Harold E. Johnson

Harold Johnson entered Air Force Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas, on September 20, 1960. Johnson was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on March 28, 1961, and graduated from Undergraduate Navigator Training at Harlingen AFB, Texas, in December 1961. He then completed Electronic Warfare Officer training at Mather AFB, California, before being assigned to the Sioux City Air Defense Sector at Sioux City AB, Iowa. Johnson then served with the 29th Air Division at Richards-Gebaur AFB, Missouri, from January to August 1966. Captain Johnson began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia as an F-105 Wild Weasel Electronic Warfare Officer with the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, in October 1966, and he was forced to eject over North Vietnam while flying his 93rd combat mission on April 30, 1967, and was immediately captured and taken as a Prisoner of War. 11 days before his final mission, Captain Johnson and his pilot, Maj. Leo Thorsness, were credited with the destruction of a MIG-17 in aerial combat.