Flight Sergeant Johnston was born the 26th of August 1922 at Henley Beach, South Australia, the son of John Younger Johnston and Ethel Amelia Johnston of Randwick NSW and enlisted in Sydney on the 19th of July 1941 whilst employed as an electrician. He commenced training in Rhodesia and was promoted to Temporary Sergeant before re-mustering as a pilot on the 23rd of October, 1942.
He then went to the UK where he completed his flying training with 53 OTU and then posted to 610 Squadron flying Spitfires from Bolt Head in October 1943. On the 20th of November he was posted to 616 Squadron at Exeter.
On the 1st of April 1944 F/Sgt 412550 Donald Edward Johnston, (RAAF) aged 21, flying Spitfire VII MD116 YQ-K and P/O Clegg were scrambled from Tangmere in bad weather. S Spitfire MD116 broke up in the air and crashed at Wiggonholt near Parham, Sussex and F/Sgt Johnston was killed; he was buried in Brookwood Cemetery and is remembered on the Gordon Public School Rolls of Honour, Gordon, NSW.
On the 8th of December 2016 his medals were sold at auction for £950
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