Johnson, J B (John Bernard)
Johnson, J B (John Bernard)
Sub-Lieutenant (A), John Bernard Johnson was the son of Herbert Henry and Daisy Johnson, husband of Mary Louisa Johnson, of Stanley, Yorkshire, who he had only married the previous year. It is believed that he had a son called John also.
During the 5th of January 1944, a Stinson Reliant plane,[1] FK914 took off from the airfield near Eglinton, County Londonderry. Onboard were three men from 878 squadron. Sub-Lieutenant, John Bernard Johnson, Sub-Lieutenant, Alan Frederick Orchard[2] and Sub-Lieutenant, Alan Albert Pollock,[3] who was the pilot.
The weather was terrible with snow and blizzards and as the monoplane was flying over the Sperrin Mountain range,[4] County Londonderry, and for reasons unknown, the plane with the three men crashed into the northeast side of Sawel mountain,[5] killing all those onboard. Unfortunately, due to the awful conditions, the plane and the airmen would remain there until recovery was possible on the 29th of January 1944. The men were laid to rest a few days later and they all received full military funerals.
Date of Death: Died 05/01/1944 (Aged 22)
Service: Sub-Lieutenant (A), 878 Squadron, H.M.S. Landrail, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Service Number: NK
Burial Location: Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard, Grave 10.
[1] The Stinson Reliant is a single-engine four or five-seater monoplane that took its first flight during 1933.
[2] Sub-Lieutenant, Alan Frederick Orchard was also laid to rest in Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard.
[3] Sub-Lieutenant, Alan Albert Pollock was also laid to rest in Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard.
[4] The Sperrin Mountains are a range of mountains in Northern Ireland and one of the largest upland areas in the north of Ireland.
[5] Sawel Mountain is the highest peak in the Sperrin Mountains at 678 meters, and the 8th highest in Northern Ireland.
