RAYMOND J., Sr. & FLORENCE VIRGINIA (SMITH) JOHNSON

LINK TO:

 

Ray Johnson infant picture

 

 

 

My Father, Raymond J. Johnson, son of Bradley Thomas & Nancy (Fagan) Johnson, was born on March 24, 1921 and died on May 10, 1996.  He married my mother, Florence Virginia Smith on July 2, 1945.  They truly were part of the "greatest generation."  My Dad served in World War II as a turret gunner and flight engineer on a Consolidated B-24 Liberator with the 8th AF, 446th BG.  He was awarded the Air Medal with two oak leave clusters.  His Discharge papers (see left) show he arrived in the ETO in November of 1944.  After the war he returned home and worked most of his life for Bendix Radio Corporation.  He was very soft spoken and I can't remember him ever raising his voice to me.  (I may be biased but he was the finest father any son could wish for).  He truly was a fine gentleman in the best sense of that word.

His nickname was "Tip."  However, none of his brothers or my Dad could ever remember why they called him "Tip." He died on May 10, 1996 as a result of complications from Parkinson's disease.  He is sorely missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.

            

Discharge Papers for Raymond J. Johnson

Crew Pictures

Florence V. Johnson

 

Another page with some more family photos

 

My Mom, was born on March 15, 1921, the daughter of George and Anna Fitzgerald Smith. She actually entered the service before my dad, and was part of the original Women's Auxiliary Army Corps.  She took her basic training at Fort Oglethorpe, GA.  Her unit marched in the victory parade in Times Square following WWII.  In addition to raising my brother and I my Mother worked at various secretarial jobs.  Towards the end of her career she worked as a secretary at Kirk Army Hospital at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

She still lives with my brother in Fair Hill, Maryland, which is a little town close to Elkton, Maryland in Cecil County.

Children are:

William Raymond b. Apr. 20, 1947
Raymond Joseph, Jr. b. Nov. 1, 1951