Memorials › SSGT Edgar Edwin Johnson

SSGT Edgar Edwin Johnson

2 Jun 1903 – 18 Nov 1941

Birth2 Jun 1903
Death18 Nov 1941
CemeteryLemonville Cemetery
Lemons , Putnam County , Missouri , USA
Added byKW on 21 Jun 2025
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157280243

Bio

3 Army Officers Die in Plane Crash Near Springfield, Ohio SPRINGFIELD, Ohio. - (AP) - Three officers of an army bombardment squadron perished Tuesday in the crash of a B-26 medium bombing plane at North Hampton, 12 miles northwest of here. The officers, attached to the 71st Bombardment squadron at Jackson, Miss., were: Staff Sergeant E.E. Johnson, Jackson, Miss. Second Lieutenant J. Gerald Lynch, West Haven Conn. First Lieutenant T.P. Bacon, Radford, Va. The men were testing warplanes for the Army Air corps at Peterson Field, Dayton, and had left the port shortly before their ship spiraled from great height into cornfield. Two bodies were thrown clear of the wreckage, one directly beside the ship, and the other about 25 feet away. On the latter was found a partly opened parachute. E.C. Davis, tenant on the farm which the ship struck, said he say two men attempting to bail out as the pane roared to earth. The ship struck on its nose and debris was hurled several hundred feet. John Coleman, a farmer who saw the crash, said the ship exploded with a terrific impact and ripped up earth for a radius of 25 or 30 feet. (Palladium-Item - Richmond, Indiana - Wednesday, November 19, 1941 - Page 11) --------------------- Former Numa Boy Is Bomber Crash Victim First casualty from Appanoose count in the present world conflict, is Edgar E. Johnson, son of Mrs. Ira D. Johnson, now residing at Lemons, Missouri, but who was formerly a resident at Numa. Sgt. Johnson, who was an expert airplane mechanic, was one of the crew of a bomber that crashed in flames at Springfield, Ohio this week. Three died in the tragedy. Cousin to Dr. Martin. Johnson is a cousin to Dr. W.P. Martin, dentist of this city. When he was here a comparatively short time ago he told Mr. Martin that he felt that there was "something screwy" about the considerable number of airplane failures in both the army and navy forces. It is possible that he may have been checking suspected sabotage when his death occurred, according to relatives here. Born at Numa. Sgt. Johnson was born in Numa. His mother was a niece to the late J.W. Martin, long time merchant and mine owner, of Numa. (Mrs. Martin still resides in Numa). His early life was spent in Numa and he attended the public schools there. He entered the air service some five years ago and was stationed near St. Louis, Missouri for a long time. Later he was transferred to California and then to Jackson, Mississippi, from where he flew on his last ill-fated mission. Checked Ships. Mr. Johnson was a flight sergeant and part of his duties consisted in checking ships as being ready for test flights. he sis not ordinarily go on the flights but seems to have deviated from that rule in the crash that caused his death, which leads local relatives to believe that he may have been checking his expressed theory that sabotage was to blame for some of the many plane crashes. Besides his wife, he is survived by his parents and two sisters, Maggie, of Kansas, and Esther, near Lemons. he was also a cousin of Mrs. W.B. Russell, of Numa. The First. Killed in line of duty, so fas as is known here at this time, he is the first local casualty of the present defense preparation and in event of war participation the first casualty of the conflict. His wife is living at Jackson, Mississippi, and it is understood that she will accompany the body to Lemons where funeral services are to be held. (The Centerville Daily Iowegian And Citizen - Centerville, Iowa - Friday, November 21, 1941 - Page 1) --------------------- EDWIN EDGAR JOHNSON Edwin Edgar Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira D. Johnson, was born June 2, 1903, and departed this life on Nov. 18, 1941, at the age of 38 years, 5 months and 16 days. His death was caused accidentally while serving as an instructor and aerial engineer for the Air Corps of the United States Army. One June 2, 1939, he was united in marriage to Mary Grace hale, of Xenia, Illinois, while he was with the Regular Army stationed at Scott Field, Belleville, Ill. It was in 1932 that Edgar first joined the Regular Army forces while a resident of Macon, Missouri. For six years he retained his standing in the Regular Army, and for the past three years was in the service of the Air Corps, which he found to be his most happy work. First serving at Fort Scott, in Belleville, Ill., he later was transferred to Patterson Field, Dayton, O., then to Rantoul Field, Rantoul, Ill., followed by Langled Field, Hampton, Virginia, and Jackson Air Base, Jackson, Miss. It was while a test pilot at the Dayton field, Dayton, O., that the fatal accident occurred. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira D. Johnson, of Lemons, two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Vandenberg, Wichita, Kan., and Mrs. Esther Quigley, Unionville, Mo., a niece, Joan Vandenberg, of Wichita, and a nephew, Edwin Quigley of Unionville. One sister Orpha Johnson, preceded him in death. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a young man of quiet reserve, yet with a sunny disposition. he was studious in his activities, and no greater joy came to him than in his work as an instructor and airial engineer int he Air Corps of the United States Army. He was a Staff Sergeant in teh 38th Group of the 71st Bomb Squadron of the Army, and it was in this capacity that he found his highest ambition: that of being a capable person in the kind of work which thrilled him most. The pride which he showed in his work as an instructor and engineer was reflected by the high regard in which he was held by both superior officers and the men whom he taught. Rarely does the joy of doing a good job well come to men. It came to Edgar. Rarely does the honor of living, and serving, and dying for one's nation come to men. It came to Edgar. It is with profound regret that we must witness his passing at this time in life, but all can rest assured that he served a great calling, he served it well, and he gave his life in the service of the thing he loved. His many relatives and friends join with the family in their sorrow at his loss. Funeral services were held Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Methodist church in Lemons, conducted by the minister, the Rev. C.W. Caldwell. Burial was in Lemons cemetery. The American Legion gave a final Gun Salute with taps at the close of the committal services. Card of Thanks We desire to extend our deepest thanks to the many friends and neighbors who sent flowers or helped in any way. Mrs. Grace Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Ira D. Johnson, and the family. (The Unionville Republican and Putnam County Journal - Unionville, Missouri - Wednesday, November 26, 1941 - Page 4 --------------------- U. S. Army Service No. #6525799 Enlistment Date: 06/11/1940 71st Bomb Squadron, 38th Bomb Group Edgar E. Johnson is listed as Died Non-Battle in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Putnam County, Missouri. U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985 signed by W. V. Sparks, Service Officer, Neal Smith Post 251, The American Legion at Unionville, Missouri on 03/06/1944.

Inscription

EDGAR E. JOHNSON MISSOURI STAFF SGT. 71 BOMB. SQ. AC NOVEMBER 18, 1941

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