Us Official Photographs

Johnson returns to base

Capt. Robert S. Johnson, Lawton, Okla., Eighth Fighter Command Thunderbolt pilot, returns to base and is greeted by his crew chief after bringing down three enemy interceptors to increase his total score to 22 and make him the high scoring ace in the European Theatre. Capt. Johnson was celebrating his promotion from First Lieutenant which came through just before he took off for Germany. His crew chief is S/Sgt. Ernest D. Gould, Vancouver, Wash. Only a part of his swastikas have been painted on the side of his fighter plane, as the remainder of his kills still await confirmation.