Johnnie Johnson First Day Cover Honoring Wright Brothers Signed 1971 w/COA

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Johnnie Johnson First Day Cover Honoring Wright Brothers Signed 1971 w/COA:
$49.00

First Day Cover honoring Wright Brothers first success flight signed by Johnnie Johnson in 1971. Comes with certificate of authenticity.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Air Vice MarshalJames Edgar \"Johnnie\" JohnsonCBCBEDSO**DFC*(9 March 1915 – 30 January 2001) was aRoyal Air Force(RAF)pilotandflying ace—defined as a pilot that has shot down five or more enemy aircraft inaerial combat—who flew and fought during theSecond World War.

Born in 1915, Johnson grew up and was educated in theEast Midlandswhere he qualified as anengineer. A keen outdoor enthusiast, Johnson shot and played sports. During the course of these pursuits, he sustained a collar bone injury that later complicated his ambitions of becoming a fighter pilot. Johnson had been interested in aviation since his youth and applied to join the RAF. He was initially rejected by the RAF on medical grounds, but after the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939, with the need for pilots inRAF Fighter Commandbeing urgent, Johnson was accepted.

Johnson\'s injury problems, however, had resurfaced during his early training and flying career, resulting in him not participating in the battlesin the Netherlands,Belgium,Franceand theBattle of Britain. In 1941 Johnson began flying regularly and took part in theoffensive sweepsover occupied Europe from 1941 to 1944. Johnson was involved in heavy aerial fighting during this period. His combat tour included theBattle of Normandy,Operation Market Gardenand theBattle of the Bulge.

Johnson was credited 34 individual victories over enemy aircraft, as well as seven shared victories, three shared probables, 10 damaged, three shared damaged and one destroyed on the ground.[1][2]Johnson flew 700 operational sorties and engaged enemy aircraft on 57 occasions.[3]Included in his list of individual victories were 14Messerschmitt Bf 109sand 20Focke-Wulf Fw 190sdestroyed making him the most successful RAF ace against the Fw 190. This score made him the highest scoringWestern Alliedfighter aceagainst theGermanLuftwaffe. OnlyMarmaduke Pattleclaimed more victories—around 50—but over half of his claims were made against the ItalianRegia Aeronautica(Italian Royal Air Force).

Johnson continued his career in the RAF after the war, and served in theKorean War. Johnson eventually retired in 1966, with the rank ofAir Vice Marshal. He died in 2001.