The last dambuster turns 100

Johnny Johnson (Image: Kath Fisher)
Johnny Johnson

The last surviving British dambuster Sqn Ldr George ‘Johnny’ Johnson MBE DFM turns 100 today, 25th November.

Johnny Johnson joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 and qualified as a gunner as part of 97 Squadron at Woodhall Spa.

He later joined 617 Squadron and flew on Operation Chastise, the raid to destroy German dams with the bouncing bomb. A mission immortalised as “The Dambusters”.

His part in the famous raids have led to many calling for a Knighthood for Johnny, a campaign backed by notable figures including aviatrix Carol Vorderman.

Kath Fisher meets Johnny Johnson (Image: Kath Fisher)
Kath Fisher meets Johnny Johnson (Image: Kath Fisher)

After leaving the RAF in 1962, Johnny became a teacher and lived in Torquay with his wife, Gwyn who sadly died in 2005.

In 2018 Johnny was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE), the petition to make him a Knight closed with 314,000 signatures.

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