Johnny Walker was educated at Ngaruawahia Primary School and Hamilton Technical College. This was followed by two years night school study for Post Office Entrance examination. He worked for the Post Office in Ngaruawahia and Howick, and then in the Stores Division, Wellington as a Cadet Clerk until he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in November 1940 and trained as a Wireless Operator.

A keen sportsman he played rugby for Flying Training and Coastal Commands, Three Counties and the Royal Air Force.

Enlisted in 4 Waikato Mounted Rifles (Territorials) on eighteenth birthday. Transfer to Royal New Zealand Air Force and trained as a wireless operator. Remustered to pilot and trained at the United States Naval Academy, Pensacola, Florida.

After the war took leave of absence from the New Zealand Post Office but then accepted a Permanent Commission with the Royal Air Force and resigned from the Post Office. Returned to England and was posted to 210 Squadron as Flight Commander. In 1948 graduated from Central Flying Instructors' School with a Distinguished Pass and was posted to RAF College, Cranwell as Flight Commander and Flying Instructor on the advanced stages.

In November 1950 returned to Central Flying School as Squadron Commander of the Instrument Weather and Standardisation Flight where he lectured and trained pilots to be flying instructors, organising and administrating a squadron.

In November 1952 joined the civilian ground personnel servicing Jet Meteors and Vampires. AWMM