Last Dambuster George 'Johnny' Johnson dies aged 101
Tributes have poured in for the last surviving Dambuster, George Leonard "Johnny" Johnson, who has died at the age of 101.
The veteran was the last surviving original member of RAF 617 Squadron's famous "Dambusters" raid of 1943.
He died peacefully at his care home in Westbury on Trym, Bristol, on Wednesday night surrounded by his family, a source told the PA news agency.
Tributes are flooding social media, with many posts on Twitter, where 'RIP Sir' has been trending, and a number of veterans and RAF accounts are paying tribute to Mr Johnson.
Former RAF navigator John Nichol, who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War and who is the author of a book on the Dambusters, paid tribute to Mr Johnson.
"Very sad to learn that the 'Last Dambuster', Sqn Ldr Johnny Johnson, has died aged 101," he wrote on Twitter.
"His WW2 generation sacrificed so much, yet asked nothing in return. I was privileged to share many a bottle of his much-loved red wine.
"The nation has lost a true hero. Blue skies Sir."
Mr Johnson was a bomb aimer during Operation Chastise, which was tasked with attacking German dams during the Second World War.
Around a third of the RAF Bomber Command crew did not survive the raid.
Following the death of his wartime colleague, Fred Sutherland, in January 2019, Johnson became the last survivor of the original flying members of 617 Squadron.
On 25 November 2022, Mr Johnson, who retired from the RAF as a squadron leader, celebrated his 101st birthday.
In 2017, he collected an MBE from the Queen for services to Second World War remembrance and the community in Bristol.
TV presenter Carol Vorderman had launched a petition to get the veteran a knighthood.
She marched to Westminster to hand-deliver the petition, containing 235,000 signatures, to 10 Downing Street, alongside Mr Nichol.
Speaking to Forces News after receiving his MBE in 2017, Mr Johnson explained how vital the raid was to the mood of the country.
He said: "I think it was important.
"I think the greatest factor was the morale effect it had on the people of this country with the headlines in the paper the next morning.
"Absolutely tremendous, our reaction was 'good God did we do that?'.
Speaking after he collected the honour, Mr Johnson said the Queen told him: "Glad to see the Dambusters are still here."
Mr Johnson was the last survivor of the famous bombing raids on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams in Germany.
On May 16 and 17 1943, a total of 133 Allied air crew left for the raid on board 19 Lancaster bombers, carrying Barnes Wallis's specially-adapted bouncing bombs – that looked like "glorified dustbins", according to Mr Johnson – led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson.
Fifty-three men were killed and three were captured.
Speaking five years ago, Mr Johnson said he still had "strong memories" from that period, adding: "That is something which will live forever, as far as I'm concerned.
"I don't volunteer, but if people ask will I talk to their club or their group, that means they are interested, and if they are interested I will talk to them."
Mr Johnson previously said his crew was asked to join a special mission towards the end of his first tour, when he was due to get leave. They were not told what the mission was until the night before.
"Anticipating that week's leave, my fiancee (Gwyn Morgan) and I had arranged to get married on April 3," he said.
"(She said in a letter): 'If you are not there on April 3, don't bother.'
"When we got to Scampton, and this was March 25, first thing we heard was 'No leave'.
"Joe (McCarthy) took us as a crew up to Gibson's office … and said: 'My bomb aimer is supposed to be getting married and he is going to get married.'
"We got our leave, and I got my wedding."
Just six weeks later Mr Johnson and his crewmates successfully dropped their bomb on the Sorpe dam.
They did not destroy it but the Germans had to empty it to repair it, causing major disruption to the war effort.
After 22 years' service in the air force, Mr Johnson worked as a teacher, including at Rampton Secure Hospital, and later at another hospital for people with mental health problems.
He and his wife later moved to Devon, where he became a Conservative councillor.
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