John Clayton Johnston, 22, went missing in action in the Papua, New Guinea area on November 30, 1942, and was later presumed dead on that date. Following Orville D. Andrews who died in a bomber crash in the summer of 1942, Johnston was the second ECTC alumni to lay down his life in service to his country. The December 11, 1942 issue of the Teco Echo, dedicated to those alumni serving in the armed forces, included pictures and brief accounts of Lt. Andrews and Lt. Johnston on its front page in remembrance of the two fallen students.
Johnston was a native of Greenville, the first son of Frank V. (1870-1932) and Minnie E. Johnston (1885-1950). He graduated from Greenville High School and attended East Carolina Teachers College. In the spring of 1941 Johnston participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Course coordinated through ECTC and received his pilot’s license at the Greenville airport. After training by the Army Air Corps at Spence Field, Moultrie, Georgia, Johnston was commissioned, in May 1942, second lieutenant. Prior to being assigned duty in the Pacific as part of the 78 Fighter Squadron, 49 Fighter Group, Johnston also served as an instructor at an Army base in Florida.
His remains lost at sea, Johnston is remembered in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Fort Bonifacio (formerly Fort William McKinley), Manila, Capital District, Philippines. There is also a gravestone in Greenwood Cemetery, Greenville, N.C., for Johnston, next to those of his parents.
Sources:
- “College Dedicates Gym.” East Carolinian. January 9, 1953. P. 2. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/38311
- Evans, Clifton. Untitled article on Civilian Pilot Training Course at ECTC. Teco Echo. March 28, 1941. P. 1. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/37888
- Evans, Clifton. Untitled article on Civilian Pilot Training Course at ECTC. Teco Echo. April 25, 1941. P. 1. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/37890
- “Gold Star Alumni.” Teco Echo. May 19, 1945. P. 1. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/37955
- “Greenville Flier Killed In Action: Lieut. John C. Johnson, ECTC Graduate, Lost Life in the New Guinea Area.” News and Observer. December 13, 1942. P. 3.
- “Greenville Officer Killed In New Guinea.” News and Observer. December 12, 1942. P. 2.
- “John Johnston.” Tecoan. 1940. P. 107. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15345
- “Lt. John Johnson.” Teco Echo. December 11, 1942. P. 1. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/37912
- “Those Killed In The Services.” Tecoan. 1945. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15350
Related Materials
John Clayton Johnston. Image Source: East Carolina Yearbooks, Tecoan 1940. UA50-01. University Archives, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
Citation Information
Author: John A. Tucker, PhD
Date of Publication: 5/6/2022