The United States knew that war in the Pacific was bound to be in unknown territory due to the secrecy of the Japanese of their land possession. They needed any knowledge of the Japanese territories in the pacific for Maps to use on the island hopping campaign. Any photographs that could have been taken by the army were unable to be taken due to the heavy fighting on land so the job fell onto the Marine Corps to actually obtain the pictures. Only two parts of the Marine Corps capable producing Marines who were qualified to take these pictures. The first was the first Marine aircraft wing in Quantico, Virginia. The second was the second marine aircraft wing in San Diego; the very same one where Johnny was stationed. There was an aerial squadron created solely to obtain aerial photography of the Pacific. In April 1942, the Marine Corps created VMD 2 later to become VMD 154. At first, the squadron was made up of three F2A-3 Brewster buffalo fighters and two SNJ-3 North American Texan trainer planes. The planes were designed to be quick and fast but armed so as to remain immune from anti-aircraft fire but also complete its mission taking pictures. Their first mission was to photograph Guadalcanal which was 550 miles from the Base Buttons on Espíritu Santo island. However, this mission was later given to VMO 251 another aerial photography unit. VMD-154 to was later given B-24D liberator planes. Johnny joined the VMD 154 aerial photographers as a machine gunner. The training of the VMD units was rigorous, but hasty. Johnny and the rest of VMD 154 were soon deployed on October 13, 1942. The first missions of VMD 154 were to photograph Japanese air strips on islands in the Pacific near Guadalcanal. Overtime, more men were assigned to the unit and on New Year's Day they were reconstituted to Base Buttons on Espiritu Santo Island. Malaria, bombs, and other ailments plagued the crew there, but Johnny stood strong and well until the end.