The Unexpected Luftwaffe Exterminator You've Never Heard Of
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- On a daring daylight mission across the Western Front in 1942, a Luftwaffe pilot got separated from his formation.
But he was not worried, as he was piloting a Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Known as the 'Butcher Bird,' this plane was lauded for its speed, agility, and lethality, proving superior to the early variants of the Royal Air Force's Supermarine Spitfire.
For almost a year by then, this German fighter plane had instilled dread among the Royal Air Force's highest ranks, causing a spike in casualties among their most esteemed wings.
The German pilot knew any ordinary RAF pilot faced with confronting his airborne menace would likely lose the ensuing dogfight.
But that day, he was pitted against no ordinary pilot - he was up against the legendary Johnnie Johnson.
Johnson, whose skills in the cockpit were renowned across the world, had an uncanny ability to predict enemy movements and an astounding victory score.
The solitary German pilot was about to discover what made James Edgar Johnson the highest-scoring Western Allied fighter ace against the German Luftwaffe.
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As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Docs is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. -
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My grandfather downed 35 German planes in WW2. He still holds the record as the worst mechanic the Luftwaffe ever employed.
A few errors, such as describing the Hurricane as having an elliptical wing, inventing the rank of ground captain, showing footage of Typhoons when talking about Spitfire IX's, but otherwise good. I also appreciate that the video is free, and you've taken the time to research and produce it! Thank you.
I agree with you about the errors. Dark Docs is riddled with them. They go to all the trouble of finding some good clips, then just throw them into the narration at will. The sad thing is that future aviation enthusiasts, and historians will take on a few of these errors as fact.
Did it say "ground captain" or "group captain"? Either way, I thought that's what was meant.
He is just reading what was written. Also when you see other aircraft in this and other videos about combat it's just taking up time until the end of the videos.
always errors with this bloke
Johnson was so respected and loved by his Canadian pilots that they presented him with honourary "CANADA" shoulder flashes. He also had a Canadian maple leaf painted on his Spitfire.
We stand together, forever. It's a long time to contemplate.
Good eye lol computers sound like machine’s as well lol
Yeah, that was my first Airfix kit. GREEN maple leaf, JE-J markings.
@iskandartaib Yes the original Airfix Mk 1X spitfire. We've all made that one 😊 Wing commanders were entitled to "personalised number plates". JEJ for Johnson and Bader had DB.😅
The Canadian military of WWII is long gone, Canada can't even support a training mission in Poland and the Baltics....pretty pathetic actually!
Why is this not a movie?? Talk about an epic journey - and to survive essentially the entire war is an amazing tale! I think Hanks and Spielberg have one more in them, no?
Well said sir or madam.👍I don't agree with Tom Hanks playing the part of Johnnie though ha. Surely that part should go a fine young British actor, more appropriate.😊
They specialize in American WW2 vets. Peter Jackson would be a good choice to do that.
@@leslieirvine1961 Not that Hanks needs to be in the movie, but surely can finance it!
@mikemontgomery2654 Hello Mike. Yes they do, just look at saving private Ryan, fine epic film. Peter Jackson is a good call, again just look at the lord of the rings films, fine epic films. Surely there is a fine British film director 🇬🇧 🎥 out there? No disrespect to the aforementioned, of course. 👏
@@leslieirvine1961 absolutely! I’ve got no disrespect towards Tom and Steven, I just don’t believe their interest is on the British side of the war, keeping it limited like they did in Band of Brothers. I still think Peter Jackson would make a fantastic movie about Johnnie, as I’m sure he would’ve done with the dambusters, had he been allowed to proceed with it.
Nice footage of the Tempest... even though it was called a Spit mk9😂
I believe most of that footage is Typhoons with the squared off wing tips. Tempest had a wing nearly identical to the Spitfire but that chin scoop really sets it apart from the Spit.
Thought I was only one
@@jamesmartin7282 Correct.
I think you meant Group Captain not Ground Captain. That being said, your videos are informative and enjoyable.
Hollywood couldn't write a life story like that. Only comes in second to Bob Hoover in amazing life stories.
