First Lieutenant Johnson was the pilot of a F-51D Mustang night fighter with the 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group. He was Killed in Action while participating in aerial support over Korea on 1 December 1950. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, First Lieutenant Johnson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.