Retired MWO Vic Johnson joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1959 at age 17. He was selected for training as a photographer and spent 32 years in that trade, four of them in France and Germany serving with 1 (Cdn) Air Division in NATO. During his career his duties included a variety of trade specialties including photo reconnaissance, air-to-air photography, and finally, public affairs /photojournalism in which he was involved for the last 12% years of his military career. He has travelled extensively during his assignments both domestically and globally. Two highlights of his career include accompanying the entourage of the late Prime Minister Indira Ghandi of India during a cross-Canada official visit in 1973, and appointment as staff photographer to the Royal Family during their 1976 Canadian Summer Olympics visit.

During his years in military public affairs, Vic Johnson began writing and photographing feature stories for military publications. Following six months as a military photo journalist and news cameraman during the 1991 Gulf War, he took early retirement from the air force to assume the position of assistant editor of Airforce magazine. In December 1993 he was appointed editor.

VIC JOHNSON - Airforce Magazine Editor

The Editor is responsible to the Publisher for preparation and presentation of Airforcemagazine. Vic enjoys the latitude, independence and authority needed to build each issue to the satisfaction of the members of the Air Force Association of Canada and many other individuals who purchase the magazine from newsstands throughout North America. A great deal of forethought goes into each issue, to ensure topics of interest are presented in a timely and professional manner, and to ensure the editorial content appeals to the majority of members and prospective members alike. Airforce is the primary means by which the Air Force Association of Canada’s members provide the context that defines their common air force identity and experiences.

(Source: http://airforce. ca/about/staff/ supplied by Vic Johnson, who was the Editor of Airforce magazine at the time on September 24, 2009).

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