Johnnie Johnson, RAF Spitfire Ace, This is Your Life (complete)

I uploaded a 9-minute extract of Johnnie Johnson's 'This is Your Life' back in 2010 ( • Johnnie Johnson, RAF S... ). This is the full 50-minute programme. Johnnie was Britain's highest-scoring fighter pilot during WWII with 38 kills to his name - all of them single engine fighter planes. He lived for a while in the same village as me, Waltham on the Wolds, where his father was a local police sergeant. I got to know someone who was a close friend of his. He let me borrow this recording as a VHS tape. As well as another where Johnnie speaks at a local game-shoot. This includes a fascinating description of how he was first rejected by the RAF ( • Johnnie Johnson - RAF ... ).

[@tomg2946]

In the 1950s Johnny Johnson was my Dads CO in Wildenrath. I was told he was really respected by all the aircrafts men, and personally stuck up for my Dad when another officer (being an obnoxious twat) was going to have my Dads dog shot (the dog became a member of the RAF). He used to borrow the dog Windy to go shooting regular. Respected because he was genuine through and through..no pretense , a true leader who walked the walk. God bless- from Tommy and Ginger. 👍

[@wor53lg50]

Notice at trafalgar square at the start how much respect the youth had back then for these heroes...im going to sit down and enjoy this even though i may have seen this when i was 9 or 10 as it was a bit of a family ritual to all sit down and watch every week, then when this finished im going to move on to dougie B's this is your life..

[@LHA8925]

When England was still England. True heroes who would must be turning in their grave at the state of the world these days.

[@shanjones4869]

When Britain I think you mean 🤔

[@thethirdman225]

You mean the fact that, despite their best efforts, we're still fighting fascism?

[@johnathandaviddunster38]

@@thethirdman225 yes it's a bit worrying the spectre of neo nazis , all these racists conveniently forget that millions of European whites killed millions of European whites ....

[@thethirdman225]

@@johnathandaviddunster38 Doesn’t matter much what colour they were. It matters that race or ethnicity was a factor. We’re still dealing with Hitler’s overt nationalism today.

[@BenLewis-ni1zb]

@@thethirdman225more like cultural Marxism

[@ducatiboy4951]

One of the best of the best generation this country has ever produced.

[@jimramsey8887]

Just a Brilliant Man with Brilliant Mates

[@oldcremona]

The seamless way this live show is presented is amazing.

[@imemine6494]

.. Didn't appreciate how good eamon Andrews was, when I was a kid.. I do now

[@Dewiart16]

What a quite wonderful generation - almost all gone now but never, ever to be forgotten.

[@nicholaswright4854]

A very well deserved honour to see so many of his friends and colleagues again. He should have a statue in his honour. Very moving 🏅

[@123Bilko]

I have his autograph and Douglas Bader from my time in the Air Training Corps. Two true hero's that our nation are proud off.

[@nigeh5326]

You were lucky I never got to meet either but I am a fan. Why Johnnie Johnson isn’t better known I don’t know. There is a multi part BBC drama waiting to be written based on his exploits imo

[@johnwilson7609]

@@nigeh5326 Johnny Johnson was a true hero,well known for his modesty, however, the same can’t be said for Nader.

[@nigeh5326]

@@johnwilson7609 I presume you have a typo and meant Bader

[@johnwilson7609]

@@nigeh5326 true

[@nigeh5326]

@@johnwilson7609 re Johnnie I agree if you haven’t read his books I recommend them a great read

[@gerardkearney3683]

Scotland salutes you Sir 💚🙏

[@duncanarchibald5056]

It's such a shame that this guy is not better known. By far one of the bravest heroes of WW2. Netflix - pay attention, his life story would make an awesome limited series or movie.

[@MarkHarrison733]

He was a terrorist like ISIS.

[@alanadair4893]

Far to many hero’s to mention

[@Lummers70]

Thank you for uploading this. So important for future generations:

[@vfrexup]

What a legend ! - the best of the best.

[@abundantYOUniverse]

Absolutely fantastic. These men were my heroes growing up, they gave me wings.

[@jeanclaudedamamme9874]

Being a RAF French fan, some years ago I have read his book : "Fighters in the sun". Great book. I too remember the photo with his doggy on the left wing of his marvelous Spitfire. Thank you for posting and please more stories of that sort. I'm never tired of viewing them.

[@chrisjohnson4165]

Proud to say that Johnny came from the next village to me, and also that my grandfather Huddie Hudson was a Sergeant in the Leicestershire Yeomanry, and fought in WW1.

