These profiles and stories were donated to the RAAF Museum by the Gold Coast Branch of the Air Crew Association.

Service Profile: Pete Johnston

H.R. (Pete) Johnston (ACA 18224) enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1943 and served as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (WAG) during World War 2. He continued his service in the Permanent Air Force post-war, until 1954. He later became an instructing officer in the Air Training Corps (ATC), holding the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

Pete saw active service in the South-West Pacific during 1944–45 and in Malaya in 1953.

Aircrew training was undertaken at No. 3 Initial Training School (ITS) Kingaroy, No. 3 WAG School Maryborough and No. 1 Gunnery School East Sale.

Flying with No. 36 Squadron Schofields, No. 71 Squadron Coffs Harbour, No. 34 Squadron Morotai, Test and Ferry Unit Richmond, No. 34 Squadron Adelaide, and No. 1 Squadron Amberley. Pete also flew from the United Kingdom during the Berlin Airlift.

During his service, he flew in Wackett Trainers, DH-8As, Avro Ansons, Dakotas, Beauforts, Beaufighters and Lincolns.

Apart from his active service, Pete was involved in Dakota Air Transport Supply flights Adelaide–Darwin; Japan Courier Runs Richmond–Tokyo; immediately post-war, POW repatriation flights Bangkok–Singapore–Australia; participated in the Berlin Air Lift 1948–49; flew in Lincolns from Amberley tracking the atomic cloud following atomic trial detonations at Woomera.

As it Happened: Survival of a City (90K PDF)