The last surviving British member of the RAF’s ‘Dambuster’ squadron has been honoured with an MBE after a campaign to have his wartime service recognised.
George ‘Johnny’ Johnson, 95, was dressed in his finest as he enjoyed an audience with The Queen at Buckingham Palace to collect his award.
After receiving the gong for services to the Second World War remembrance and the community in Bristol, he said he was indebted to the thousands of people who signed a petition calling for his wartime service to be recognised.
TV presenter Carol Vorderman previously launched a petition to get Mr Johnson a knighthood, branding the decision to leave him off the list ‘disgraceful’ after finding out that he had been nominated in 2015.
Squadron Leader George Leonard ‘Johnny’ Johnson, pictured, the last survivor of the famous RAF World War Two ‘Dambusters’ raid, was made an MBE by The Queen
Mr Johnson, 95, enjoyed an audience with The Queen at Buckingham Palace to receive his award, which came after a petition was launched by presenter Carol Vorderman to have his wartime service recognised
The airman, pictured ringed with the squadron in front of a Lancaster Bomber, said he was ‘very grateful’ to the thousands who signed the petition to reward his service
Mr Johnson, pictured far left with his Dambuster crew, served as a bomb aimer on the mission, in which 53 men on board 19 Lancaster Bombers were killed
She marched to Westminster in January to hand-deliver the petition, containing 235,000 signatures, to 10 Downing Street, alongside RAF veteran John Nichol.
Mr Johnson said: ‘I’m glad it’s over but very much appreciative. Apart from everything else I’m very grateful to all those people who signed that petition, particularly Carol Vorderman and John Nichol. The outcome for me is very gratifying for me, it really is.’
He said he was also grateful to Paul Walmsely, who wrote to the Queen on his behalf.
Collecting his award, he said the Queen told him: ‘Glad to see the Dambusters are still here.’
The pensioner is now one of only two survivors to take part in the legendary bombing raids on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams in Germany. The other is Canadian former front gunner Fred Sutherland.
On May 16 and 17 1943, a total of 133 Allied aircrew left for the raid aboard 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.
Mr Johnson said he still has ‘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.
‘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”.’
THE DAMBUSTERS RAID OF 1943
Mr Johnson, pictured near his retirement in 1962, said his memories of the Dambuster bombings would ‘last forever’
On 16 May, 1943, 19 Lancaster bomber crews gathered at a remote RAF station in Lincolnshire for a mission of extraordinary daring – a night-time raid on three heavily defended dams deep in Germany’s industrial heartland.
The dams were heavily fortified and needed the innovative bouncing bomb – which bounced on the water over torpedo nets and sank before detonating.
To succeed, the raiders would have to fly across occupied Europe under heavy fire and then drop their bombs with awesome precision from a mere 60ft above the water.
The Mohne and Eder Dams in the industrial heart of Germany were attacked and breached by mines dropped from specially modified Lancasters of No. 617 Squadron.
The Sorpe dam was was also attacked by by two aircraft and damaged.
A fourth dam, the Ennepe was reported as being attacked by a single aircraft (O-Orange), but with no damage.
Up to 1,600 people were estimated to have been killed by floodwaters and eight of the 19 aircraft dispatched failed to return with the loss of 53 aircrew and 3 taken prisoner of war.
An historic silhouette over Scampton as a Lancaster bomber ‘beats up’ the runway on its arrival after a commemorative flight from Biggin Hill, Kent
Wg Cdr Guy Gibson, Officer Commanding No. 617 Sqn, is awarded the VC for his part in leading the attack.
The raid, orchestrated by Guy Gibson and the RAF’s 617 ‘Dambuster’ Squadron, was seen as a major victory for the British, and Wing Commander Gibson is recognised as one of the war’s most revered heroes.
Their success was immortalised in the classic 1954 film The Dambusters, its thrilling theme tune and gung-ho script evoking the best of British derring-do.
A German official stands next to an unexploded British Upkeep bouncing bomb
He added: ‘I also had an honorary doctorate with Lincoln University which was basically because of my work with the mentally handicapped and that to me meant as much as this did, apart from the fact of meeting the Queen again, which was wonderful.