The FW190 was initially, definitely superior to early model Spitfires. However over time, later model Spitfires had virtually caught up to the FW190.
127 Wing, not 172, jeez...
I have read "Thunderbolt!" by Robert S. Johnson several times, and of course love it! I will now acquire "Wing Leader" and read it. Thankyou.
Good to know he fought with the Canucks. The Canadians are a tough bunch
Johnnie Johnson was THE most respected fighter ace of WW2 so where you get your claim from is mystifying . I unknowingly restored his mini moke in the 1980's .
Wasn't this the Airfix model in the 1950s and 1960s? That had the JEJ identification letters, and the blurb that came with it said it was Johnnie Johnson's Spitfire, as I recall.
Yes, you are correct, Mk9 in light blue plastic.
Also the life size kit that James May, of top gear, made a replica of.
Johnny Johnson, unknown fighter ace? Nope. Any casual enthusiast of WW2 fighters has heard of him.
the hurricane did not have an elliptical wing. You are thinking of the spitfire.
I clear back when I was in HS (1969-1973) I was told his name was pronounced Douglas "BAH-der", not "BAY-der".
Pat Pattle , Sailor Malan you blind historians
My father, Polish ace Witold Łanowski is flying the MkIX Spitfire WX-F (MA843) of 302 squadron frequently featured in this video.
My father was filmed 12th Feb 1944 over Northolt as part of pre D-Day aircraft recognition film for allied troops
@@Hundshunt Bunch???????.
302 or 303 squadron?
@@robisfantasticutubeWX was 302
@@kryslanowski1043 Cool Thankyou.
@kryslanowski1043 Thank You. Be Proud!
Spitfire had elliptical wings, not the Hurricane
Jesus Christ……. How can you get that incorrect! And it’s pronounced “Baa-dar”
Hes a Canuck himself the narrator is he no? Still for someone that does a lot of war stuff research is easy to find out
@@donaldsinclair7762 Johnson was a Brit, born in Leicestershire. But he commanded 127 wing RCAF.
@@TCK71Something else is pronouncing Aye-dolf Hitler, when it's Adolf, like Add-olf.
Next you will be expecting the clips to be of the vehicles being discussed this is not that type of show
Mark: Promotion from Wing Commander was to Group Captain, not ground captain.
At the very end, the two pictures of him as an old man sitting on the wing of a Spitfire, and as a young man sitting on the wing of his Spitfire with his dog and his entire life in front of him really gets me. Life passes by in a flash. Treasure each moment and live it to the fullest, like he did.
The past is only a memory, the future is always out of reach. All you have is right now.
I agree 100 percent.
I had aunt's and an aunt and uncle who were young and alive and in service in Britian in 39-45. Irish, Australian, Canadian. None were locals, yet became so. ✌️
@@realtech9345
I've heard that phrase for years and would even tell my kids that.
I just don't know if it was Churchill that said that or Teddy Roosevelt.
I believe it was the latter.
Do you know ??
@@bigdeal6852 I do not. It is the basis of the spiritual teachings (not religion). This video inspired me and that just popped in my head. On a spritual level we are all connected to the creator source, we are one with each other and the creator. In saying that, the true inspiration was the source of all regardless of who was quoted saying it. Live life and love others! Have a great journey!
Johnie Johnson lived in my village in Leicestershire , Literally 10 doors up the road. On my channel is the unveiling of the blue plaque placed upon his house. his remaining family attended.
My late father, was a Squadron Leader during the 1950s and met Jonnie in Khormaksar, Aden, during the emergency and he got on with him really well. The both loved regaling old war stories of derring do...as one does. My dad said he was a first class chap in every way. Rip them both.
I wish more of them had documented their stories as they are fascinating. But I guess like my grandfather (Tank mechanic in North Africa and Italy) the horror of War and scars it left stops many talking about theirs experienced.
Please note that it was the Spitfire that was equipped with the eliptical wing, not the Hurricane. Your series of videos are outstanding !
"Your series of videos are outstanding!" No, they're not. He gets details wrong all the time (you just pointed out one of his many errors, there were more in this episode), shows images of stuff that has no relationship to the subject of his videos, and he has a blatant disregard for the truth. The only reason that I watch anymore at all is to be entertained counting the number of factual errors that he spouts with authority. Otherwise, I avoid him. I would recommend that you don't believe much of what he says because most of it is wrong.
@@ronaldschoolcraft8654 His "errors" are deliberate. Pointing out mistakes counts as engagement as much as praising comments do. It's all for the algorithm, and now you and I have helped him out.
@@RamblerReb Oops.
@ronaldschoolcraft8654 I'm sad that I have to agree with this comment. I've been a subscriber to a few of his "Dark" channels for a few years now. When I first subscribed, the channels were high quality, but afterwards I slowly started noticing minor errors here and there. Since then, I've noticed more and more errors as have other viewers/commentors.
I came here to point out the same thing. It seems there’s more and more of these mistakes in this channels videos of similar nature.
A great pilot and thoroughly nice bloke, not a peacock like say Bader. All his kills were fighters too, perhaps the hardest prey for a fighter pilot.
What's with all the Typhoon shots? Totally irrelevant or what?
You make some great videos. You put a lot of effort in. But you continue to make simple mistakes. Please find someone to check your scripts / facts
Johnson's book "Wing Leader" is the first WW II pilot book I ever read. That one and the Robert Johnson book (P47 ace) are both really truly great books. The video includes all sorts of aircraft ostensibly supposed to be Spitfires. - Fairly Battle, Hawker Tempest or Typhoon. I'm sure there are actual film of real Spitfires out there.
Lot's of Typhoons in this video.
@@danhillman4523 right. I'm not sure why they had these snippets. I'd hope they were pretty expert in obtaining the various actual Spit images. There are many models and of course special chin filter desert types.
And also a P-51 Mustang with big white star visible on the fuselage at :08. Ridiculously lazy effort in putting this video together, but it seems to be par for the course with this channel.
He's getting really bad and lazy lately........sad really......
Another great book is First Light written by Geoffrey Wellum.
They made a movie based on a chapter or two. Low budget but worth watching.
Clips are on the UA-cam.
Exceptional eyesight and a keen sense of instinctual awareness, made for a Superb fighter pilot!! It’s a fact his AC was hit only 1,, single bullet such was the mettle of the man!! Outstanding combat leader!! Rest in Peace,, JE,J❤️🫡🫡🫡
Johnson also had plenty of experience hunting and shooting long before he took to flying. Being good at shooting is a big part of what led certain aces to quite high scores during the war. Johnson, in particular points out "deflection shots" (several mentions in "Wing Leader"), which is to say proper compensation for the relative motion using "leading" of the aim, to get bullets onto enemy craft.
@@crtune correct! He was a master of the deflection shot!! Thanks sir!!
Johnny Johnson is, and was famous. He was certainly not unknown.
Most notable people are unknown till they do stuff that brings them into the limelight.
He probably means "unknown to Americans"
Not THIS American.
Craig, there's always a few exceptions...@@craigwall9536
@@craigwall9536 Well done, sir!
At 2:03 you say of the Hurricane; "was a high-performance fighter with an iconic elliptical wing and the pride and joy of the Royal Air Force".
Umm, No, That is the Spitfire you refer to.
They were both, the pride and joy of The RAF, both were pivotal in The Battle Of Britain. Together they were united, alongside with All the brave, fearless and magnificent RAF personnel, in defeating the cowardly, murderous and evil luftwaffe and achieving a Great victory, in this war defining air Battle. Hitler's First Bloody Nose!! 🤜👃🤛 👏👏👏👏
The Hurricane did not have an elliptical wing.@@leslieirvine1961
@@leslieirvine1961 We're talking about an elliptical wing. The author says the Hurricane has an elliptical wing. That's so wrong as to be unforgivable.
Oh I am well aware that the Spitfire had the elliptical wing and that the Hurricane did not. The Spitfire was designed by RJ Mitchell and the Hurricane was designed by Sidney Camm. I didn't make the original mistake.
