Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1953 Lucky Bag:

HARLEY ANTHONY JOHNSON

“All me bloomin’ life, sir” . . . At least that’s how long John says he has been in the Navy. He came to the Academy after a four year tour as an “Airdale.” Next to Navy, John claims Seattle as home. He was always quick with a smile and a loud “Hi.” John also added his talents in the Dinghy sailing squad plebe year. Recreation for John was at its best when he could tramp through the Mountains hunting things like rabbits, porcupine, bears, and an occasional cat. Thirty will find John still in the Navy, using all he learned at the Academy and a few things he picked up on his own somewhere, to make the Navy a better place for all hands.

---

He was also a member of the 5th Battalion staff for the winter set.

Loss

From The New York Times on April 8, 1964:

COLD LAKE, Alberta, April 7 (AP) — Two test pilots perished on frozen Primrose Lake last night after an unsuccessful attempt to parachute from their disabled jet training plane. They were Capt. Harley Johnson of the United States Air Force and Lieut. Michel A. Grant of the Canadian Air Force. Their parachutes did not open because of a lack of height. The plane crashed through the lake ice.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Harley Johnson was attached to the Central Experimental and Proving Establishment at Uplands air base and were on duty at the RCAF Cold Lake station in Alberta. He came to Ottawa on exchange duty for two years in October, 1963, from Dayton, Ohio.

He is survived by his wife, the former Doris Chambers Glazier and two children. Their son, Harley Anthony Johnson Methfessel, born June 9, 1959 in Louisiana, married on October 5, 1985 in Virginia.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Other

Harley was a graduate of the USAF Experimental Test Pilot School.¹ He won the Prop Wash Award for contributing most to class spirit and morale.

He participated in early development of fixed-wing gunships² in 1963.

References