Beloit Daily News, Saturday 13 June 1970 Bob Johnson MERIDIAN, Miss. - A Marine pilot from Rockton was killed when his jet crashed near here Friday afternoon, it was learned today. He was identified as Lt. Robert J. Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Johnson of Rockton. His wife is the former Susan McNames of Shirland, Ill. According to reports, Lt. Johnson was flying a mission from the Marine Naval Air Station in Beaufort, S.C., to Glenview, Ill. Military officials today said Johnson was piloting a single plane A4 Skyhawk, which crashed 11 miles from Meridian. He was attached to Squadron 325. Johnson's wife, Susan, who is living at the base, notified her family of the death Friday. Her brother and another member of the family left for South Carolina today. Johnson, 25, had been in the Marines for about two years. He graduated from Hononegah High School and Michigan State University which he had attended as a National Merit Scholarship winner. Johnson reportedly had called his parents at 3 p.m. Friday to report he was one of two men selected for a cross-country flight and that he would meet them at the Glenview Naval Base in Illinois. The Johnson family had not officially been notified of the death today. Their phone reportedly has been out of order. Johnson earned his pilot wings in October and his Marine pilot wings in January. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Nicole, 6 months; a sister, Marilyn; his parents, and a grandmother, Mrs. John Voss of Beloit.