Aviation Cadet Oliver S. Johnson was a classmate of Tom’s in pilot training (Class of 44-D). On April 1, 1944, Oliver S. Johnson, while flying an AT-6B “Texan”, Serial # 41-17353, was killed in a crash impact with the ground at Gila Bend, Arizona.
He is listed in “Lt. Gadget”, the class graduation book for the Class of 44-D at Luke Field, outside Phoenix, Arizona. One page is dedicated “In Memoriam”, and includes both A/C Johnson, and his five other classmates who died in training:
- A/C Wolcott R. Hall
- A/C Allen E. McFarland
- A/C Remo J. Marchetti
- A/C Lynn I. Springer
- A/C Charles C. Smith