Johnnie Houlton DFC - Fighter Pilot (1 of 2)

** Video courtesy of & copyright owned by Mediaworks Ltd. (60 Minutes) **
[Part 1 of 2]
Broadcast (New Zealand): 1994.
Description courtesy of New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum:
"John Houlton (born Christchurch 23 September 1922) was a Public Service cadet before he joined the RNZAF in June 1941. Having completed his flying training in New Zealand he sailed for the United Kingdom in mid-December 1941 to join the RAF. Following a refresher course in March he converted to Hurricanes in April/May before joining 485(NZ) Squadron on 7 June 1942.
However the following month he volunteered for Malta and embarked on the carrier HMS Furious, sailing firstly to Gibraltar and then in convoy into the Mediterranean.
In early August Houlton flew a Spitfire off the carrier to Malta to join 185 Squadron.
Because of illness Houlton did not rejoin the Squadron until late October. Shortly after this 185 had some Spitfires fitted with bomb racks and on 28 November 1942 Houlton flew with three other pilots to bomb Gela aerodrome in Sicily. Returning from the raid, eight Ju 52 transports were seen heading for North Africa and Houlton attacked three. The first turned back towards Sicily and the other two went down towards the sea. Seeing the Bf 109 escort approaching Houlton went into cloud and reached base safely. It was later confirmed that one Ju 52 had crashed into the sea, although German records show that three were lost that day due to fighter action.
In December 1942 Houlton was posted back to Britain to join a Search and Rescue Squadron being formed in Scotland. However a request to return to operations saw him posted to 602 Squadron at the end of January 1943. Three weeks later 485 requested that he rejoin it and he was given permission. He flew sweeps and bomber-escorts and when the Squadron moved to Biggin Hill on 1 July 1943 and exchanged its MK V Spitfires for MK IXs the tempo rapidly increased.
Houlton was commissioned in mid-August 1943 before destroying an FW 190 on 27 August, when 485 provided high cover for Fortresses bombing St Omer. Houlton chased his prey for thirty miles, descending from 27,000 feet to ground level. The 190s wing caught a power line and it dived into the ground. On 16 September 1943 Houlton shared in the destruction of another FW 190.
Later in the year the Squadron moved to Scotland for a rest before returning to Hornchurch at the end of February 1944 to resume operations. In March 485 became part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force to provide direct support to the Allied ground forces during the invasion of Europe. The squadron Spitfires were modified to carry a 500 lb bomb under the fuselage and during the six weeks prior to D-Day Houlton flew eleven dive-bombing sorties. On one trip his bomb hung up and he defied orders and landed safely back at base instead of heading out to sea and baling out. Houlton received reprimands from both squadron and airfield commanders.
On 6 June 1944 - D-Day - Houlton flew several patrols and on his third destroyed a Ju 88 and shared another. His victim was probably the first enemy aircraft destroyed following the landings. The Spitfire he flew during this sortie - Mk.IXB ML407 - is still flying today in the UK. On 8 June he shot down a Bf 109 which crashed into a wood and on the 12th destroyed another 109 which caught fire, partly broke up and exploded in a cornfield.
In July Houlton was temporarily attached to the Ministry of Aircraft Production to lecture at aircraft-component factories and was awarded the DFC. He rejoined 485 in August 1944 and moved across on the 31st to its new base at Carpiquet, near Caen.
Sent for a rest, he rejoined 135 Wing in March 1945 and was posted to 274 Squadron, to fly Tempests. On 3 May he destroyed a Do 217 forty miles south-west of Kiel.
Houlton had scored both the first and the last victory for 135 Wing".
Johnnie Houlton died in Auckland, New Zealand on 16 April 1996.

[@the10thleper]

Wow! What are the odds? Same pilot, ground crew, delivery pilot and same airplane!!! 50 years to the day...... damn

[@barrierodliffe4155]

Johnnie Houlton who used to fly this Spitfire Mk IX which after the war was converted to a Mk IX 2 seat trainer, it was restored by Nick Grace and now flown by Carolyn Grace. Johnnie Houlton was the first pilot on D Day to shoot down a Luftwaffe plane.