Olaus Johnsen

Olaus Charles Wilhelm Johnsen[note 1] DFC (25 October 1889 – 20 April 1960) was a British flying ace of the First World War credited with five aerial victories.[2]

Olaus Charles Wilhelm Johnsen
Born(1889-10-25)25 October 1889
Bromley, London, England
Died20 April 1960(1960-04-20) (aged 70)
Buried
St. Mary's Church, Balcombe, West Sussex, England[1]
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service1913–1919
RankCaptain
Unit4th London (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
No. 98 Squadron RAF
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

Biography

Family background

Johnsen was born in Bromley, Hertfordshire, the son of Wilhelm Martin and Eliza Johnsen.[2]

Military service

Johnsen was commissioned as a supernumerary second lieutenant in the 4th London (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, a unit of the Territorial Force, on 17 May 1913,[3] and was absorbed into the establishment on 17 November.[4] He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 July 1914,[5] and to captain on 29 April 1917, with precedence from 1 June 1916.[6]

Johnsen was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, in which he was appointed a flying officer on 7 July 1917,[7] with the rank of lieutenant (honorary captain). He was posted to No. 98 Squadron RFC, flying the DH.9 two-seater day-bomber.[2] On 27 June 1918 he was appointed a temporary captain.[note 2][8]

Johnsen's first victory came on 11 July 1918, by driving down out of control a Pfalz D.III over Don. On 18 July he destroyed an Albatros D.V over Fère-en-Tardenois, and on 20 July shot down a Fokker Dr.I in flames. For these first three victories he flew with observer Captain G. H. Whitfield. His fourth victory came on 30 August, driving down a Fokker D.VII over Somain, with observer 2nd Lieutenant A. H. Fuller, and he repeated this feat for his fifth and final victory on 16 September over Oisy, with observer 2nd Lieutenant C. H. Thompson.[2]

Johnsen was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted on 7 February 1919. His citation read:

Lieutenant (Acting-Captain) Olans [sic] Charles William Johnsen.
"A brilliant leader and gallant fighter. On 1st October this officer led a bombing formation against a railway junction, and, owing to his skilful leadership, serious damage was caused. Three big explosions occurred in the station, wrecking a number of trucks, and a factory nearby was demolished. He has taken part in thirty-four raids, eighteen of which he has led. He has accounted for five enemy aeroplanes."[9]

He received his medal from the King at Buckingham Palace on 24 July 1919.[10]

Johnsen relinquished his temporary rank of captain on 3 December 1918,[11] and was transferred to the unemployed list of the RAF on 2 January 1919.[12] He resigned his army commission in the 4th London Brigade on 17 November 1920, but retained the rank of captain.[13]

Personal life

On 5 February 1916 Johnsen married Ethel May Bowater (1896–1990), the daughter of Major Sir Frank Henry Bowater, Bt. They had eight children, six boys and two girls.[14]

Notes
  1. Several sources misspell his first name as Olans, the result of a misprint in the citation for his DFC in the London Gazette, which elsewhere renders it correctly as Olaus. His gravestone has William Johnsen, apparently the name he was known by.
  2. The rank of temporary captain usually denoted an appointment as a flight commander.
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References
  1. "Capt. William Johnsen (–1960)". Find A Grave. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  2. "Olans Charles Wilhelm Johnsen". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  3. "No. 28733". The London Gazette. 1 July 1913. p. 4645.
  4. "No. 28792". The London Gazette. 13 January 1914. p. 338.
  5. "No. 28852". The London Gazette. 24 July 1914. p. 5762.
  6. "No. 30039". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 April 1917. p. 4070.
  7. "No. 30206". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 July 1917. p. 7730.
  8. "No. 30803". The London Gazette. 19 July 1918. p. 8504.
  9. "No. 31170". The London Gazette. 7 February 1919. p. 2041.
  10. "Court Circular". The Times (42161). London. 25 July 1919. col B, p. 15.
  11. "No. 31217". The London Gazette. 7 March 1919. p. 3153.
  12. "No. 31118". The London Gazette. 10 January 1919. p. 519.
  13. "No. 32126". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1920. p. 11195.
  14. Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage. 1 (107th ed.). Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. p. 456. Retrieved 13 April 2015.


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