Johnnie Johnson passed away

[Guppy35]

Saw it on another board.  Johnnie Johnson, highest scoring RAF ace in Europe, passed away recently at the age of 85.

While folks may rip the Spit drivers in online sims, there was no question about the ability of JEJ in the real deal.

Sad that we are losing them faster and faster these days

Dan

[funked]

Dan, my squad will be doing Spitfire sweeps in honor of JEJ tomorrow night (2/1/01) at 2100 EST.  We welcome anybody who wants to take part.  I'm hoping to get some formations of finger fours going.  

[TheWobble]

what about tommy thompson?

[Jimdandy]

Yep I feel that if you have the opportunity to talk to a WWII vet you better. Unfortunately (or fortunately I'm still not sure  ) age catches up with all of us.

[Mathman]

I was fortunate enough to have a great uncle who was present at some very key points in the Pacific War.  He wasn't a soldier, he was an artist/correspondent for Life magazine during the war.  He was on the USS Wasp when it was sunk and went in with the first wave of Marines at Peileilu (as well as at numerous other places and events).  I was fortunate enough to spend time talking with him this past Christmas.  Though he was in his 90's, he could still recall much of what he saw and experienced.  Sadly, he just past away this Monday.  As an aside, I was named after him (sort of, middle name at least).  His name was Tom Lea, and he was probably the greatest person I have ever had the privelege of knowing.

[Jimdandy]

That's really neat Mathman. It is a real privilege to talk to people like that. I have a great uncle that was at Pearl Harbor. He went on to many battles in the Pacific. I hope to get a chance to talk to him one more time before the opportunity is lost.

[bloom25]

I too have an uncle that served in WWII.  Unfortunately his health is rapidly deteriorating and he won't be around for much longer.    He and his wife basically raised my mom as a child after her mother and father passed away.  They have been like grandparents to me.  His wife was recently diagnosed with Altimer's (sp) Disease, so it has not been a good past few months.

He served in the Med first on board a sub chaser.  (The first in a new class.)  This ship received credit for sinking 1 U-Boat.  Later he was transfered to the Pacific as a mechanic on board APA-129 (Melvin H McIntyre).  Later he learned his old sub chaser had been sunk in action.  In the pacific he was present at Leyte Gulf and Okinawa.  He said they would listen to the pilots radio communications.  He witnessed several ships get hit by kamikazies off Okinawa, including a crusier right next to his ship.  After the surrender he was among the first group into Nagasaki and witnessed first-hand the destruction the A-Bomb caused.

About a year ago he participated in a Veteran's Day parade.  This was the first time someone came up to him and told him "Thank you."  It obviously made his day.

Unfortunately in the past year his health has rapidly declined to the point where he is on oxygen full time.  The doctors have told him nothing can be done.  He continues to fight, but it won't be much longer I'm afraid...  



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bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS