Alexander Vallance Riddell "Sandy" Johnstone was educated at Kelvinside Academy. In 1934, he joined No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. Shortly before the outbreak of WWII, Johnstone was called to active service and given command of No. 602 Squadron.
During the Battle of Britain, spring-summer 1940, he was credited with at least 8 aerial victories. In 1942, he was posted to Palestine as sector commander, and in 1943 flew Spitfires armed with bombs during the Allies' attack on Facist-held Sicily. Later in 1943, he was sent to Malta to assist in the island's defence. Johnstone subseqently attended staff college, and posted to Glamorgan, Wales, where he served as a section commander.
The following year, in May 1944, he was promoted to acting Group Captain and assigned to the Allied Expeditionary Air Force operations staff to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. In 1945, he was appointed to the Royal Air Force delegation in Washington, DC. In June 1945, he was assigned to RAF Fighter Command's No. 12 Group headquarters staff.
Post-war, Johnstone remained in the RAF and held a number of significant positions. He served as RAF air attache to the British Embassy in Dublin (1946), given command of the Air Sea Warfare Development Unit in Cornwall (1953), and returned to Fighter Command's No. 12 Group as Senior Air Staff Officer (1954). Appointed deputy air defence commander in Malaya in 1956, and later assigned to help form the Royal Malayan Air Force. Afer a subsequent series of posts as a station commander and director of personnel at the Air Ministry, he was posted to Borneo as Air Commodore of the Commonwealth Air Forces.
In 1965, he returned to Britain and was promoted to Air Vice Marshal. He then served as NATO's north Atlantic maritime air commander.
Johnstone retired from the RAF in 1968.
He was invested a Companion of the Bath (CB) and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and the Air Efficiency Medal (AE).
His memoir, "Diary of an Aviator" (Ramsbury, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing Limited), was published in 1993.
During the Battle of Britain, spring-summer 1940, he was credited with at least 8 aerial victories. In 1942, he was posted to Palestine as sector commander, and in 1943 flew Spitfires armed with bombs during the Allies' attack on Facist-held Sicily. Later in 1943, he was sent to Malta to assist in the island's defence. Johnstone subseqently attended staff college, and posted to Glamorgan, Wales, where he served as a section commander.
The following year, in May 1944, he was promoted to acting Group Captain and assigned to the Allied Expeditionary Air Force operations staff to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. In 1945, he was appointed to the Royal Air Force delegation in Washington, DC. In June 1945, he was assigned to RAF Fighter Command's No. 12 Group headquarters staff.
Post-war, Johnstone remained in the RAF and held a number of significant positions. He served as RAF air attache to the British Embassy in Dublin (1946), given command of the Air Sea Warfare Development Unit in Cornwall (1953), and returned to Fighter Command's No. 12 Group as Senior Air Staff Officer (1954). Appointed deputy air defence commander in Malaya in 1956, and later assigned to help form the Royal Malayan Air Force. Afer a subsequent series of posts as a station commander and director of personnel at the Air Ministry, he was posted to Borneo as Air Commodore of the Commonwealth Air Forces.
In 1965, he returned to Britain and was promoted to Air Vice Marshal. He then served as NATO's north Atlantic maritime air commander.
Johnstone retired from the RAF in 1968.
He was invested a Companion of the Bath (CB) and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and the Air Efficiency Medal (AE).
His memoir, "Diary of an Aviator" (Ramsbury, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing Limited), was published in 1993.
Alexander Vallance Riddell "Sandy" Johnstone was educated at Kelvinside Academy. In 1934, he joined No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. Shortly before the outbreak of WWII, Johnstone was called to active service and given command of No. 602 Squadron.
During the Battle of Britain, spring-summer 1940, he was credited with at least 8 aerial victories. In 1942, he was posted to Palestine as sector commander, and in 1943 flew Spitfires armed with bombs during the Allies' attack on Facist-held Sicily. Later in 1943, he was sent to Malta to assist in the island's defence. Johnstone subseqently attended staff college, and posted to Glamorgan, Wales, where he served as a section commander.
The following year, in May 1944, he was promoted to acting Group Captain and assigned to the Allied Expeditionary Air Force operations staff to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. In 1945, he was appointed to the Royal Air Force delegation in Washington, DC. In June 1945, he was assigned to RAF Fighter Command's No. 12 Group headquarters staff.
Post-war, Johnstone remained in the RAF and held a number of significant positions. He served as RAF air attache to the British Embassy in Dublin (1946), given command of the Air Sea Warfare Development Unit in Cornwall (1953), and returned to Fighter Command's No. 12 Group as Senior Air Staff Officer (1954). Appointed deputy air defence commander in Malaya in 1956, and later assigned to help form the Royal Malayan Air Force. Afer a subsequent series of posts as a station commander and director of personnel at the Air Ministry, he was posted to Borneo as Air Commodore of the Commonwealth Air Forces.
In 1965, he returned to Britain and was promoted to Air Vice Marshal. He then served as NATO's north Atlantic maritime air commander.
Johnstone retired from the RAF in 1968.
He was invested a Companion of the Bath (CB) and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and the Air Efficiency Medal (AE).
His memoir, "Diary of an Aviator" (Ramsbury, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing Limited), was published in 1993.
During the Battle of Britain, spring-summer 1940, he was credited with at least 8 aerial victories. In 1942, he was posted to Palestine as sector commander, and in 1943 flew Spitfires armed with bombs during the Allies' attack on Facist-held Sicily. Later in 1943, he was sent to Malta to assist in the island's defence. Johnstone subseqently attended staff college, and posted to Glamorgan, Wales, where he served as a section commander.
The following year, in May 1944, he was promoted to acting Group Captain and assigned to the Allied Expeditionary Air Force operations staff to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. In 1945, he was appointed to the Royal Air Force delegation in Washington, DC. In June 1945, he was assigned to RAF Fighter Command's No. 12 Group headquarters staff.
Post-war, Johnstone remained in the RAF and held a number of significant positions. He served as RAF air attache to the British Embassy in Dublin (1946), given command of the Air Sea Warfare Development Unit in Cornwall (1953), and returned to Fighter Command's No. 12 Group as Senior Air Staff Officer (1954). Appointed deputy air defence commander in Malaya in 1956, and later assigned to help form the Royal Malayan Air Force. Afer a subsequent series of posts as a station commander and director of personnel at the Air Ministry, he was posted to Borneo as Air Commodore of the Commonwealth Air Forces.
In 1965, he returned to Britain and was promoted to Air Vice Marshal. He then served as NATO's north Atlantic maritime air commander.
Johnstone retired from the RAF in 1968.
He was invested a Companion of the Bath (CB) and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and the Air Efficiency Medal (AE).
His memoir, "Diary of an Aviator" (Ramsbury, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing Limited), was published in 1993.
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