2nd Lt. Stanley W. Johnson
U.S. Army Air Force, 5th Air Force, 49th Fighter Group, 9th Fighter Squadron
P-38 Lighting Pilot

Background
Stanley Warren Johnson was born November 24, 1921 to parents Alfred W. Johnson and Mildred Nora (nee Boxeth) Johnson in Minneapolis. Minnesota. He had a younger brother Robert Lloyd Johnson born in 1927. He graduated high school and attended one year of college and worked at a financial institution clerk. His family moved to Lewistown, Montana before enlisting.

Wartime History
On April 10, 1942 in Missoula, Montana enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) with serial number 19071615. In April 1943, he attended Merced Army Flying School class 43-D for basic pilot training. He earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-743343. He met Barbara Viola Wilson and the couple married. Johnson learned to fly the P-38 Lightning and was sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) "The Flying Knights" as a P-38 Lightning pilot.

Mission History
On November 7, 1943 took off from Kiriwina Airfield piloted P-38G Lightning 43-2199 as part of "Red Flight" flying as wingman for Captain Richard I. Bong on a mission to escort bombers over Rabaul. The weather was cumulus clouds with 7/10th coverage from 1,000' to well over 30,000' over the target area. Last seen by Captain Richard I. Bong over Saint Georges Channel near Induna Island. with four enemy fighters on his tail diving away. When this P-38 failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Johnson was officially declared dead on December 15, 1945. He earned the Silver Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Johnson is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Lewistown City Cemetery in Lewistown, MT.

During December 1943, the widow of 2nd Lt. Stanley W. Johnson was visiting Superior, Wisconsin and met Richard I. Bong who was home on leave and was his flight leader when he went Missing In Action (MIA). Later, Bong confided to his new girlfriend Marjorie "Marge" Ann Vattendahl how difficult the meeting was and how bravely Mrs. Johnson was coping with the loss. The meeting so influenced him that Bong even commented to his girlfriend that "he didn't think anyone should rush into marriage until the war was over. The future is too uncertain and there is too much misery in store for those left behind."

Relatives
Barbara V. Johnson (wife remarried 1974 died 2012)
Alfred W. Johnson (father died 1972)
Mildred N. Johnson (mother died 1976)
Robert L. Johnson (brother died 2004)

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Stanley W. Johnson
Pacific Wrecks - P-38G Lightning 43-2199
Missing Air Crew Report 1075 (MACR 1075) created November 9, 1943
Great Falls Tribune "S. W. Johnson of Lewiston Listed as Dead" December 27, 1945 page 4
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) Stanley W. Johnson
FindAGrave - 2Lt Stanley W Johnson (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Stanley Warren Johnson (memorial marker Lewistown City Cemetery)
Ace of Aces The Dick Bong Story (1985, 2019) pages 57-59 (November 7, 1943), 69 (widow meets Bong in Superior), 153 (index Johnson)
Jungle Ace (2001) page 145

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