OBIT: Joseph R. "Mike" JOHNSON, 1948, of Bellefonte, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ ________________________________________________ Plan Funeral For Bellefonte USAF Pilot (Special to Altoona Mirror) BELLEFONTE, July 14. - Funeral services for Lt. Joseph R. (Mike) Johnson, aged 29, of Bellefonte, who was killed in an airplane crash in Japan June 4, will be held Thursday afternoon from the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Johnson of South Spring street. Rev. H. H. Jacobs will officiate. Lt. Johnson lost his life while on routine maneuvers with night fighters. He was stationed at the Ikazuke air base. No details of the accident were given his parents in a message received from the government early last month. The Bellefonte man was a graduate of the 1936 class of Bellefonte High school where he was an outstanding athlete. In 1940 he was graduated from Stroudsburg State Teachers college and for the next year was athletic instructor at the Nazareth Y.M.C.A. In September, 1941, he enlisted in the air corps and served as a flight instructor throughout the war. He spent last Thanksgiving with his parents and the next month went to Japan. Born in Bellefonte, he was a son of Ray and Lillian (Koch) Johnson, who survive with one brother, James of Bellefonte. Altoona Mirror, Wednesday, July 14, 1948, page 20