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.
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