Edward Grahame Johnstone


Lieutenant Edward Grahame Johnstone was a British World War I flying ace credited with 17 aerial victories.

Biography

He was born in Tooting, London, England, the son of Edward Henderson Johnstone and Stella Johnstone.

First World War

Johnstone joined the Royal Naval Air Service on his 18th birthday, 6 May 1917. After training with No. 12 Naval Squadron as a temporary probationary flight officer, he was commissioned as a temporary flight sub-lieutenant on 19 August 1917.
He was assigned to fly Sopwith Camels in No. 8 Naval Squadron. He scored his first triumph on 6 December 1917, followed by 16 more over the next eight months. His final tally was four enemy aircraft destroyed, three of which were shared with other British pilots, and thirteen driven down out of control, eight of which were shared, most frequently with William Jordon and Pruett Dennett.
Johnstone was transferred to the unemployed list of the RAF on 11 April 1919.

Inter-war life and family

During the 1920s Johnstone travelled throughout Asia, while working for Johnnie Walker. In 1927 he married the artist and designer Doris Clare Zinkeisen in Marylebone, London. They had twin daughters Janet and Anne in 1928, and a son, Murray.

Second World War

During the Second World War Johnstone returned to the Royal Navy, serving as a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from December 1939. By August 1943 he had been appointed an acting-commander, and by July 1945 was a temporary acting captain, posted to, the Royal Naval Air Station at St. Merryn, Cornwall.
Johnstone died in 1946.

Awards and citations

;Distinguished Service Cross