This was Operation Chastise, which on;y the Brits took part in. Johnson was an aimer specialist, and has his own Wikipedia entry.
Posted on 12/08/2022 6:15:36 PM PST by nickcarraway
George Leonard “Johnny” Johnson was the last surviving original member of the famous “Dambusters” raid of 1943
The last surviving Dambuster has died at the age of 101.
George Leonard “Johnny” Johnson 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 PA.
He 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, Johnson, who retired from the RAF as a squadron leader, celebrated his 101st birthday.
This was Operation Chastise, which on;y the Brits took part in. Johnson was an aimer specialist, and has his own Wikipedia entry.
Rest in Peace you great and honorable warrior.
Bomber Command has been abused, slandered and vilified. Almost half of them died. It would have been far safer to be an infantry officer in the British Army.
They were heroes.
I saw a couple movies based on what these guys did. Amazing.
This is veryreminiscent of when Lt Col Richard Cole died in 2019. Both he and George Leonard “Johnny” Johnson were the last of a group of incredibly brave men.
Bomb Aimer Johnson, the last Dam Buster
Lt Col Richard Cole, the last Doolittle Raider
RIP to both heros.
Fly Free
These airmen were heroes and yet the Zeeper crowd would condem any other country than the US who attack “civilian” infrastructure in wartime. Hypocrisy is the air Zeepers breath.
I hate that all these guys are leaving us.
Yes.
> I hate that all these guys are leaving us. <
There is a saying.
When a person dies, a library burns.
I built a scale model kit ‘Dam Buster’ Lancaster as a kid. Love the ‘55 movie, watch it every time it’s on.
During the testing of the circular bomb , a B-25 dropped one at high speed and low altitude. The bomb bounced off the water and destroyed the B-25 in an instant. The crew never knew what happened.
Great men are leaving this world for better things.
Never heard that. Nor that they used B-25s at all. Got a source? Just curious, I’ve never heard this before.
You’ll never see it again....because of the name of the dog in the movie
You’ll never see it again....because of the name of the dog in the movie
- - -
When is this going to happen?
Not entirely true - many in squadron were from other parts of the British Empire, Canadians, New Zealanders, Australians
As long as a man’s name is spoken he will never be forgotten.
My bad, it was an A-26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-0czoTQOTc
The A-26 looks to be too low.
The next film in sequence shows RAF testing with Mosquito bombers. They clearly were dropping from a slightly higher level, 40 - 50 feet per the film. And the started to climb w/ bomb release.
I recall reading about USAF B-25’s and Navy TBF Avengers using skip bombing against Japanese ships. The used delay fuses on 500lb bombs to good effect. They found that the shallow waters produced longer (and higher?) bounces. I recall a film of such an attack by a Mitchell against an airfield. The bomb took three bounces, then exploded in midair a save distance behind the bomber, but probably considerable damage to the equipment, etc., nearby.
I’ll try to find references . . .
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