There's a Time To Die - Almost Unbelievably It Was NOT That TIME - For Future Ace Bob Johnson

 

After arriving in England, Robert S. Johnson and others had yet to finish fighter pilot gunnery. All were sent to a miserable coal dust covered place called Goxhill to practice shooting at towed target sleeves. Averaging only 4.5% bullet holes in his target's sleeves [ 5% minimum was required for graduation] Johnson ' busted' the course. Only because there was an urgent need for fighter pilots, was HE released to fly air combat. Surprisingly, Bob Johnson went on to become the U.S. Air Corps' Number # 2 Fighter Ace in Europe. Note : Francis Gabreski had a similar experience. Because of weak flying skills early during his flight training,' Gabby' nearly ' washed out. ' Of course, he continued on in a swashbuckling way to become this country's Number # 1 Fighter Ace in Europe. Early during his air combat missions, Bob Johnson was several times chastised for ' going off on his own'. After one memorable ' chewing out ' he resolved to stick with his formation. But as his flight climbed over the English Channel it was attacked by sixteen Fockewulf 190 fighters. Before he could call his leader, A FOCKEWULF 190'S CANNON SHELLS smashed his canopy. When HIS FRANTIC MAYDAY'S drew no response, Bob was inspired with an overwhelming urge to bail out. More explosions smashed through his tough Republic Thunderbolt. Now it spun crazily out of control and engine flames enveloped Johnson's shattered canopy. The canopy'S Frame WAS twisted And wouldn't open, An adrenaline charged BOB JOHNSON attempted to squeeze through the hole in the broken glass. But the opening was too small for both him [ and his parachute ] to exit the stricken aircraft. Almost miraculously the P-47's engine fire ' blew out.' Johnson recovered from the spin, as dark engine oil spewed back from his still running engine. IT covered his windscreen, AND THROUGH THE SHATTERED CANOPY, droplets of oil NOW Sprayed into his eyes and injured face. Although forward visibility was poor, he decided to crash land then attempt to evade capture. He bent the airplane south toward a pre-planned escape and evasion route. After struggling with hypoxia, Johnson's reasoning began to focus. He now realized that his P-47 was still flying fairly well. So Bob changed his mind again. He would trust his high altitude advantage to assist in his struggle to complete a partially powered glide back home. He pointed his ' Jug's ' burned nose toward England. In his pre-flight excitement, Bob had forgotten to take along his goggles. The slip stream constantly blew oil and hydraulic fluid into his eyes and cut-up face. Any attempt to rub his eyes caused more discomfort. Johnson painfully flew toward home in a shredded and marginally-functioning machine. Approaching the coast - heavily defended by the enemy - Johnson desperately swiveled his head in an effort to evade German fighters. Then, the worst happened. Johnson froze in horror as a solo German fighter ' zeroed in' on him - a beautifully painted blue Fockewulf 190 - with a bright yellow cowling. Johnson was helpless and waited to be killed. The enemy fighter pilot turned out to be Gruppen Kommandeur Egon Mayer - a fighter pilot Ace with nearly 100 kills. All Mayer had to do was to approach from close behind, then administer Bob 's execution. Taking his time with the crippled American, Mayer slowly closed in. Still unable to free himself from his cockpit jail, Johnson could only hunch down as low as he could, within the protective profile of his armor-plated seat. Mayer opened fire, raking Johnson with torrents of 30-caliber machine gun fire. There was no missing. Streams of lead poured into the battered Thunderbolt. Johnson rapidly kicked his rudder left and right to kill some of his speed. This last ditch maneuver caused Mayer to overshoot. As the German fighter passed by, Johnson fired all of his workable guns in the Mayor's general direction, as his fighter slid by.. . Egon Mayer evaded the last ditch bullets fired by a game - but half-blinded, Bob Johnson. Then, Egon Mayer circled back and flew in formation just ff one of Johnson's battered wings. FROM VARIOUS ANGLES, Mayer examined the shredded Thunderbolt . . SHAKING his head in mystification. Determined to make the easy the kill, Mayer banked away. . then drove in directly behind JOHNSON and fired another long burst of hundreds of .30 caliber bullets. Somehow, Republic Aviation's ruggedly built ' Jug ' remained airborne - its sick engine just chugged along. As they approached the southern English coast, the Mayer pulled up alongside to take another look. By this time Johnson realized how fortunate he was that Mayer spotted him only after the German had fired out all of his heavy cannons' . . probably while firing into the never-ending B-17 armadas. As they flew out over the English Channel, the German maneuvered behind for the third time and poured bullets directly into the ' Jug' including Bob's slab of seat armor. Huddled behind the steel plate, Bob continued in his inexhaustible good luck. And his tough ' Jug' just ' kept on . . keeping on.' Just as they approached the English coast [ not knowing that Bob Johnson would go on shoot down 27 of his flightmates] MULTIPLE ACE Mayer pulled up alongside, rocked his wings in salute, then turned away. Johnson had survived the pointblank machine gun fire. But he still had to land his shattered plane. He contacted Mayday Control, who instructed him to climb [ if he was able to climb ]. The ' Jug ' climbed a little bit. And after more radio conversation, Bob headed toward his home field. Because Johnson had no idea if his landing gear would go down, landing results would be ' iffy.' He then used up his last fragment of luck, for that day . . as his landing gear decided to lock into place. Sources : R.S. Johnson's Biography and Microsoft's Flight Combat Research