Robert A Johnson

COLUMBIA - A funeral service for Brigadier General Robert “Bob” Amsey Johnson, Sr., U.S. Air Force Ret. (SC ANG), 96, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Shandon United Methodist Church, with entombment in Greenlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church in Wesley Fellowship Hall. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.

General Johnson passed away Tuesday, January 1, 2019. Born on November 23, 1922 in Smyrna, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Warmuth Johnson and Analee Kellum Johnson. He received his primary education in the Smyrna Public School System and graduated from Smyrna High School in May 1940. He attended the American Institute of Banking in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated in July 1941. During the time he was in school, he was receiving practical experience from his employer, the Third National Bank of Nashville from October 1940 until 1942.

General Johnson did not continue a career in banking as he had planned. On October 26, 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He attended Radio Operator and Mechanics School and, while attending, he was selected for pilot training. He completed the primary, basic and advanced training course and was awarded his wings on November 20, 1944. General Johnson remained on active duty as a fighter pilot until his release on November 30, 1945. He joined the S.C. Air National Guard in May 1949 as First Lieutenant and was promoted to Second Lieutenant in December 1949. He was assigned to the Air Corps Reserve from the Air National Guard on June 2, 1949. He progressed through the commissioned grades and was promoted to the grade of Colonel on September 15, 1971. He served in a variety of positions in the South Carolina Air National Guard from Reconnaissance Pilot, Operations Officer, Deputy Commander for Operations, and as Commander of the 169th Tactical Fighter Group.

He progressed through the pilot ratings and was a Command Pilot. General Johnson was trained in and flew the P-40, P-47, P-51, F-86, F-104, F-102, A-7, and Support Aircraft C-45 and C-47. In his position as a fighter pilot, he was ordered to active duty during the Korean War from October 10, 1950 until July 28, 1953. He was again ordered to active service during the Berlin Crisis from November 1, 1961 through August 15, 1962. He held positions of Flying Training Instructor, Operations Officer and Air Commander for the South Carolina Air National Guard, starting on August 17, 1953.

General Johnson attended the ten-month long Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, graduating in May 1970. He received college credits for schools he attended, which was the equivalent of a Master’s degree. He deployed with the South Carolina Air National Guard to various areas during annual field training, including Hawaii, England and the Panama Canal Zone. He served on the Board of Directors for the Professional Military Education Center in Knoxville, Tennessee and often lectured there. While deployed to Travis Field, Savannah, Georgia during camp in 1976, the Air Force held an Operational Readiness Inspection. This was the first time an Air Guard Unit was inspected while on deployment away from the home base. Under General Johnson’s leadership, the 169th Tactical Fighter Group accomplished all and more of the inspection requirements and received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. He went to Fighter’s Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base and won the “Top Gun” Competition. He retired as Brigadier General from the McEntire Joint National Guard Base.

While serving, he received many decorations and awards: American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Germany Occupation Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (20 years), Combat Readiness Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, South Carolina Active State Service Medal (20 years) and the South Carolina Exceptional Service Medal. He also received the prestigious Order of the Palmetto from Governor Richard Riley. He was a member of Shandon United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the Joy and Acts Sunday School Classes.

General Johnson had a great love for flying and a deep pride for the accomplishments of all the units in the South Carolina Air National Guard. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and holding cookouts. He was a member of the National Guards Association of the United States and of the State of South Carolina. After his military retirement, he served as the Director for the Air National Guard Issues as Director of Air Activities for the National Guard Association of the U.S. in Washington, D.C. He and his wife seldom separated and she accompanied him on many assignments, particularly his ten-year service in Washington, D.C. and Hawaii. Subsequently, he worked for the Lockheed-Martin Aircraft Corporation in Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas as their Air National Guard Program Liaison.

Surviving are his wife, Harriett K. “Beau” Johnson; son, Robert Johnson, Jr. (Mary Katherine); six grandchildren, Robert Samuel Strickland (Whitney) of Columbus, Mississippi, Matthew Johnson (Angie) of Myrtle Beach, Donnie Johnson (Minde) of Lexington, Sissy Boozer (Curt) of Lexington, Sarah Spears (Ricky) of Ridge Springs, and Lisa Turner of Lexington; numerous great-grandchildren; and son-in-law, Bruce Strickland.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Elizabeth Johnson “Betsy” Strickland; and brothers, Kellum Johnson and Burton Johnson.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.