Ernest Johnston was born in 1891 in Sunderland. He went to Marine School and was a qualified Master Mariner. He served in the Royal Navy Reserves before transferring to the RNAS (airship section) and worked on the non rigids patrolling the coastline to guard against German submarines. After the war he joined the Air Ministry (navigation section). He became an Examiner for Navigators and formed The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. He also served on both the R100 and R101 airships.
Tragically, lost his life in the loss of the R101 on 5th October 1930.