Leslie R. Johnson

     

  A PILOT'S LIFE 

Leslie R. Johnson, 90, passed away peacefully at Zilber Hospice in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on March 8, 2011 with family members at his side.

Leslie was born in Belview, Minnesota on April 26, 1920 to the late Clarence and Sophie (nee: Martin) Johnson. On March 8, 1957 he was united in marriage in marriage to Rita M. (nee: McCarthy).

Les graduated West High School in Minneapolis in 1938. He was an accomplished trombonist and gymnast during his high school career. After graduation Les attended both the Minneapolis School of Art and The University of Minnesota, studying industrial design with the intent of becoming an automotive stylist. Les became interested in aviation at this time and, as an Army reservist, learned how to fly in the College Pilot Training Program. He taught primary and aerobatic flying at various Army primary and WTS schools.

In 1944 Les enlisted in the Navy V5 program. He was qualified as an aircraft carrier pilot and, later, as a celestial navigator. His first duty was with a Hurricane Reconnaissance squadron (VPM-1). He was a crewmember on 5 missions that flew into hurricanes to collect weather data.

In 1948 Les transferred to Patrol Squadron VP-28 where he qualified as a Patrol Plane Commander flying the PB4Y Patrol Bomber (naval version of the Army B24 Bomber). On December 6, 1948, Les was recalled from leave to serve as the Lead Navigator in a 3-plane search patrol to locate 34 survivors from a ditched C54 transport in the P4acific Ocean. After 7 hours of searching in heavy cloud cover Les was able to get some intermittent octant sun shots through broken clouds which he averaged graphically, a very “unconventional technique” for the time. Les determined that his plane was 60 miles from the assumed dead reckoning position. He convinced the airplane commander to fly a different course based on those calculations. They found the survivors and remained overhead until rescue ships arrived.

Upon release from active duty in 1949, Les returned to Minneapolis to pursue an Aircraft and Mechanic’s license with the intention of working in the Corporate Pilot profession. Before completing that task he gained employment with Slick Airways in July 1950, at the time the nation’s largest commercial airfreight carrier. During his career with Slick Airways Les was recalled to active duty with the Navy for 8 months in 1953 during the Korean War. Based at Moffett Field, California, Les logged over 400 hours flight time flying to Hawaii, Alaska and Japan as the Aircraft Commander of a R6D Transport.

In 1954 Les joined the aviation department at Johnson’s Wax as an Associate Pilot, also serving as Chief Pilot at times. It was during his time at Johnson’s Wax that Les was asked to plan, plot and execute one of his most exciting and proud professional flying accomplishments—a 18,473 mile flying odyssey around South America taking Johnson’s Wax sales representatives on goodwill and sales visits to local distributors.  Using professional aviation charts, USAF Flight Charts, maps, flight manuals and other source materials, Les plotted 76 individual legs for the flight during 2 months of concentrated study. The trip was made in an Aero Commander 560-A, a lightweight, twin-engine business aircraft. The business aspects of the flight proved to be highly successful. The trip also proved, for the first time, that an aircraft of this type could handle flight requirements of this magnitude. A 6-page article covering the journey, authored by Co-Pilot E.A. Bronson, appeared in FLYING Magazine in August 1956.

In 1957 Les received a U.S. patent for a circuit control that would allow a vehicle’s dome light to stay on for a short period of time after the door was closed.

In 1960 Les took his final discharge from the Navy Reserves. He also took his flying career in a new direction.  Headquartered at the Racine Commercial Airport, Les formed Les Johnson Airplanes, a charter flight operation. Leasing an Aero Commander 520, he flew 470 hours of charter flights in that first year and was successful in developing contracts with Racine Hydraulics and Western Printing to handle their flying needs. A year later, a new Aero Commander 500B was purchased, Les Johnson Airplanes was dissolved, Wesair Inc. was founded to operate the Aero Commander for both companies, and Les was named President of Wesair, Inc. The airplane was most often used for Racine Hydraulics or Western Publishing officials but Les maintained the charter flight operation as well. In 1966 Racine Hydraulics purchased a Lear Jet Model 23 and formed Rajet, Inc. and named Les as President of Rajet, Inc. He continued as President of Wesair, Inc. at the same time while both corporations continued their time sharing/cost sharing arrangement. Les pioneered this concept of multiple corporations sharing the expenses for a corporate aviation department. A 4-page article covering Les’s business enterprises appeared in PROFESSIONAL PILOT magazine in June 1968.

In 1970 Rexnord purchased Racine Hydraulics. Flight operations were moved to Mitchell International Airport. Les was named Manager of Aviation and Chief Pilot. The Aero Commander was sold, leaving only the Lear Jet. Les commissioned a corporate survey through the Rexnord Marketing/Public Relations department to determine the effectiveness of the Lear Jet in developing relationships between corporate executives, the sales force and customers. The success of the survey led to Rexnord to buy a newer model Lear Jet 25 to expand the flight department in order to meet the flight and sales needs of the corporation. Les remained as Manager of the Aviation Department/Chief Pilot until his retirement from Rexnord in 1985.

Les was an accomplished aerobatic pilot. He also was a member of the EAA Chapter 8 Club where he served as a line judge for many competitions.

After retiring Les returned to one his first interests as a young man—art. He had a finely tuned eye and sense of style that was all his own. He loved working in oils the most but also had a sharp eye for photography. He was also a long time member of the Milwaukee Sketch Club. The family is grateful that we have many of his paintings and recorded images to remember him by.

A Pilot’s Life? Indeed it was. Through more than 30 years as a professional pilot in corporate aviation, Les proved that corporate aviation did not have to be an expense to the corporation. With Les in charge, it was a profit center for the corporation.

Les is survived by his wife of 54 years, Rita; their children John (Karen) Johnson of Racine, Lesley (Scott) Grimes of Jacksonville, Fla., Douglas (Aine) Johnson of Shorewood, David Johnson of Baltimore. Md., and grandchildren Krista Johnson, Rebecca (Tom) Whitney, Kaitlin Grimes, Nicholas Johnson, Elisabeth Johnson, Elijah Johnson and Siobhan Johnson. He is further survived by Sister-in-laws Lila McCarthy and Carol Johnson, brother-in-law Terrance McCarthy and many nieces, nephews and lifelong friends. In addition to his parents Les was preceded in death by his brothers Maurie, Robert and Al.

In accordance with Leslie’s wishes, cremation will take place. Visitation will take place at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home, 4600 County Line Road, Racine, on Monday, March 14, 2011 from 4:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m. A memorial service celebrating Les’s life will start at 6:00 p.m. Presentation of Full Military Honors will follow the memorial service. Private entombment will take place at the Southeastern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 21731 Spring Street, Union Grove, Wisconsin. in lieu of floral expressions of sympathy, the family suggests memorials to the Zilber Hospice, 1155 Honey Creek Parkway, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 53213.

The family extends our deepest thanks and gratitude to the staff at Zilber Hospice for their loving and compassionate care of Les and our family.