A Chicago native, Johnstone was a chauffeur before becoming an aviator.

He died at the same Air Meet that William R. Badger crashed at.

Johnstone flew a Moisant monoplane, an American version of the Bleriot XI built under license in the United States.

At 500 feet, Johnstone plummeted into Lake Michigan and drowned.

He is not related to fellow aviator Ralph Johnstone, who died in a crash the year before.