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Britain's last surviving Dambuster, 95, gets an MBE from the Queen

Nick Reilly
·Contributor
Johnny Johnson was part of the group that immobilised Hitler’s industrial heartland (Picture: PA)
Johnny Johnson was part of the group that immobilised Hitler’s industrial heartland (Picture: PA)

Britain’s last surviving Dambuster has been honoured with an MBE from the Queen to honour his heroic efforts during World War 2.

Squadron Leader George Leonard ‘Johnny’ Johnson, 95, was an integral part of the Royal Air Force 617 Squadron, who undertook a series of daring night raids on German dams in 1943 to stop mass production in the industrial heart of Germany.

Yesterday, he collected his award from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to the remembrance of the Second World War and his local community in Bristol.

‘Glad to see the Dambusters are still here’, the Queen told him as he collected the honour.

Mr Johnson’s award was announced after thousands of Brits signed a petition which called for him to be recognised, launched by TV star Carol Vorderman.

<strong>Johnny Johnson has collected an MBE from the Queen</strong>
Johnny Johnson has collected an MBE from the Queen
Johnny Johnson met the Queen at Buckingham Palace (Picture: PA)
Johnny Johnson met the Queen at Buckingham Palace (Picture: PA)

The former Countdown star marched on Westminster in January to hand-deliver to the 235,000 strong petition to 10 Downing Street.

The only other surviving Dambuster is Canadian front gunner Fred Sutherland, who also took part in the historic raids on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe Dams in May 1943.

Some 133 Allied fighters left on 19 Lancaster bombers which contained ‘bouncing bombs’.

After his service in the RAF, Mr Johnson worked as a teacher and has raised more than £15,000 in the last seven years for organisations such as the RAF Benevolent Fund and Group 617 in South Wales, which runs PTSD drop-in sessions.