The last surviving Dambuster George “Johnny” Johnson has died at the age of 101.
Mr Johnson was the last surviving original member of RAF 617 Squadron’s famous “Dambusters” raid on the night of 16 May 1943.
He died peacefully at his care home in Westbury on Trym, Bristol, on Wednesday night surrounded by his family, a source told PA.
Mr Johnson was a bomb aimer during Operation Chastise, which was tasked with attacking German dams using special “bouncing bombs” in an effort to disable Adolf Hitler’s industrial heartland.
The Dambusters raid caused fatal floods in the Ruhr valley and in villages across the Eder valley, and destruction to factories and mines during the Second World War.
Around a third of the RAF Bomber Command crew did not survive – 53 were killed and 3 captured, while 8 aircraft were destroyed.
Following the death of his wartime colleague Fred Sutherland in January 2019, Mr Johnson became the last survivor of the original flying members of 617 Squadron.
On 25 November 2022, Johnson, who retired from the RAF as a squadron leader, celebrated his 101st birthday.
Mr Johnson was made an MBE in 2017 and was given an honourary doctorate by the University of Lincoln in the same year.
The Dambuster leaves behind his wife Gwynn Johnson, three children, eight grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
Speaking five years ago, Mr Johnson said he still had “strong memories” from the war, 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.
“I’ve got to the stage now where I say to the children ‘If I say I don’t want to do this any more, you can send the box in as soon as you like’.”
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 3 April,” he said.
“(She said in a letter): ‘If you are not there on 3 April, don’t bother.’
“When we got to Scampton, and this was 25 March, 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.”
Around a third of this RAF colleagues did not survive the raid
