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Johnston, George Peter (Flying Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-January-23

Birth Date: 1920 (age 24)

George William & Anne Johnston

Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba (parents)

Service
RCAF
Unit
464 Sqn- Squadron (RAAF)
Aequo Animo Equanimity
Base
RAF Hunsdon
Rank
Flying Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/18128

Mosquito FB.Mk VI HJ774

Operational 1944-January-23 to 1944-January-23

464 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, England
464 Australia Squadron (Aequo Animo). Mosquito aircraft HJ 774 crashed one and one half miles south-east of Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, England. Flying Officer Johnston had finished his tour of operations and took the aircraft up on a test flight. He made a pass at a U.S. Havoc aircraft, hit the slipstream and crashed. Killed were RCAF Flying Officer G.P. Johnston and RAF navigator Flying Officer W. Jenkinson.

Took off from Hunsdon on a test flight.

The pilot made a pass at a U S aircraft, hit the slip stream, lost control and crashed. The plane dived into the ground 1mile south of RAF Hunsdon.

Killed includes Johnston: Flying Officer William Jenkinson RAF KIFA Magdalen Hill Cemetery, Winchester, England.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Google MapWinnipeg, Manitoba (parents)
Burial
Google MapBrookwood Military Cemetery
Plot 44 Row C Grave 1

Mosquito HJ774

de Havilland Mosquito

(British Aerospace photo) (Source Bomber Command Museum of Canada)

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British twin-engine shoulder-winged multi-role combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era whose frame was constructed almost entirely of wood. Nicknamed The Wooden Wonder, it was affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews. The total number of DH98 Mosquito aircraft built was 7,781, the type serving with the main Allied air forces, including both the United States and Russia.

When Mosquito production began in 1941 it was the fastest propeller driven operational aircraft in the world. The first variant was an unarmed, high-speed, high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito's use evolved during the war into many roles including low to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, and maritime strike aircraft. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a fast transport to carry small high-value cargoes to, and from, neutral countries, through enemy-controlled airspace. The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side, but a single passenger could ride in the aircraft's bomb bay when necessary.

The Mosquito FB Mk. VI was often flown in special raids, such as Operation Jericho, an attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944, and precision attacks against military intelligence, security and police facilities (such as Gestapo headquarters). On the 10th anniversary of the Nazi' seizure of power in 1943, a morning Mosquito attack knocked out the main Berlin broadcasting station while Hermann Goering was speaking, putting his speech off the air. Goering later said: "It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops."

The Mosquito flew with the RCAF and other air forces in the European, Mediterranean and Italian theatres. After the end of the Second World War Spartan Air Services flew 10 ex-RAF Mosquitoes, mostly B.35's plus one of only six PR.35's built, for high-altitude photographic survey work in Canada. There are approximately 30 non-flying Mosquitos around the world with five airworthy examples, three in the United States, one in Canada and one in New Zealand. Harold Skaarup web page and Wikipedia

YouTube Mosquito

Museum BAE Systems (formerly De Havilland)

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Mosquito

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications USAAF F-8 Mosquito Serial Numbers

RCAF Roundel Mosquitos shipped to Taiwanese Airforce

last update: 2024-04-16 00:21:24

Mosquito FB.Mk VI HJ774

THRAF RoundelK
With No. 418 (I) Squadron, RCAF, 20 June to 27 July 1943, coded "TH*K".

1944-01-23 Accident Crash Dived into ground 1m S of Hunsdon

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