James Wayne Johnston was born on September 4, 1923, in Manor Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Perry Johnston and Dora Caroline Crissman Johnston. He entered military service on March 2, 1943, and graduated from Selman Field, Louisiana, in February 1944. He was subsequently sent overseas from Savannah, Georgia, on May 16, 1944. Before entering the service, Johnston graduated from Ford City High School in 1941. He served in the 551st Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Flight Officer and Navigator of B-17 #42-31917, nicknamed "Off Spring" during World War II.

On July 12, 1944, the crew of ''Off Spring'' took off from Great Ashfield, England, with the 385th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force, on the group’s 150th combat mission. Commanded by Captain Richard B. White, Off Spring joined the formation of B-17s bound for Munich, Germany. At approximately 11:50 a.m., while the formation was flying over the area of Perlé, Luxembourg, Off Spring was reportedly caught in the propeller wash of the aircraft ahead. The bomber pitched upward and collided with B-17G 42-102606, Curley’s Kids, commanded by First Lieutenant Robert L. McDonald of the 550th Bomb Squadron. The collision was catastrophic, and both aircraft broke apart and crashed in the area around Perlé and Wolwelange. Of the ten airmen aboard Off Spring, Sergeant Robert McPherson was the only survivor. Captain Richard B. White and the other eight members of his crew were killed. Curley’s Kids likewise lost nine of its ten crewmen, with Sergeant Larry Atiyeh as its sole survivor. Altogether, 18 of the 20 airmen aboard the two B-17s lost their lives in the midair collision.

FO Johnston is now buried in the Ford City Cemetery, Ford City, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, www.92ndbg.org, www.385bg.lu