Obituaries

Kenneth David “K.D.” Johnson August 4, 1921 - April 15, 2006Monterey CA - K.D. Johnson passed peacefully with his daughters at his side at Monterey Care Center on the morning of April 15. His life was devoted to flying, family and friends. K.D. was born in Boulder, Colorado to J. Albert and Marie Chinberg Johnson. At age six his aeronautical life began after walking from his parents’ dairy to nearby Boulder airport to watch Lindbergh fly over. He soloed two weeks after his sixteenth birthday. Since that day in 1937 until 1996, K. D. logged over 15,000 hours of flight time.In 1940, K.D. moved to California. During WWII, he first taught Navy cadet pilots at Manzanar and Army cadets at Eagle Field. Days off, he traveled to Independence, California where he taught civilian pilots and it was there that he met his future wife, Betty who wished to become a WASP and later became an aerobatic pilot. He was her first flight instructor. In March 1944, he joined the 6th Ferrying Group Air Transport Command based in Long Beach as a Flight Officer and spent the remainder of the war ferrying aircraft from factories to points of embarkation, flying all the pursuit planes of the day, including the P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, and P-63, and transport planes and bombers including the B-17, B-25, C-45, C-46, and C-47.After the war, K.D. spent five years as a partner and General Manager of Les Farrar Aviation in San Bernardino. In 1950, he joined California Federal Savings and Loan in Los Angeles as executive pilot and management trainee. During his 33 years with CalFed, he held positions as Vice President and Senior Loan Officer, and President of a subsidiary, Plaza Builders. During this time, he participated on the Ventura County Aviation Advisory Commission and chaired the Committee to Save the Camarillo Airport. This committee was instrumental in transforming the Oxnard Air Force Base into a civilian airport.In 1972, K.D. and Betty became interested in aerobatic competition. He was a charter member of the L.A. Aerobatic Club, qualifying as both a Regional and National Aerobatic Judge. From 1977 until 1996, he owned the Pitts Stop, an aerobatic school and Pitts dealership at Santa Paula Airport. K.D. was Treasurer of the International Aerobatic Club and was a ground support member of the US Aerobatic Team in 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1990.In addition to the LAAC and the IAC, he was a member of Experimental Aircraft Association, Commemorative Air Force, Aviation Country Club of California, Air Transport Command Association, P-38 National Association, P-51 Mustang Pilots Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and Quiet Birdmen.K.D. also enjoyed golf, gin rummy, hunting and fishing, traveling with friends and family, and waterskiing. A true gentleman, he gave generously of his time, resources, experience, support and love to family and friends. During the last five years, K.D. endured Parkinson’s disease with courage, a sense of humor, patience and appreciation for the loving care of his daughters, his caregivers, the staff at Monterey Care Center and his team at Heartland Hospice. He is survived by his daughters, Barbara and Carole, his brother Robert (Janet) Johnson, and numerous nieces and nephews who adored their “Uncle Kenny”. His wife Betty predeceased him in 1980; they were married 36 years.