’MY DAMS RAID…’

To mark the 75th anniversary of Operation ‘Chastise’, Britain at War were privileged to interview Britain’s last surviving Dambuster, Squadron Leader George ‘Johnny’ Johnson, MBE, DFM, who gave a candid account of his part in that heroic operation.

’Johnny’ Johnson the new RAF recruit and before commencing his initial training as air gunner.

’Johnny’ as a Squadron Leader, much later in his RAF career. By this time he had re-trained as a navigator from his wartime ‘trade’ as bomb aimer.

As he approached the Royal dais for his investiture as a Member of The British Empire (MBE) in September 2017, George ‘Johnny’ Johnson swelled with justifiable pride as Her Majesty The Queen beamed him her smile and remarked: ‘Ah, here comes the Dambuster!’ For ‘Johnny’, it was the ultimate accolade in a life spent serving country and community. Indeed, the award of MBE was specifically for his services to community - albeit the public impression, gained through UK news coverage, was that the honour was to recognise his part in Operation ‘Chastise’.