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R H Johnson

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The Crash

Pilot 3rd Class (Petty Officer) Ralph Henry Johnson was a pilot who operated from the carrier HMS Theseus during the Korean War.

Whilst on a mission in a Hawker Sea Fury aircraft over North Korea very early in the morning of 10 April 1951 Korean ground fire hit the aircraft in the port wing, slicing off a large chunk.

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Petty Officer R H Johnson with his Sea Fury. (FAA)

Just before the attack Johnson was flying at 4500 feet and climbing to port. This manoeuvre turned into a spin and Johnson applied a corrective action but ended up flying North. He then began to lose height and had great difficulty controlling the aircraft and decided to crash land rather than bale out in his parachute.

He chose a small valley in a mountainous area for a forced landing. He was unable to eject the canopy and lose enough speed for a controlled landing and eventually landed upside down with a severe blow to the head.

Johnson managed to free himself from the wreckage when a North Korean militiamen came up with a rifle and took him prisoner. They disarmed and marched Johnson away from the aircraft. They also removed the radio and the 20mm ammunition from the wreckage of the aircraft.