6 Squadron RAF, Ma'Asker & Habbaniya Cemeteries
Steve 'Buster' Johnson - Author Biography
After completing an HND in Electronics at Southampton (UK) and a BA in Mathematics through the Open University (London) in the mid 'sixties and early 'seventies, I embarked on a forty year career in IT, corporate infrastructure project management and technical writing as well as educator / trainer in the stock exchange and futures market. My wide range of skills took me to many countries, working for numerous organisations in both the public and private sector. On a whim, I decided to take 'time out' from full-time employment to fulfil a lifelong ambition of writing a factual novel about the Royal Flying Corps squadron in which my grandfather served during WW1.
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A former recreational / sports pilot, skier and competitive rower, my hobbies now include tennis, cycling, graphic design and photography, though my lifelong passion (perhaps my main weakness) has always been cars and motorcycles. With three children and three grandchildren, I live with my wife in country New South Wales, Australia.
A keen writer since 2006, my sixth book, Rising from the Flanders Mud is the true story of a successful competitive motorcycle rider who volunteered for WW1 as a despatch rider, served in Flanders with distinction and later gained a commission in the Royal Flying Corps, flying with 6 Squadron as an observer.
Contact Me
Since I set up my website I have helped hundreds of people find answers to questions about relatives who served in the Royal Air Force, mostly during WW1 but also during the inter-war years. Many of the men investigated were pilots or observers who flew with 6 Squadron. After more than fifteen years researching for my books, I have developed a knack of finding answers to questions in a matter of hours that someone new to the subject might take years of frustration in failing to produce a result. Sadly, not all of my answers were well received, as for three of the men, I proved conclusively that their claims to glory were nothing more than a 'flight of fancy'.
I was also impacted by such a claim. Though my grandfather never talked about the war, it was a family legend that he was a pilot in WW1 who flew a Sopwith Camel scout, whereas in truth he served in the Royal Flying Corps as a corporal wireless mechanic. This fact only came to light when I decided to write a book about him, 'For God, England & Ethel' and discovered that heroes (including my grandfather) come in many shapes and sizes as well as occupations.
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So, if you want help with questions that have remained unanswered for many years and are pragmatic about what might be discovered, please use the form below to contact me.
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Steve 'Buster' Johnson
New South Wales 2484
AUSTRALIA
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