1937 Lawrence Sperry Award, presented by the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences (now the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) for “important improvements of aeronautical design of high speed commercial aircraft”—for development of Fowler flap on Model 14. Presented annually “for outstanding achievement in aeronautics by young men.”
1941 The Wright Brothers Medal, presented by the Society of Automotive Engineers for work on control problems of four-engine airplanes.
1956 The Sylvanus Albert Reed Award, presented by the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, for “design and rapid development of high-performance subsonic and supersonic aircraft.”
1959 Co-recipient of the Collier Trophy as designer of the airframe of the F-104 Starfighter, sharing the honor with General Electric (engine) and U.S. Air Force (flight records). The F-104 was designated the previous year’s “greatest achievement in aviation in America.”
1960 The General Hap Arnold Gold Medal, presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars for design of the U-2 high-altitude research plane.
1963 The Theodore von Kármán Award, presented by the Air Force Association for designing and directing development of the U-2, “thus providing the Free World with one of its most valuable instruments in the defense of freedom.”
1964 The Medal of Freedom, presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson in ceremonies at the White House. The highest civil honor the President can bestow, this recognizes “significant contributions to the quality of American life.” Kelly Johnson was cited for his advancement of aeronautics.
1964 The Award of Achievement, presented by the National Aviation Club of Washington, D.C., for “outstanding achievement in airplane design and development over many years, including such models as the Constellation, P-80, F-104, JetStar, the U-2, and climaxed by the metallurgical and performance breakthroughs of the A-11 (YF-12A).
1964 The Collier Trophy (his second), following work on the 2,000-mph YF-12A interceptor. His achievement, for the previous year was called the greatest in American aviation.
1964 The Theodore von Kármán Award (his second), presented by the Air Force Association for his work with the A-11 (YF-12A) interceptor.
1964 Honorary degree of doctor of engineering, University of Michigan.
1964 Honorary degree of doctor of science, University of Southern California.
1964 Honorary degree of doctor of laws, University of California at Los Angeles.
1965 San Fernando Valley Engineer of the Year, so designated by the San Fernando, California, Valley Engineers’ Council.
1965 Elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
1965 Elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
1966 The Sylvanus Albert Reed Award (his second), given by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics “in recognition of notable contributions to the aerospace sciences resulting from experimental or theoretical investigations.”
1966 National Medal of Science, presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House.
1966 The Thomas D. White National Defense Award, presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
1967 Elected Honorary Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
1968 Elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
1969 The General William Mitchell Memorial Award, presented by the Aviators Post 743 of the American Legion at Biltmore Hotel, Wings Club, February 14.
1970 Spirit of St. Louis Medal by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
1970 On behalf of Lockheed’s Advanced Development Projects facility, which he directed until his retirement in 1975, accepted the first annual Engineering Materials Achievement Award of the American Society for Metals. The ADP program “took titanium out of the development phase into full production for aircraft application.”
1970 The Engineering Merit Award presented by the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering, Beverly Hills, Calif.
1970 Honored by the Air Force Association, Washington, D.C., for his design of the P-38 Lightning.
1971 Sixth Annual Founders Medal by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) at the Statler-Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C., in recognition of his fundamental contributions to engineering.
1972 The Silver Knight Award by the Lockheed Management Club of California at the Hollywood Palladium for his contributions to Lockheed’s success.
1973 The first “Clarence L. Johnson Award” by the Society of Flight Test engineers in Las Vegas, Nevada, for his contributions to aviation and flight-test engineering.
1973 Civilian Kitty Hawk Memorial Award by Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce for his outstanding contributions in the field of aviation.
1974 Air Force Exceptional Service Award for his many outstanding contributions to the United States Air Force, from 1933 to 1974. Presented by Secretary of Air Force John McLucas.
1974 Enshrined in the Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio, for his outstanding contributions to aviation.
1975 The Central Intelligence Agency’s Distinguished Intelligence Medal for his work on reconnaissance systems, rarely awarded outside intelligence “club.”
1975 The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for his vital and enduring contributions over a period of 40 years to the design and development of military and commercial aircraft.
1978 The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics presented “A Salute to Kelly Johnson” night—an hour-long, multi-media presentation of his career highlights.
1980 Bernt Balchen trophy, the highest award of the New York State Air Force Association, presented annually to “an individual of national prominence whose contribution to the field of aviation has been unique, extensive or of great significance.” It followed announcement of the SR-71.
1981 The Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, presented by Defense Secretary Harold Brown.
1981 Honored by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) through election to the Fellow grade of membership for “his abilities to motivate a small staff to work within a tight time frame and budget in creating revolutionary aircraft designs.”
1981 USAF creates “Kelly Johnson Blackbird Achievement Trophy” to “recognize the individual or group who has made the most significant contribution to the U-2, SR-71, or TR-1 program since the previous annual reunion.”
1981 Daniel Guggenheim Medal “for his brilliant design of a wide range of pace-setting, commercial, combat, and reconnaissance aircraft, and for his innovative management techniques which developed these aircraft in record time at minimum cost.”
1982 Meritorious Service to Aviation award from National Business Aircraft Association, recognizing design of more than 40 aircraft, including the world’s first business jet, the JetStar.
1983 The Aero Club of Southern California presented the Howard Hughes Memorial Award for 1982 to Mr. C. L. “Kelly” Johnson as a leader in aviation. The recipient must have devoted a major portion of his life to the pursuit of aviation as a science and as an art. Engraved on the medal, “His vision formed the concept, his courage forged the reality.”
1983 The National Security Medal was presented by President Ronald Reagan to Clarence L. Johnson for “outstanding contribution to the national intelligence effort.”
1984 Honorary Royal Designer for Industry (HonRDI), in recognition of achievements in aircraft design, conferred by The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures (sic) and Commerce, London.