Two more of the RAF's highest scoring aces in the Battle of Britain were Eric "Sawn Off" Lock, and Brian Carbury, a New Zealander. Eric Lock was known as "sawn off" due to his rather short stature. By complete contrast, Brian Carbury was well over 6 foot in height, and only just managed to fit into a Spitfire....Brian Carbury survived the war, but unfortunately Eric Lock did not...
His work after the war in providing housing is overlooked but it was a great thing he did. I'd be homeless if it weren't for him and the apartment block I live in was opened by Sir Douglas Bader.
Johnson was not the highest scoring Allied ace.
Pat Pattle (UK) , Richard Bong (USA) ,Ivan Kozhedub (USSR) were ahead.
George 'Buzz' Beurling (Canada) was only 3 kills below Johnson .
It's becoming harder to watch this channel. Mistakes once again! I only watch this channel for the footage. I turn the sound down.
It's always been that way in his videos. I stopped watching for awhile because of it.
@@vampiro4236 It's a shame really. Such simple errors as well.
@@Spartan902 that's what happens when they push for quantity instead of quality.
No mention of Pat Pattle, the South African ace whose tally was higher than Johnson's, but not as well documented (lost records, lack of documentation, postwar discrepancies). And Pattle achieved these kills in only 8 1/2 months while flying Gladiator biplanes and Hurricanes.
Thats because most of Pattles kills were against Italian aircraft, and this guy specifically says Johnsons has the highest allied kills against the Luftwaffe.
@@dave4728 That makes me wonder who was the highest scoring Luftwaffe ace against the Russians, against the British Commonwealth, and against the Americans.
In the 1960's he set up a housing association bearing his name with the purpose of housing people who couldn't afford a home. It now has 4000 properties offering homes at affordable rent.
I've read books 📚 about this great fighter pilot and I wholeheartedly think, that "James Edgar Johnson or Johnnie Johnson" was one of the greatest Allied pilots, as well as being One Of The RAF's Finest, to ever fly a plane. Pure Natural Genius. 👏🙏
It's great to hear of a great ace who was able to live to tell the tale and who had a long life.
Yes, it always pulls up my heartstrings when the stories in with the guy dying during World War II and never getting a chance to enjoy life afterwards.
Douglas Bader was renowned as well, as his double amputated legs resulted in him being able to handle increased G-forces, thus allowing him to pull of sharper maneuvers without blacking out. Turns out, having less room for your blood to go from your head under G-forces is an asset in an aircraft.
The "Big Wing" was a relatively ineffective tactic and a waste of resources..
Fun fact……all 38 kills were against single engine fighters. No bombers, no transports, just fighters.
Knight of the Air!
Top Gun, for sure.
Fair Video About A Great Aviator & I'm Pretty Sure He Was Promoted To Group Captain, Not Ground Captain. Thank You.
Johnny Johnson is very well known in the UK. Our "Top Gun".
I made the Airfix kit of his Spitfire.
If you're old enough, so did you.
@@raypurchase801 Indeed I did.
Didn't Marmeduke St. John Pattle score more victories than Johnson?
Badger’s ‘big wing’ was a total failure. It simply took too long to muster the large amount of aircraft.
Exactly! how can anyone call him a brilliant tactician? He was probably good at teaching pilots how to fly, but not tactics.
You forgot George "Buzz" Beurling of Vancouver B.C. who was a Spitfire ace who was based in Malta and had over 31 kills and 27 of them within a 2 week period!!!😮
You don’t eject from a spitfire you bail out.
True enough. Ejections started happening only after WW2, with the invention of ejection seats.
While true the man's prosthesis was stuck so he pulled his chut which ejected him from the cockpit. Probably the first ever of its kind
Exactly opened the cockpit and climbed out with a prayer and luck.
The usual 'mistake' deliberately left by Dark Skies to encourage 'engagement' in the comments section...
@@djloungemonkey That was a dangerous move too, but his only other option was to die.
Factual errors, nevertheless an interesting video. (The Hurricane elliptical wing??, Ground Captain?)
10:17 - That's a Typhoon! Looks like LOTS of Typhoon footage. Unfortunately, this seems to be par for the course for Dark documentaries these days...
Wow. I never heard of this RAF ace. A movie should be made of his war experience. Thank you for another interesting story.
