Johnny Johnson: RAF Engineer in the Siege of Malta

John James Johnson was born in Hebburn-on-Tyne, Durham on 19th November 1918. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force on 13th June 1938 as he couldn't bear the thought of being called up for the Royal Navy and having to go to sea. His service number was 613465. He had been apprenticed before the war to an engineering company and it was logical that he should be selected and trained to become an aircraft engineer. He became AC 2 upon enlistment, AC 1 in 1940, Leading Aircraftsman in 1941 and Corporal in 1943.

On 20th April 1940 he joined 418 Flight which later became 261 Squadron engaged in the defence of Malta. He was a ground crew engineer repairing and servicing the Hawker Hurricane aircrafts which were vital to the island's protection from German and Italian air raids. He remained with this squadron until July 1941 when he transferred to 249 Squadron which had been sent to Malta to form part of fighter defences. This squadron was also flying Hurricanes.

In August 1941, he was transferred to 69 Squadron which was stationed in Malta to carry out strategic reconnaissance missions, mainly using Martin Marylands until May 1942 when Spitfires began to carry out all reconnaissance missions. It was whilst he was serving on this squadron that he became one of the ground crew for Flight Lieutenant Adrian 'Warby' Warburton, one of the most daring and highly decorated of airmen in the RAF. He had many stories to tell of Warby's exploits during his time on Malta.

Johnny Johnson was stationed on Malta for a total of 2 years and 4 months from April 1940 to August 1942 - about 850 days during which the island suffered some 3,000 air raids. Known as the Siege of Malta, this was one of the worst periods for the Allies during the Second World War, as the Axis-forces had the upper hand. German and Italian planes struck the island round the clock in an attempt to neutralise British bases. In addition, food and other supplies were scarce and many went hungry for months on end. Although the servicemen suffered less than the local population, they still had meagre rations which over time took its toll. When Johnny Johnson returned home in 1942, he only weighed about 7 stone.

For the island's stalwart resistance to all the enemy's attacks and the subsequent hardships, His Majesty King George VI awarded it the George Cross which forms part of the island's flag to this day.

When he left Malta in August 1942 for Home Embarkation, it was ironic that, for someone who had joined the RAF to avoid Naval service, he was to travel home not only on an aircraft carrier but also in a submarine, HMS Proteus, which took him to Alexandria.

Although, like many others, he rarely spoke of wartime service, there were occasions when he would relate some of the horrors of war, particularly the enemy's air onslaught in Malta.

Johnny's kitbag from those days is in his family's possession. With its details of his name and service number, the Maltese cross and MALTA GC, the names of the vessels he sailed in, and the number of air raids he survived, it is a fitting reminder of the trials and tribulations that he and many others underwent in the war in the Mediterranean.