 In March 1945 , Johnson patrolled as Operation Plunder and Operation Varsity pushed Allied armies into Germany . There was little sign of the Luftwaffe . Numerous ground @-@ attack operations were carried out instead . On 26 March Johnson 's wing was relocated to Twente and he was promoted to group captain . Days later Johnson took command of No. 125 Wing . On 5 April , after returning from patrol in Spitfire Mk XIV MV268 , he switched off the engine just as a Bf 109 flew overhead . Seeing the Spitfire , it turned in for an attack ; Johnson took cover under his fighter while the airfield defences shot down the 109 . On 16 April 1945 Johnson 's Wing moved to RAF Celle in Germany . 