We will never live long enough to hear all the WW2 stories worth hearing.
The actor that played Jaime tart in Ted lasso is a perfect casting for this RAF ace in any movie made, it’s a fantastic story.
Your video implies that the FW-190 entered service in 1942. This is not correct. The FW-190 was first deployed on the western front in August 1941.
10:18 That's a Hawker Typhoon. Not a Spitfire.
Hmmmm .... lots of video of the tempest
Not a spitfire mkIX
Yep, this channel always includes some random unrelated clips. But theyre still nice to look at. I think i spotted a Skua @5:15 😂
Yes I kept seeing Tempests.
"His Spitifire took a hit at the wing root, but the supercharger kept him safe."
What? That makes no sense whatsoever.
Ironically the RCAF turned up their noses at most of these aces and they ended up serving with distinction in the RAF instead including the last Canadian killed in Ww2 Robert Hampton Gray who sank a Japanese destroyer in his Corsair at Onagawa bay on July 9th 1945 and was awarded the Victoria cross posthumously
Flying a spitfire solo??…….err, it can only be flown that way, it has one seat!
Why refer to Bader as Ejecting from his aircraft? If you are talking about historical events why not get it historically correct. That is a term used when the aircraft has an Ejector Seat which propels seat and pilot out of the aircraft with an explosive charge or rocket.. Bader bailed out. Which means he opened the canopy, took off his lap and should straps then climbed out of the seat and jumped. Not easy with 2 tin legs, and he nearly didn't make it, leaving one leg in the cockpit.
Ok if you think Johnny Johnson was some unknown ace you don't know history
There are often errors in the narrative of these videos, but I generally thoroughly enjoy them nonetheless. Being born not too long after the end of WWII, as a boy I hoovered up everything that I could that was war related and this interest continued through my adult life. This channel regularly comes up with footage that I haven't seen. The occasional 'error', whether deliberate or not, is easily forgiven on my part. Thanks for the uploads. (Bailed out; not ejected:)
Well narrated by Comedian Dan Cummins.
JK
They sound alike.
There’s a reason you see a lot of Spitfires models with the the “JE-J” lettering on them.
It was the Spitfire that had the elliptical wing, not the Hurricane. However, an excellent tribute to one of the greatest heroes of the greatest generation.
Footnote - Johnson was an excellent grouse shooter and made some money selling the birds to pubs etc. He credited his deflection shooting with his ability to hit birds. He also had some luck that he came into service at a time when the cream of the luftwaffe had been blunted during the battle of Britain so he got a brief window to step up to the mark 9. His score is an underestimation too at 38 confirmed kills. The RAF by his time needed kills confirmed by camera gun or several witnesses. He no doubt shot down several more. His logbook includes probables. Also - all his kills are against fighters, and the best German fighters. Pat Pattle shot down more, but these included antiquated Italian aircraft. Pattle was a superb pilot too. Most amazingly Johnson survived. 'Wing Leader' is an excellent read. My other favourite is Closterman's 'The Big Show'. There's lots of video of Johnson online, there's one of him giving the keynote at a small hunting gathering in an English country pub - you get a sense of him there, top button undone, glass in hand, relaxed and affable. He was a sensible guy who made good decisions under pressure. A natural leader.
*As a retired 25 year RCAF F18 pilot/instructor I can tell you much of what we learned back then came from Johnson. His tactics were legendary and ahead of their time, and are still taught in regards to dogfighting to this day.*
*_Per Ardua Ad Astra_*
@@coldlakealta4043 *Ad astra per aspera*
@@coldlakealta4043 I flew CFB Cold Lake. I started my career there as a radar tech back in '82
I never flew anything and I learned something
I feel like this could be a wicked good movie.
Don't show me Hawker Typhoons when you're talking about Spitfires, Yo!
Great videos. Please stop showing Hawker Typhoons as Spitfires and Hurricanes. 🤡
I remember making his Spitfire from an Airfix kit in the 70's .I knew about Douglas Bader back then too
Ground Captain? The absence of accuracy is getting quite comical.
