Looking for the first name of Lt. U.V. Johnston, USMC, who on 28 March 1945 chased and shot down a Japanese balloon just across the border with Mexico. This in an F4U of Hedron, 42 MAG (MCAS El Centro). His function was Assistant Group Operations Officer.
(See findagrave
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...7/u-v-johnston)
From a Brazos County (TX) veterans magazine:
JOHNSTON, U. V.
1st Lt. U. V. Johnston, 2531 Carpenter St., Dallas, Texas.
Major in Aero. Eng. Activties, Board of Representatives of
Veterans Club and member of Student Council. Entered Marines in 1942. Trained in Dallas, Texas. Served in Solomons.
Awarded APO Ribbon, Pres. Citation, ATO Ribbon and Victory Medal. Discharged in 1945 •
Must be a coincidence that the (I think) only USN aviator to shoot down a Japanese balloon was also called Johnston, but here Floyd A....
This in a FM-2 of VC-65 from NAAS North Bend, Oregon, and incident was on 22 Feb. 1945.
Info welcome.
Regards,
Leendert