[@hmfc2005]

Absolutely superb. What a hero. What a generation. Thank you.

[@Mrbluesplayer43]

If anyone deserved a Knighthood, he did, and yet today they give them anybodies for nothing

[@patagualianmostly7437]

More accurately, with respect: "They give them to nobodies for anything." Thanks to Bliar!

[@philc4520]

Agreed - 💯%

[@TheTigersbay]

Well said sir and God bless. “ Lest we forget “.

[@user-vl6xt2rt7p]

Another name for it is cash for honours

[@dbish2049]

What great show. 1st class people all of them. Thanks for uploading this👍

[@philc4520]

A real hero & make no mistake. Men of honour & character too are all of Johnnie’s friends & compatriots.

[@paulywarly6977]

Johnny Johnson.Wing leader. Highest scoring RAF pilot during WW2. A man of a different cut of cloth that leaves 99% of us on the shade. These boys faced death everyday and they gave us the freedom we enjoy today. Never forget these men of Steel. We aren't worthy. Honour them ✌

[@geraldbourhill3345]

Woops but the top scoring British pilot was Pat Pattle with 50!

[@patagualianmostly7437]

@@geraldbourhill3345 Care to provide links... because I have never heard of Pat Pattle.... I am sure I would have, given my interest in WW2 matters.

[@nickjohnson710]

@@patagualianmostly7437 well, its pretty obvious that you know jacket shit about ww2.....never heard of him 🙄 🤣

[@David-lb4te]

@@nickjohnson710 Pattle was an excellent pilot with his most scores whilst serving in support of the Greek Airforce against Italian Air Force. His scores included 'probables' but are undocumented. Go to 22:34 in kzbin.info/www/bejne/amWTaZJ6f7Soaas

[@nickjohnson710]

@@Eric_Cartman______ I get you're the KZbin police, and you're day is not complete without sounding like Karen....." wow, lose the attitude " has to be one of the lamest things I've read! Lol

[@diggr13]

My dad was a 443 Squadron Spitfire pilot in the war. Johnnie was his wing commander.

[@Richard19551]

This is wonderful! Thank you, David - and to those at This is Your Life. What a worthy subject and what an extensive program! This was just great to see.

[@dstirl]

Glad you enjoyed it, Richard. One of my heroes... 👍

[@nigeh5326]

Johnnie and the Canadians what a team 👍

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Call sign Grey Cap. He was a remarkable and brave pilot.

[@sparkleybitz]

That was wonderful, thank you David for putting this up for us all to enjoy.

[@frostyfrost4094]

You can see all the memories and thoughts passing through that face so many of his friends gave their tomorrows for our todays.

[@garybiker1433]

Ace pilot real hero

[@andrewnorris1]

How wonderful to find this. I saw JJ talk at the IWM some years ago and the camaraderie between him and the audience was like nothing I had ever seen before nor since. Thank you so much for posting this.

[@benlewis2475]

andrewnorris1 charisma. Can’t create it, it’s there or it isn’t.

[@peterpluim7912]

The physical bearing of that man. Someone who is used to be respected and obeyed.

[@benlewis2475]

Greycap Leader... he really did end up with a grey cap! What a legend. An absolute character, leader and damn fine shot.

[@shieldaigbencher]

I went to Loughborough Grammar School and shamefully there was no acknowledgment of this extraordinary former pupil at all. I hope they have sorted this out now. There is however now a beautiful mural of him on the side of a house on the corner of Queen Street in the town.

[@johnhammond2394]

Whe owe so much for brave and wonderful guys like Johnny. These men are our heroes. He was a great man who ended up becoming a air vice Marshall. Thanks for posting this great video.

[@MarkHarrison733]

He was a terrorist.

[@johnhammond2394]

@@MarkHarrison733 what utter rubbish. Why was he a terrorist?

[@MarkHarrison733]

@@johnhammond2394 He murdered thousands of civilians and Allied POWs in the failed Chastise war crime.

[@johnhammond2394]

@@MarkHarrison733 that was the dam buster raid. If so that was not a war crime as it targets were the Ruhr valley.

[@MarkHarrison733]

@@johnhammond2394 Bombing a civilian dam was illegal under international law in 1943.

[@jimbrooks4452]

What a group of heroes they have memories that anyone would be proud to know just one of them

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

So many names from his book now have faces. :-) love it. Even the Red Lion Pub!