A friend of mine, his brother wrote a couple of books about Johnnie Johnson and met him personally. An incredible man and someone our country should be very proud of.
"Class prejudice"? What a morale destroyer. "Don't forget your place, boy, and stay in it, unless your Betters tell you otherwise."
“Introducing the Spitfire mk.9” shows a Hawker Typhoon….
Captain nobody takes to the skies... watch out... anybody...
From what I gleaned over the years a big part of it was his extreme aggression...he was never tired or fatigued...unlimited energy. Remember reading, in a fight he was slamming the controls so hard he broke a rod which was unheard of .....Ginger Lacey was the same, super aggressive guys.
Respect to our RAF who fought so bravely when Great Britain stood alone.
A lot of references to the Spitfire while showing Hurricanes. Otherwise an outstanding video and I still learned a lot. Thank you!
uh...I don't believe the Hurricane had an elliptical wing...
Geoffery Warens (wife's uncle) was first RAF pilot to fly with contact lens. Lost in Channel during WWII. Call sign "Strafer".
I would love to have seen the look on the first 190's pilots faces when they encountered their first MK9 Spitfire. Looked like the outclassed MK5's, but it didn't perform like one. :) It was also the biggest produced Spitfire variant of the war.
13:18 - Ground Captain. 😂😂😂😂 That would be Group Captain. Not actually in charge of a Group, though - during the Battle of Britain Groups were commanded by Air Vice-Marshals (like Keith Park). Group Captains would be in staff positions, or Station Commanders.
Spitfire 9 was not designed to combat the FW190.
It was basically a Spit 5 with a new engine that was actually intended for the Lancaster bomber.
The new engine had a two stage supercharger to increase performance at altitude.
Hurricane with an elliptical wing? I think NOT! You're thinking of the Supermarine Spitfire perhaps?
Thank you. I forgive the photographs, all pictures of planes look great. I know the differences, so like your pics. And your content usually enlightens me in some aspect I didn't already know.
good vid, but for crying out loud please check what aircraft you show, , sort of detracts from the vid.
You seem to have a lot of Tempest footage!
James Edgar 'Johnnie' Johnson - 34 victories
Never heard of him.
I propose a challenge, whoever finds the most errors....LOL
A friend of mine late father, was his wingman for a while.He always said it was hard to keep up with him.
Will all Americans please take note: UK squadrons and other units are not named using ordinal numbers but rather their cardinal numbers, usually speaking each number individually. Therefore, '610 squadron' is read as "six one oh squadron" and NOT "six hundred and tenth squadron" had we been part of the US Armed Forces. I was a member of 54 Signals Unit during the late 70's and early 80's and when the USAF gave us an award for services rendered to the '54th Signals Unit', we got pissed off that the US couldn't be bothered to look up and give us our correct title.
@ 13:18 the Royal Air Force has never had a rank of ' ... Ground Captain ... '! I think that you will find that he was promoted to Group Captain (Gp Capt).
Love he always has his doggo with him 😊
Incredible to do what he did and live to tell the tale. ❤❤❤
UNKNOWN???? he was one of the top aces!!!! //Lars
I'm sure Erich Hartmann would have been impressed with his 352 victories. Johnson was the highest scoring Royal Air Force fighter pilot of World War II. He flew 515 sorties and scored 34 airplanes destroyed, 7 shared destroyed, 3 probables and 10 damaged. When you consider that the RAF was fighting Germany since the Battle for France, there were probably 100+ German aces
who dwarfed Johnnie Johnson's score.
Everything from the narration to the music to the choice of imagery is incredible. Thanks for all your had work on these videos.
Douglas Bader - Pronounced 'BAH-DER'
THANK YOU.
That triggered the hell out of me.😂
The Hawker Hurricane does not have an elliptical wing.
What a hero. Johnnie Johnson is a true testament to the adage that perseverance overcomes all obstacles.
Why call Typhoon/Tempests Spitfires?
Johnson was my father's commanding officer in the RAF post-war.
11.26 those "spitfires" are typhoons or could be tempests ... defo not spitfires !
Actually it's incredibly nice to see some fim if the guy and some pictures not in his autobiography