IOWA WOMAN’S NEPHEW GOT 2 JAP PLANES
KENSETT – When two Japanese zero dive bombers were careless enough to come within range of the forward machine guns on the carrier Yorktown in the Midway battle, they were sent to the bottom of the turbulent Pacific by Private Don Johnson of Turlock, Cal., a nephew of Mrs. John Bitker of Kensett.
That is the only part of the story of Private Johnson’s experience – and the only part that can be told. He said the first Jap was shaking his fist at the marines when the shell released by Private Johnson blew up his ship and the second had just dropped its “egg” on the carrier in a dive out of which he never came.
At the present time, Private Johnson is visiting in Turlock pending his return to Norfolk, Va., where he will go for re-assignment. He is the son of Mrs. Adoph Wagner of thief River Falls, Minn., and he makes his home with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Johnson of Turlock.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Friday, October 23, 1942
