Dambuster remembered .. after 74yrs
BRITAIN’S last surviving Dambuster has been finally recognised with an MBE – 74 years after the famous bombing raids.
RAF veteran George “Johnny” Johnson said he was honoured and accepted the award on behalf of all his comrades in 617 Squadron.
Thousands of people had signed a petition calling for bomb aimer Johnny, 96, to be knighted. But he modestly insisted the MBE was “as much as I could really expect”.
He added: “I thought, if a knighthood comes up, I’m going to have difficulty not only in accepting it but in pointing out to all and sundry that it’s not me.
“I felt I would have to ask someone, probably the Queen if necessary, if I might be permitted to dedicate it to the memory of the 59,000 Bomber Command personnel who gave their lives in World War II and have had little or no respect for that.
“I’m the lucky one. I’m still alive. I’m representing the squadron and it’s the squadron that’s being honoured, not me.”
Johnny, who lives in Bristol, received the Distinguished Flying Medal for his efforts in the 1943 raids on the Ruhr and Eder German dams.
He’s one of only two Dambusters still alive. The other, former front gunner Fred Sutherland, is Canadian.
TV presenter Carol Vorderman who launched a petition to get Johnny knighted, said: “I’m thrilled that wonderful Johnny Johnson has been recognised with an MBE.
“If Johnny is happy, then I’m happy too. He is a remarkable man and friend.
“I’ve seen Johnny working hard to celebrate remembrance with our Air Cadets and many other young people. “The respect we have for him, and for his colleagues in Bomber Command who gave their lives without question for the freedoms we enjoy, knows no bounds.
“Hundreds of thousands of us signed a petition so Johnny could be recognised in this Honours List and it seems our voices were heard. So thank you to whoever was involved in that decision.”