The Jerome and Blanche Johnson family owned the land of the Mexico Farms Airport site, which was part of their farm. The Johnson family offspring were Harvey, Helen, Floyd, Ruth, and Donald. Both Blanche and Jerome were what one would now term solid, conservative, trustworthy, and God fearing people. They were individuals most would be happy to be aquatinted with. Although not related to the Johnson’s, the author would periodically receive mailed cookies from Blanche during Poling’s three year duty in the Army Air Force. The Johnson Home was located adjacent to the airport and Jerome ‘Bogus’ Johnson farmed the land as well as operated and maintained the Mexico Farms (Cumberland) Airport through a lease contract with the City of Cumberland. Donald currently owns most of the airport and Harvey’s survivors own the remaining acreage. Floyd developed a love of airplanes and flying from his Aunt Minnie Johnson, who owned an airplane during Floyd’s formative years. When Floyd was a small boy his parents gave him a child’s soldier uniform which he proudly wore. The local pilots promptly gave him the name of ‘Major’, a moniker which continued well into Floyd’s adult life. Floyd loved the excitement of the flying activity and enjoyed his contact with aviation people. While refueling their aircraft, Floyd had a friendly relationship with all the pilots who stopped at Mexico Farms, many of whom were VIPs. Floyd was a wiry, slightly built man with a pleasant personality, a winning smile and a dark, identifying complexion. Floyd soloed a Piper Cub at age 16, and also flew his Aunt Minnie’s Aeronca C-3 Collegian, before entering the US Army’s 86th Infantry Division in February 1943. While overseas in Europe with the 86th Infantry, he was assigned to the Aviation Liaison Group of the 911th Field Artillery Battalion. This group flew Piper L-4 Liaison aircraft (the military version of the civilian Piper J-3 Cub) and the Stinson L-5 Sentinel as artillery spotters. Floyd ably served as a crew chief for one of the L-4s, a job he was well suited for after his exposure to the flight activity at the Mexico Farms Airport. After V-E Day, the 86th Division was returned to the US for a short leave period for its soldiers, and then shipped to the Philippine Islands by way of the Panama Canal. Here Floyd continued to serve as a crew chief on observation aircraft used as artillery spotters until the termination of the war with Japan.
Floyd Johnson in military uniform, and with a group working on a Piper L-4 Cub in the South Pacific.
Floyd Johnson home on leave in front of Minnie Johnson’s Aeronca C-3. This photo was taken following Germany’s defeat and prior to Floyd departing for the South Pacific Theater of Operations. On the right is Ruth Johnson (Portmess), sister of Floyd, also in front of the same aircraft.
Through out the post-war years Floyd promoted Mexico Farms Airport and aviation and was instrumental in forming the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 426 in the 1970s. He led the effort to build the Chapter 426 hangar and club room, accomplishing much of the construction himself. His memory of the early years of Mexico Farms was clearly evident and he could delight everyone as he recalled story after story of past happenings there. Unfortunately, Floyd passed away several years ago and is greatly missed by the local grass airport pilots of Mexico Farms.
On the left, Floyd with his mother, Blanche and on the right, Floyd’s daughter, Joyce, with her Piper J-4 Cub Coupe.
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Wings Over Cumberland 