Johnny Johnson died at the age of 101 on Wednesday Read more about his amazing life here:
"Johnny" Johnson was the last survivor of the RAF bomber squadron known as the Dambusters.
The RAF's 617 squadron carried specially-developed "bouncing bombs" devised by the inventor Barnes Wallis. They were designed to skip over the dams' defences and explode against the sides. But 617 Squadron paid dearly for its bravery. Eight of the 19 planes involved were shot down, and 53 men lost their lives.The sixth and youngest child of a farm worker, his mother died when he was still a toddler. Leonard - as he was known within the family - was cared for by an older sister, and roughly beaten by his father.Johnson was sent to Lord Wandsworth's Agricultural College in Hampshire, a boarding school that offered free education to farming children who had lost a parent.
Despite his reservations about Americans, Johnson greatly admired McCarthy - describing him as "big in size, big in personality and big in pilot ability".McCarthy's crew transferred to 617 Squadron in March 1943, when it was formed under 24-year-old Guy Gibson.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Kindred' Is a Solid Adaptation of the Octavia Butler Classic'It is absolutely wild that it has taken nearly half a century for Octavia E. Butler’s 1979 novel 'Kindred' to be adapted for the screen,' writes judyberman
Read more »
IndyCar star Herta's brush with SupercarsA recent trip to Australia for IndyCar star Colton Herta included a tour of the Dick Johnson Racing factory.
Read more »
Fisher says Dubois is heaviest hitter, but had sparring 'fire fights' with JoyceJohnny Fisher has sparred with the best of British heavyweights from Tyson Fury to Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois. Out of those men, it is fair to say that Dubois is the least accomplished due to bein…
Read more »
'Kindred' Is a Solid Adaptation of the Octavia Butler Classic'It is absolutely wild that it has taken nearly half a century for Octavia E. Butler’s 1979 novel 'Kindred' to be adapted for the screen,' writes judyberman
Read more »