The last surviving World War Two Dambuster has died at the age of 101.
Sq Ldr George "Johnny" Johnson died peacefully in his sleep in Bristol on Wednesday, his family confirmed.
Mr Johnson was a bomb-aimer in the 617 Squadron during the 1943 operation which destroyed key dams in Germany's industrial heartland during the conflict.
As explained in his obit, his bomber hit the Sorpe Dam. The special bombsight was useless for that dam, which was an earthen dam, rather than a concrete one. It took nine passes, under fire, before then Sgt. Johnson was satisfied and dropped the bomb.
With his passing, the Dambusters now belong to history.
(H/T)
Future:
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will all aim to boost defence spending to about 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) because Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine is raising fears that Moscow could turn its eye on the former Soviet republics.
“All three of us are in agreement that we have to move our defence investments further in the direction of 3% of GDP,” said Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš after the meeting. “Each country will do that individually.”
Three percent of GDP is a significant expenditure, but the Baltics have experience within living memory of being invaded and occupied by the Russians.
The Germans, on the other hand, can't even make it to two percent.
The balls involved in making 9 or 10 passes over the target, at or below 60ft, in a four-engine heavy bomber is incredible. That pilot was truly insane and as the bombardier, the view out the front each time with the hills and church steeple rushing at you, must have been intense. I’ve always loved the videos of a Lancaster on a low pass, those four Merlin’s shaking the ground. In person, I’ve been limited to seeing the RAF BoB Commemorative Flight at altitude.
ReplyDeleteWho would invade Germany? Ah sir....about the Fulda Gap....
ReplyDeleteI've pondered that a bit, given the circumstance. When we're gone does anyone really remember?
ReplyDeleteMy conclusion is until I'm gone it'll be remembered ... as it was
[sounds a lot like bellying into a hot lz]