[@stevenj2108]

What a man

[@melton6967]

What a hero.

[@DocTommy1972]

When I was about 10 I bought a copy of Full Circle : the story of air fighting at a church book sale. The nice got to it. 20 years later I bought another copy at the same church. That book inspired my love for history and airplanes

[@matcraddock6819]

Try and get hold of Wing Leader, also by JEJ and captivating.

[@DocTommy1972]

@@matcraddock6819 I certainly will. I only noticed now that my original comment read nice instead of mice. They must have been the same ones which chewed my science notebook. All these years I've been trying to convince my teacher, but he just won't believe me

[@davidgray3321]

My wife saw a photo of Johnson in a book I have , when taxiing a spitfire in his prime. Oh she said, “ he is VERY good looking”

[@benlewis2475]

Terrible rogue with the ladies I understand!

[@thethirdman225]

My mother met him and said the same thing.

[@mikereeder4337]

Thank you so much for posting this. Looks like there were quite a few heroes present that night.

[@Marigold_Tearooms]

Thankyou very much for this. Its very valuable footage. What a kind and generous act you have performed. That goes for the uploader and JJ himself.

[@carolempluckrose4188]

These guys I salute. From a lowly SACW

[@donroberts2126]

Extraordinary story of an extraordinary man. BTW my Aunt lives half-a-mile from the Red Lion...

[@MrWkdWilly]

Fantastic, what a bunch of inspirational guys.. I must pop into the Red Lion it’s only a couple of miles away from me👍

[@cameronh2402]

Thank you for uploading this . 🇦🇺

[@patagualianmostly7437]

Fabulous.... from a time when boys could become men....and had to... in order to survive. God Bless you all for your service and sheer courage.

[@mickjones1883]

heroes all

[@markellis796]

Absolutely fantastic, thank you for posting this.

[@nigeh5326]

Anyone interested in reading about Johnnie’s life I highly recommend Dilip Sarkar’s excellent series about the highest scoring Western Allied Ace of WW2 in Europe. Johnnie’s own books such as Wing Leader are a great read too.

[@alexandradane3672]

Thank you so very very much , David Sterling.

[@davidcrawford1616]

Our great country was built on the backs of him and hundreds of men and women like them . May God give them eternal peace and I for one salute you for ever

[@Kidraver555]

So many grand old heroes.

[@02087895726]

Thank you for posting this. I was very much moved by the sacrifices made by these great Fighter Pilots. We'd all be speaking German if it hadn't been for them.....and Hitler's miscalculation. The Ukrainians could do with a young Johnny Johnson right now !

[@dstirl]

Completely agree, Paul.

[@Phangmaster]

David, thanks so much for uploading this, made my day.

[@EricIrl]

I like the way all the local punks and street kids join in the congratulations Britain 1945 meets Britain 1985.

[@mange2]

This generation were heros. Its curious how my own generation and even my children, grew up with so much respect and thanks for what they did for our freedom, but the generations now, not only don't care, but even show contempt. It outrages me.

[@Daniel_Goddard]

There's always someone posting this utter bollox

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

@@Daniel_Goddard And by the tone of your statement you confirm the OPs comment.

[@TheTigersbay]

Well said 👍🏻 God bless and “ Lest we forget “.

[@Merlin-lc4zu]

Even more remarkable considering he missed the Battle of Britain and all those slow,lumbering German bombers.Every kill was a fighter aircraft and Johnny was never injured or forced to land if memory serves.Will have to read Ace of Aces again and swot up.

[@benlewis2475]

Merlin 2010 if you haven’t, read Wing Leader.

[@Merlin-lc4zu]

@@benlewis2475 will do Thanks.Just finishing Spitfire ace of Aces.

[@benlewis2475]

Merlin 2010 good book that. Dillip was good friends with him clearly.

[@dafyddthomas7299]

UK's finest

[@malcolmholmes893]

A great man, we owe our freedom to him and thousands of other service men. Not forgetting those who didn't come home. What do we have today... idiots who think it's a joke to deface war memorials, I wonder what would happen if the call of duty came to these yobs......

[@colinwinship1231]

Your yobbo's wouldn't join they would run for cover just to show their true colours

[@TheTigersbay]

💯 Agreed.

[@hawkeye4528]

A true hero and leader, "leaders" of today could learn so much

[@tomburroughes9834]

An amazing man.

[@ronwilsontringue6574]

The Best !!

[@andrewstewart5721]

Whoever gave this the thumbs down????!!!!

