Johnny Johnson was the last surviving member of the Royal Air Force squadron who bombed German dams in the morale-boosting World War II Dambusters raid.
- Died: December 7, 2022 (Who else died on December 7?)
- Details of death: Died in a care home in Bristol, England at the age of 101.
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Operation Chastise
Johnson joined England’s Royal Air Force in 1940 and became an air gunner. In 1943, he was selected for No. 617 Squadron RAF, which was trained for Operation Chastise. In this attack, three key German dams were bombed – the Möhne, Edersee, and Sorpe – causing catastrophic flooding in areas of Germany. As his crew’s gunner, Johnson was the one to release bombs on dams from his aircraft. Though there were dozens of casualties among the British Dambusters, Johnson and his crew made it home, and he was honored with the Distinguished Flying Medal. He remained in the Royal Air Force until 1962, retiring as Squadron Leader. After his military service, Johnson became a teacher and served in local government. In 2017, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Notable quote
“I didn’t feel afraid. I was sure I was going to come back every time.” —from an interview for the 2012 book “Dam Busters”
Tributes to Johnny Johnson
Full obituary: The New York Times
