=a..:...y'---7.!-1
=--_________ _ _ __ __ __
City
Telephone (
Hemingford
State
NE
ZIP
69348
308 ) -6 3 5-0 29 7
Relationship to veteran/civilian
acquaintance
Library of Congress
American Folklife Center VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT
Audio and Video Recording Log
l. Name and address of collector or interviewer.
Name of Collector/Interviewer _ _M_a_r....y_J"---'-o_D_a'---'-v.c;:i:.. :sO--_____
_ _____ _ _
8711 Highway 71
~~
Hemingford
State ~ ZIP 69348
Telephone (
308 ) - 635-0297
Email
[email protected]
Organization or Affiliation (if any) _n_o_n_e__________ _ ________
Address
2. Full name and birth date of the veteran or civilian being interviewed as it appears on the
recording label and Biographical Data form .
Byron Milton Johnson
Name of Veteran/Civilian
Birth Date
5/19/1920
month/day/year
3. Recording format (please check)
VIDEO ~pe:
Betacam
AUDIO type:
¥.
Cassette u
0
0
0
Microcassette
VHS
0
Bmm
High-B 0
CD 0
Reel 0
If audio, is the cassette or reel recorded on both sides? Yes
Is item:
Original
e9
Copy
0 _ _ _--::-:---::-:(identify)
Digital (DAT) 0
Digital
0
Other
0 No ~
0
4.
Date of Recording _---"5:.L/-=1=-8:....t./_2c.:...0~0"'--""-3--:-_=_--------------Estimated length of recording (in minutes) _ 4
---'5--___ _________ _ _____
5.
location of recording
Scottsbluff , Ne braska
6. Corresponding materials (please check)
Have you included materials other than the recording? Yes
0
No
0
If so, please complete the Photograph log and/or the Manuscript Data Sheet.
7. Please summarize the topics discussed in th e intervi ew in th eir order of appearance on
the recording.
Meter Reading
or Minute Mark
o
25
Topics presented in order of discussion on recording
Introduction, Pearl Harbor Day, enlisting
Training at Fairfax Field, Primary at Olathe,
Corpus Christi, Texas
Carrier qualification at Great Lakes
(Continue on back or on additional sheets as needed.)
Library of Congress American Folklife Center VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT
Meter Reading
or Minute Mark
44
49
57
64
79
84
101
123
f<'
163
218
2:22
266
29.7
345
407
426
TAPE 2:
0
16
39
59
88
109.
139
182
Topics presented in order of discussion on recording
Instrument training, Miami FL, assigned to Ripper
Squadron in Atlantic City
Discussion of rank
Training at Quo nset ~t., R.I., description of air
group components
Carrier to Hawaii, operational training, assigned to
Butch O'Hare's air grou~p~___
To South Pacific islands on carrier Enterpri se
Assigned to new Hornet carrjer, flagsbip, task
force 58, invasions up to Phillipines
Pilot losses, reasons for losses
Byron's choice to fly fighters, discussion of Hellcat
plane, desi gned to outfly Zeroes & resist damage
Discussion of famous picture of Bryan's crash landing
on carrier and rescue by catapult ' officer
More discussion of Hellcat, "Grumrnond Iron Works"
Night fli ght initLtl,eLb¥---Blltcb 0' Hare, killed 1st attemJ:
Discussion of mjss ions
Machine guns & cameras on winga, kills recorded, debrief;
Types of missions , infantry in landing craft seen below
Admiral Clark's penchant for repeat attacks, "Jocko
Jima Corporation Land Development Corporation" certif .
End of tape 1.
Description of how missions would be planned
How planes catapulted or took off, types of missions
Strafing missions, naphtha in belly tanks
Return to states
Assi gned to east coast fighter training squadron
Separation, home to Nebraska, starting small barnstorming
airport in Sidney, Nebraska
Airport not succ essful, back to law school
End of Tape 2
Audio and Video Recording Log
Library of Congress
American Folklife Center VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT
,7<
Note:
Famous photograph referred to is th e cover photo of "Logbook, Aviation History",
Volume 1, Number 2, Spring 2000. Byron Johnso n h as supplied other references as
follows:
LOG BOOK - Aviation History -Volume I, Number 2, Spring 200P
Front Cover- In the cockpit of the burning F6F Hellcat is
Ensign Byron Johnson. Stepping on the exploding and burning plane'~
drop tank is deck catapult officer Lt. Walter Chewning.
Back of Front Cover is Itinerary of Fighting Squadron Two, of which
Johnson was a member while aboard Navy Carriers USS Enterprise
and USS Hornet; showing combat areas and engagements. in which the
Squadron participated. Of the 52 pilots, 27 became aces (aces is a
designation given to a pilot that has shot down 5 or more enemy planes.
Johnson shot down eight.
Page 2 Index and additional info re picture
On pages 10 through 13 are further pictures and the story of the
burning plane and rescue and particulars of the Squadron, etc.
'More of the Story behind the Photograph in
Logbook, Volume I, number 3,Summer 2000, Pages 26, 27 and 28
Pages 26 & 27 Plane and approach & crash & fire,
Squadron picture on deck of Hornet 29 May 1944, p28 (above)- belowSquadron back home in San Francisco, Oct 31, 1944
.
Ripper Squadron Book by Morrisey, etc.(all about VF-2) titled
"ODYSSEY OF FIGHTING TWO" 207 Pages; Published 1945
Intelligence Officer for VF2-debriefed pilots about their missions.
Kills (planes shot down) also substantiated by Wing Cameras
activated by machine gun trigger on control stick.
Eight (8) planes shot down by Johnson (see citations)
****'GRA Y GHOST" The story of the Aircraft Carrier-Hornet
by Lee W. Merideth-Published 2002 Excellent summary of History
of Hornet- from construction and launching, WWII engagements'
much info on Ripper Squadron, VF 2; also view of Carrier war.
Excellent drawings & pictures and explanation of Carrier operations
And details of ship and operation, including personnel. 246 pages.
"THE SAGA OF THE U.S.S. HORNET, CV-12 IN WORLD WAR II
By John (ace) Broughton, AM2D, USN Ret. Plank owner
From the pages of a diary kept by the author. 41 pages (small pica
type) and about 20 pages of illustrations. Good view points from
Enlisted man's viewpoint. Sobering remarks, p41 '.
"The three month long Okinawa campaign was extremely costly for our
Navy. The Japs flew 3,000 kamikaze attacks against the fleet. 368 ships
damaged, 34 sunk and nearly 5,000 sailors killed.