[@dstirl]

I know, Andrew. Perhaps they'd have been happier living under Hitler's swastika.

[@peterwhitaker4038]

@@dstirl whoever gave thumbs down has the freedom to do so thanks to the likes of Johnnie Johnson' nuff said

[@mikeharbour3820]

Is a complete idiot..probably a snowflake lefty..

[@chriswalker8844]

@@dstirl I THINK IT WAS THE VENTRILOQUIST DUMMY IN THE AUDIENCE ON THE BACH ROW!

[@karenstjohn6759]

Probably a Messerschmitt 109 pilot!

[@ianbentley7276]

apologies, got that hopelessly wrong, he passed in 2001

[@peterwhitaker4038]

and chris Hoy got a knighthood for riding a bike?????????????

[@thiest1205]

Knighthood's are 10 a penny now These chaps earned them

[@peterwhitaker4038]

@Alan 59 well alan we all have our opinions but a Knighthood used to be for valour to your country like knights of old. i have no doubt a tour of france on a bycicle is hard going as is the efforts by Lewis Hamilton in F1. but the point i was making is IF these sportsmen get knighted why wasn't he for what he did?

[@allanbooth4982]

I think the country was disrespectful to Johnnie Johnson he should have been knighted yet the top fighter ace of ww2 wasn’t,t and today they are given for next to nothing

[@The_Oracle]

How he adores his grandchildren. That is humanity.

[@threepot5874]

Our greatest generation! Sadly lacking in our country today!

[@entropy2283]

Absolutely. We live in an age of mollycoddling.

[@rickremco6275]

Compare these beutifully spoken heroes to the pampered snowflakes that we have today.

[@Charlie-de7kk]

@@rickremco6275 as true as that is ,the older generation are just as bad in today’s world

[@John-dd7ez]

Proper men who would be unlikely to be put off by a mean tweet.

[@andyharris17able]

True hero , and others , 2024 was it worth it . Great Britain , not great any more . All these men flying in heaven now . From me thank you all ...

[@davidcrawford1616]

Thank you Johnniewe owe you big time

[@markjfox866]

What a guy

[@benlewis2475]

Terry Spencer...what a man!

[@kenowens9021]

As of March 2022, he is still alive at the age of 100.

[@benlewis2475]

Sadly not. He died in 2001 I think.

[@briankinnear1314]

No hes not..he died 2001. At the age of 81

[@kenowens9021]

@@briankinnear1314 Can't trust some things on the internet.

[@ianbentley7276]

got confused with this gentleman.Squadron Leader George Leonard "Johnny" Johnson, MBE, DFM is a retired Royal Air Force officer who is the last surviving original member of No. 617 Squadron RAF and of Operation Chastise, the "Dambusters" raid of 1943. Wikipedia Born: 25 November 1921 (age 99 years),

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

Their were at least 2 Johnny Johnsons in the RAF, the one you mention, and this gentleman, often seen with his spitfire with its callsign JE-J (Johnny Edgar Johnson.)

[@ianbentley7276]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 Thank you.

[@MDzmitry]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 wasn't it for "James Edgar Johnson"? His real name isn't Johnny

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

@@MDzmitry Of Course you're right Dmitry, The embarassment of being corrected while correcting someone else !!! Its normally me doing it to others. Humble thanks !!!

[@MDzmitry]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 I can relate, but it's completely fine, all people make mistakes from time to time

[@Shamrock100]

Lots of famous names here and many weren't particularly old when the programme was made. Though they joked about the lighter side of their wartime service, this was maybe a way of masking the true nature of the war, in which so many young men on both sides died or were maimed.

[@alanjones6359]

True , my dad served in bomber command he only spoke about the lighter things he experienced

[@paular3277]

Lovely to see this again it features my Grandad we had a copy of the video of this within the family somewhere. Does anyone know what date it was on TV originally?

[@axesspeaklouderthanwords8077]

At the end it shows the date MCMLXXXV=1985 HTH

[@shifty389]

I have a signed reprint of badgers bus company with his signature on it and a few others

[@johnwilkinson8098]

when this great man passed away in the early 2000´s the then PM - bloody T Blair never even gave him a mention. So, I posted him Johnson´s book. Just to let him know what an awful shit he was. Never replied. But I wasn´t surprised. Johnson stared a housing trust for less well off people after the war. Truly a great man.

[@normawithers4447]

And after all that he set up a housing trust that still provides housing to those most in need.

