News / Obituaries
Tributes paid to last surviving Dambuster ‘Johnny’ Johnson
Tributes have been paid to the last survivor of the World War Two Dambusters, who has died at the age of 101.
George Leonard ‘Johnny’ Johnson was the last surviving original member of the RAF 617 Squadron’s famous Dambusters raid of 1943.
He joined the RAF in June 1940, at the young age of 22.
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Himself and other members of the 617 Squadron conducted the top secret raid on the night of May 16-17 in 1943, as part of Operation Chastise.
Johnson was still just 22 when he took part in the raid, which targeted dams in the Ruhr Valley in the industrial heart of Germany.
He and his squadron used ‘bouncing bombs’ during the raid, which released thousands of tonnes of water into areas in the valley that were crucial to the war effort. It was Johnson’s job to target the Sorpe Dam.
The mission was hailed a success after two of the dams were breached, releasing 300m tonnes of water.
The squadron’s bravery earned it 33 decorations, including the Victoria Cross for Wing Commander Gibson.
Johnson was awarded an OBE by the Queen in 2017 for his work in the raid.
He also had an inter-city train named after him and was also given an honorary doctorate by the University of Lincoln in 2017.
Johnson later retrained as a teacher and worked in primary schools, and later in adult education, as well as taking part in public appearances and charity work.
“George “Johnny” Johnson came to personify one of the Second World War’s most daring missions, and the bravery of the generation who beat fascism,” said mayor Marvin Rees in a tribute to the late RAF leader on Twitter.
“Bristol proudly saw him awarded an MBE in 2017, and Bristol Council will hold a minute’s silence next week in his honour.”
West of England metro mayor Dan Norris also expressed his condolences on Twitter: “Sad to hear of the death of Westbury-on-Trym’s George ‘Johnny’ Johnson MBE last of the Dambusters aged 101.
“As a bomb-aimer he asked that his flight make 9 perilously low level dummy flights before dispatching the bomb 30 feet above the target dam on the 10th attempt,” he said.
Johnson died peacefully at his home in Westbury on Trym on Thursday, 8 December.
Main photo: BBC Breakfast Twitter
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