December 1944. West Field, Tinian. VPB-111 arcft. #38749, "Lady Bourbon," "Three Dreams and a Drink," crewed by CAC #5. Standing left to right: PPC Lt K.D. Johnson; 1P Ens W.R. Yocum; PC AMM1c B.C. Dickman; Ord AOM2c J.R. Sayre; 2R ARM3c T. Wallis Jr. Kneeling left to right: AG AMM3c E.R. Cartrette; 2P Ens J.A. Millen; 1R ARM1c I.I. Weaver; AG AMMF3c J.I. DeGraff; 1M AMM2c J.H. Palmer Jr.
The name "Johnny" is spelled out under the pilots window and "Dusty" under the nav's window.
While patrolling and searching off the French Indo-China coast, Lt Johnson and his crew were credited with an air-to-air shoot down of a Japanese "Betty" aircraft during the early afternoon of March 10, 1945. The "Betty" was spotted approximately 53NM off Tourane (Da Nang, Vietnam), French Indo-China and a pursuit was initiated which covered approximately 105 NM. Approximately 157NM out from Phu Thu on the coast of Indo-China the PB4Y-1 caught and engaged the "Betty" and through the accurate gunnary of AMM1c Dickman on deck, AOM2c Sayre on bow, AMM3c Cartrette at starboard waist, and AMMF3c DeGraff in the tail, the "Betty" was brought down in flames. Lt Johnson and his crew were operating out of McGuire Field, Mindoro, P.I.