[@robertwilson214]

It's poignant to see him walking through Trafalgar Square on just another day of freedom.if it wasn't for him those kids would be behind barbed wire.

[@patagualianmostly7437]

Did you notice the Punk couple who walked past Eammon Andrews...at the intro? .... but came back to salute JJ when Andrews stopped him? Spoke volumes....

[@wor53lg50]

The kids now wouldnt have been excited and in ore to be seeing him like we watched with them there, even the punks couldnt wait to shake his hand and punks we're proper anti establishment back in the day, most of that youth who came to greet him would've known who he was and exactly what he'd acheived...

[@dafyddmanton2981]

My two heroes in RAF life - JEJ and DRSB.

[@thewhitbywanderer.4634]

Auesome.

[@G3n3r4t0r1111]

Hero's Assemble Thank you Sir

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

True gentleman and hero……….. I like to think that he crossed paths during the 2nd world war with my dads cousin, also a highly decorated Spitfire ace.

[@TheTigersbay]

God bless the fallen “ Lest we forget “. Johnnie Johnson, Douglas Bader and the rest of the British heroes should never be forgotten. To the British people that is left and who love their U.K., this is your time to be a hero and speak out against the dilution and destruction of the British natives and their traditions, cultures and way of life . God bless and save our U.K. .

[@vincentlefebvre9255]

Same thing is happening in Canada unfortunately.

[@thethirdman225]

Racist pricks.

[@Nomorewoke0k]

He gave us some good years bless his heart before it all went to the dogs as did they all. Hero.

[@AmericasChoice]

All his victories were against single-seat fighters, piloted by some very good Luftwaffe pilots.

[@ianbentley7276]

still alive at 99 ( april 2021)

[@rafflesxyz4800]

He passed away in Jan 2001 aged 85.

[@philc4520]

Wow!

[@ianbentley7276]

@@philc4520 got confused with this gentleman.Squadron Leader George Leonard "Johnny" Johnson, MBE, DFM is a retired Royal Air Force officer who is the last surviving original member of No. 617 Squadron RAF and of Operation Chastise, the "Dambusters" raid of 1943. Wikipedia Born: 25 November 1921 (age 99 years),

[@brianford8493]

The fact Bader didnt shake Johnnys hand made me sick.

[@chriswalker8844]

WTF! Who's the guy in the audience on the back row with the ventriloquist dummy - have another look!!!

[@coleenallen5963]

I agree with the last man

[@markjfox866]

Heros 🙏🏼🙏🏼👏🏻👏🏻🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖

[@lusty444]

I wish he had told “Fokker Joke”!😎

[@martybourke2428]

Was Johnny the international rugby ref

[@alanspringett9233]

I wonder how he truly felt meeting the german ace.......his face didn't give him away.....

[@benlewis2475]

The German chap got pretty drunk before he came on I just learned from Dilip’s new book ‘Johnnie Johnson’s Great Adventure’. Worth buying!

[@mamavswild]

@@benlewis2475 Well...that’s understandable...especially before social media, coming on TV would be pretty nerve wracking. I’m sure they were both fine with each other. Many became good friends after the war, some even best friends, like Luftwaffe Ace Adolf Galland, RAF aces Robert Tuck and Douglas Bader. Tuck even became godfather to Galland’s son; the death of Tuck meant the beginning of the end for Galland, who took his passing hard.

[@DavidJones-pv8zu]

Major Walter Matoni (like many of his comrades) seems to have been forgotten - a fate of the vanquished.

[@apachecatcat3495]

I thought the Canadian George Beurling was the best Pilot of the War and also the American Pilot Dick Bong. But he was a great Pilot

[@vincentlefebvre9255]

The greatest aces were the Germans as they often flew until they were killed. But pro rata the Finns were the most impressive as they often flew very average planes.

[@mywestsussex5749]

All gone now, I am 70 so I was not around but I don't think people understand how close we became to being defeated include soft weak ministers

[@mywestsussex5749]

This programme should be shown in our schools , oh I am dreaming the woke won't allow it

[@dstirl]

I doubt Johnnie would pass any wokeness test! But we'd be living in a very different world if he and his kind hadn't risked their lives for our future.

[@tonynewman8586]

Wow / we are talking about someone here that’s on pah if not ahead of the Churchill as the greatest Britain ever ? From the free world Thankyou 👍 / why is this mans life not known to us ? Please tell me there is a statue of him in a prominent place in the uk ?