Jungle Ace: The Story of One of the Usaaf's Great Fighter Leaders Col. Gerald R. Johnson

About this book

Illuminates the life of a unique warrior who was both a daredevil fighter ace and a highly effective combat leader Contains dozens of previously unpublished photographs and compelling details about life in the Pacific Theater based on public archives personal papers and history interviews Examines major aerial combat actions from the Aleutian Islands to the Southwest Pacific Theater The brief but accomplished life of Army Air Forces fighter ace Gerald Johnson (1920-1945) is the subject of John Brunings latest book. Flying the powerful P-38 and possessing lethal shooting skill Johnson shot down 24 Japanese aircraft in 265 combat missions during thirty-six months in the Pacific Theater. At the age of 24 he commanded the highest-scoring fighter group in the Pacific the 49th. With Dick Bong and Tommy McGuire he formed an early triumvirate of 5th Air Force aces. A fellow pilot later called him "the Luke Skywalker of my generation." Tragically though Johnson had survived three combat tours which included a mid-air collision with a Japanese aircraft and being shot down by friendly fire the new father disappeared without a trace while flying a courier mission in bad weather one month after wars end and shortly before his planned return home. At the time he was one of the youngest full colonels in the U.S. Army Air Force.