‘I had the honour of an audience with her about three years ago and I felt honoured to meet her for a second time.
‘I think she’s a wonderful lady, I have always thought so and it was confirmed so much at that audience at Windsor Castle, that has to be the highlight of my life, that audience.’
Mr Johnson, who served as a bomb aimer, 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.
Mr Johnson, 95, has previously been to the palace to collect his Distinguished Flying Medal along with the rest of his squadron following the famous raid.
He continued his career in the RAF following the war and eventually retired in 1962 before becoming a teacher.
The Queen also presented the George Medal for bravery to Doreen Kenny, pictured, widow of Bernard Kenny, a pensioner who was stabbed while trying to save the life of murdered MP Jo Cox when she was attacked by Thomas Mair in Birstall in 2016
Mr Kenny jumped on Mair’s (left) back when he stabbed and shot Mrs Cox (right) and was seriously injured himself in the process
Others collecting awards today included Doreen Kenny who collected the George Medal for bravery on behalf of her late husband Bernard, who tried to save the life of MP Jo Cox when she was attacked by Thomas Mair.
Mr Kenny’s honour comes following a petition signed by 80,000 people calling for him to receive the George Medal.
The 79-year-old tried to intervene when Mair shot and stabbed Mrs Cox in Birstall, West Yorkshire, and was knifed himself during the struggle, leaving him seriously injured in hospital.
A former miner for 40 years, he recovered from his wounds but died of cancer two months after the incident.
During Mair’s trial, the pensioner told the court he had been waiting for his wife by the library when he witnessed Mair ‘going beserk’ and launching his attack.
In a police statement read to the court he said he jumped on Mair’s back to try to ‘take him down’ but was stabbed in the stomach.
Mr Kenny is also believed to have been part of a rescue mission in Yorkshire in 1973 when seven men died when a mine was flooded.
AWARD FOR THE MAN WHO CONTROLS THE QUEEN’S PURSE
Sir Mark Hudson has been rewarded for his service with a knighthood at Buckingham Palace today just two days after the documents revealed around £10million of Her Majesty’s funds had been invested in offshore tax havens.
As fellow recipients of awards posed up for pictures wearing wide smiles, Sir Mark – who was not involved in those investments – opted for no publicity around his honour.
He is chairman of the Duchy of Lancaster, a 45,000 acre estate that has provided income to the monarch since 1399 and is passed down through generations.
Sir Mark Hudson, pictured, who is in charge of The Queen’s Duchy Estate which provides the monarch with income, received a knighthood at Buckingham Palace today just days after the Paradise Papers showed the estate had invested in offshore funds before his time in charge
Sir Mark, who was given the knighthood in The Queen’s birthday honours, became chairman of the council that controls the Duchy in 2014 and was not in charge when the investments were made.
Those financial decisions were made when the Duchy was under control of former cabinet minister Lord Hutton of the Labour government.
There is no suggestion that those involved acted illegally.
A spokesman for the estate said all investments were ‘fully audited and legitimate’.
The estate controls around £519million of assets and last year brought in in nearly £20million in income.
It covers more than 18,400 hectares of land in England and Wales, made up of farm land, commercial and residential properties – mostly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Lincolnshire – and also limestone and sandstone quarries, and foreshores.
It also has a portfolio of financial investments, including equities, bonds and other investments, currently with a capital valuation of £70.5 million.
The Duchy controls £519 million of net assets and we have now learned some cash has been invested offshore.
Strictly speaking, the Duchy is not owned by Elizabeth II. It belongs to the Queen only in her public role as sovereign.
The Queen voluntarily pays tax on any income she receives from the Duchy.
The funds from the Duchy also support Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne and to pay for the upkeep of Balmoral and Sandringham estates.
The Queen voluntarily pays tax on income from the Duchy, which comprises farmland, commercial and residential properties.
Its lands are mainly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Lincolnshire and include limestone and sandstone quarries.
The Duchy also contains the lucrative Savoy Estate in central London, Pontefract Castle, a pub called the Blacksmith’s Arms and Harrogate Ladies’ College.