William J. Johnston was born on April 3, 1920 in Mahoning County, Ohio. He was the son of Frank M. Johnston and Cecelia Gilronan Johnston. William was a B-17 bombardier assigned to 535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group. He killed in action on November 5, 1943 during a mission to Gelsenkirchen, flying aboard 42-30852 "Blowin' Bessie" MS-V. He is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. Lt Johnston had struck his head on the bombsight and was bleeding. The Germans reported him as dead and stated his parachute didn't open. Possibly drowned. His name is commemorated on a monument at Oud-Beijerland, The Netherlands but his surname is mistakenly inscribed as Johnson.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, http://www.americanairmuseum.com
PRIVATE CITIZENS SUPPORTING AMERICA'S HERITAGE
American
War Memorials Overseas, Inc.
War Memorials Overseas, Inc.
Johnston William J.
Name:
William J. Johnston
Rank:
First Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-678417
Unit:
535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1943-11-05
State:
Ohio
Cemetery:
Netherlands American Cemetery, Netherlands
Plot:
I
Row:
9
Grave:
16
Decoration:
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Comments: