VE DAY MEMORIES

In a May 1945 letter written to his brother in Australia by my father William ("Bill") Johanson, who was in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War (Sergeant Instrument Repairer on planes, stationed in the U.K.), he said: "I didn't do much celebrating on VE Day. I was at a training camp for a Central Trade Test Board on that day, although naturally it was cancelled until the next day. I passed the Board and am now Group I, which means quarter of a sterling extra per day. I passed through London to and from where I had the Board and everyone was celebrating in a big way with flags flying everywhere, and huge crowds all over the place, but of course they deserved a celebration!"

I have the original of this letter - what a treasure!

IN REMEMBRANCE

William & Josephine Johanson

In remembrance of all those who served in the two World Wars. My father William (“Bill”) Johanson was in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, stationed in the UK as an Instrument Repairer on planes. He must have seen a lot of his pals take off from the air base where he was stationed and tragically not return.

He met and married my Scottish mother Josephine (“Joy”) MacDonald Johanson during the war. Mum served in the Women’s Royal Air Force as a Radio Telephony Operator at a Receiving/Transmission Station, giving pilots on active duty bearings for home. Sadly, many of them did not make it back. 

100 YEARS ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE!

Wedding - Josephine and William Johanson

The Royal Air Force was founded 100 years ago today! My mother, the late Josephine Johanson, enlisted in the Women’s Royal Air Force during the Second World War and served as a Radio Telephony Operator at a Receiving/Transmission Station, giving pilots on active duty bearings for home. During that time she met my father, the late William Johanson, an Aircraft Instrument Repairer serving in the Royal Australian Air Force.

I touch on this little piece of my family history in “The Scottish Connection: A Journey”, my illustrated mini-memoir of my 1978 journey back to Scotland with my mother and young sons, to revisit our Scottish roots.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION