JOHN THAD JOHNSON -1927 AKA J. Thad Johnson

John Thad Johnson Collection of Troy Benear, 5-4-07 Grandnephew of J. Thad Johnson

 

O. E. Williams School of Aviation via email from Nancy Mess, 1-18-06 Niece of O. E Williams 1930, OCT 27 American Aero Philatelic Digest and Canadian Stamp Journal; Vol. 1, No. 3, p.1 and 8. The Fenton Michigan Memorial. The CHAMBER OF COMMERCE of Fenton, Michigan arranged the commemorative of twelve men (listed below) who gave their lives in the development of aeronautics. A cachet was arranged showing the names of those men. Letters arrived from all parts of the world to be mailed with the special cachet applied. 5,300 letters went into the mail on that Memorial Day, 1929. "TO THE STUDENTS OF THE WILLIAMS SCHOOL OF AVIATION AND OTHERS OF OUR YOUNG MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AVIATION" O. E. Williams Al Boshek Ransom Fowler Don McGee Harold Bruner Leroy Wilson Lt. Cyrus Bettis (served in WW1) Lt. John Burns (served in WW1) Capt. E. G. Knapp (served in WW1) Lt. J. Thad Johnson (served in WW1) Sid Robberts Elwood Junken

ONLINE RESOURCES      If you search for "J. Thad Johnson", using the Google search engine, (9-9-07), you will find about 21 links. Among the most helpful are the following.

 

Charles Lindbergh and Thad Johnson      This entry on the Charles Lindbergh Discussion Center answers the following question. "Posted July 21, 2004 07:56 PM Can you please tell me of the connection between Charles Lindberg and Thad Johnson of Canada? Thanks. Ian"      The webmaster responded with a detailed explanation which you can read by clicking on the title above.

 

TRAINS MAGAZINE      This page on the "trains.com" website offers the following brief account: "JULY 02, 1927 A special train is run from Ottawa Union Station in Ontario, Canada to Fenton, Michigan to convey the body of US aviatior Lieutenant J. Thad Johnson who was killed on "Lindbergh Field" (Uplands) while attempting to make a landing during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Both the station and train were specially draped and there were floral decorations in the mortuary car. The arrangements amounted to what was practically a State Military funeral."      You can access the page by clicking on the title above.

 

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE      A feature of this website, which has apparently subsequently disappeared, offers these incidents in the military career of Lt. Johnson: 24 Jan 1925       First Lieutenant J. Thad Johnson, A.S., 17th Squadron, made two forced landings acting as high altitude observer for eclipse of the sun. 25 Feb 1925       First Lieutenants J. Thad Johnson, 17th Squadron and Alfred J. Lyon, 27th Squad..... 10 Apr 1925       First Lieutenant J. Thad Johnson, 17th Squadron, forced to jump from P-1 airplane when fuel line broke. 3 Jul 1925       First Lieutenant J. Thad Johnson, Group Headquarters, transferred to 27th Pursuit...

 

JOHN THAD JOHNSON

WIDOW OF FLIER      Mrs. Fay Adams Johnson, widow of Lieut. J. Thad Johnson, collapsed in her partnes' home in Fenton, Mich., when she learned that her husband had been killed in a crash while escorting Col. Charles A. Lindbergh on a flight to Ottawa, Ont. Thad's wife was former President John Quincy Adams' granddaughter. Personal communication from Terry Benear, 8-20-08

Collection of Troy Benear, 5-4-07

 

Lt. J. Thad Johnson’s Funeral Procession at Union Station in Ottawa Ontario Canada on July 3rd 1927 From the National Archives Contributed by Patric Allard, 4-21-10

 

Lt. J. Thad Johnson died on July 2, 1927 following a mid-air collision..

 

JOHNSON'S GRAVESITE Via email from John Dolza, 5-7-09      I lived next to the cemetery and noticed the grave many years ago. Every few years I have cleaned the stone because it was always alone. I have often noticed that the parents of his wife are buried there but she is not . I’ve often wondered what happened after his death.       My granddaughter much to my surprise brought this site up so I thought I’d enquire further. Afraid I can’t give any further information. I only knew that he was in some way connected with Lindbergh. All of the old records of the Fenton Independent had been destroyed. Editor's Note: If you can add anything to this part of the story, both John and I would be much obliged.

 

If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper

 

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