Skip Johnson

Wow, how does one write about 42 years of experiences and keep it short and sweet?
I married Ellen Montgomery the day after we graduated. We have 2 children from our time together; a daughter named Amanda and a son named Brad. Both of them are healthy and doing well. I’m now a widower for 5 years (more on that later). I have one granddaughter named Skyla (she’s 5).

I was assigned to the 904th Air Refueling Squadron flying KC-135’s at Mather AFB in Sacramento, CA. When I arrived for duty, I wasn’t scheduled to go to KC-135 training immediatel y and I was assigned as the Admin Officer for the Squadron. Luckily, there was a Chief Master Sergeant (Boom Operator) there that showed me the ropes and taught me that, just like on MASH, enlisted folks actually ran everything. I had a good career in 135’s. After completing training, I was assigned to a crew. We went to U-Tapao in mid-72 for one of SAC’s 90 day TDY assignments. Had a great A/C that taught me a bunch about leading a crew and thinking fast in dangerous situations. I built hours and was assigned as a Stan/Eval co-pilot. I was a KC-135 simulator check pilot as one of the duties. We flew in the 1972 SAC Bombing and Navigation Competition. We ended up not doing well; lost our Doppler on climb-out and had to dead reckon everything that was being measured in hundreds of feet.

William L. Johnson — “Skip”

“There we were, all 63 of us, striving to be noticed trying to rise above the mass of talent known as O1. Some guys maxed academics. Others distinguished themselves with flying proficiency. Skip came back with grass in his landing gear. “The mower” was no longer mired in the mass…

…He should have gotten an air medal for bravery when he broke through the pitch point on the 37 initial solo but he had to settle for a fair. We love it, Skipper, don’t ever die!”

71-01 Yearbook, page 37.