Kenneth Alfred Johnson was born in Doncaster on 17 February 1924 to Alfred Johnson and Ethel (nee Salter). At the outbreak of war in September 1939, Ken was only 15 yrs old. He tried to join the RAF when he turned 17, but he was told to come back when he was 18. At that time he was a machine operator, working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, at British Ropes in Doncaster making wire cables for barrage balloons. As this was a reserved occupation he had to wait until he was 19 before he could join the RAF. Ken enlisted into the RAF in September 1943 at the Sheffield United football ground. Ken was selected for aircrew duties and sent to London for kitting out, inoculations and vaccinations. He was then sent back to his beloved Yorkshire, to Bridlington for Initial Training, where he learnt drill between aircraft, whilst learning aircraft recognition. He also learnt to strip the .303 Browning gun which would be his gun in the bomber turrets. He had to strip them down and reassemble them blindfolded with thick aircrew gloves on to simulate the conditions he would soon be faced with. Ken successfully passed out from initial training and was posted to No 2 Air Gunner School, Dalcross, for Initial Air Gunnery Training, from 14 October to 10 December 1943. After Christmas leave he was posted to No 29 Operational Training Unit, Bruntingthorpe from 30 December 1943 to March 1944. Ken completed his Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Wigsley from April to June 1944. He was a fully qualified Air Gunner, promoted to Acting Sergeant and posted to 61 Squadron, RAF Skellingthorpe, to fly the Lancaster bomber. Postings from Ken's logbook (IBCC Archive - https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/2752/55543/SAudisRJ[Ser%20-DoB]v010013.pdf)