Second Lieutenant Johnson was the pilot of a RF-80A Lockeed Shooting Star photo reconnaissance aircraft with the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. On 21 February 1952, while returning from a photo reconnaissance mission and requesting landing instructions, his aircraft crashed five miles southeast of Kimpo Airfield (K-14).

Johnson was awarded 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.