Against the Fires of Ploesti: Leon William Johnson’s Heroism in World War II

Welcome to Beyond the Call, where history, leadership, and heroism come alive. In this episode, we bring you the incredible story of Colonel Leon William Johnson, a United States Army Air Corps commander whose courage in World War II earned him the Medal of Honor. On August 1, 1943, Johnson led his B-24 Liberators into the heart of one of the most heavily defended targets in Europe — the Ploesti oil refineries in Axis-controlled Romania.

What unfolded was a mission unlike any other: a low-level strike through walls of anti-aircraft fire, aggressive enemy fighter attacks, and an environment choked with smoke, flames, and the constant threat of exploding fuel. Against staggering odds, Johnson’s leadership and skill carried his men through the gauntlet, crippling a vital enemy resource and writing his name into the annals of military aviation history. You can find more about the Medal of Honor, military history, and stories like this at Trackpads.com.