Johnston, Francis R., 1922-2000

Johnston (1922-2000) was born in Burnt Creek (North Dakota) but grew up in Chippewa Falls and Kenosha (Wisconsin).

In 1941, he was working as a theater manager in Kenosha when he learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Johnston enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served as a tail gunner with the 531st Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. Johnston's crew flew thirty-eight missions and received the Presidential Unit Citation award. In 1945, Johnston returned to the U.S. and spent time at a Veterans Hospital in Miami where he battled combat fatigue. After his discharge, Johnston worked in a mattress factory before going to art school. He settled in Kenosha with his wife and children where he designed and built his own house. Johnston attended reunions of the 380th Bomb Group and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

From the description of Oral history interview with Francis R. Johnston, [sound recording], 1997. (Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center). WorldCat record id: 654432750