RIP Johnny Johson 'The last Dambuster'

Was watching Douglas Baders This Is Your Life the other week (it's on YouTube) and he was on there with loads of other RAF legends.

RIP
 
RIP incredibly brave men

It’s still amazing when you think how young they all were.

Guy Gibson was only 25 at the time of the mission and sadly was killed the following year at 26.
 
Climbing into a cockpit
cold as a prison cell,
engines screaming
you flew into Hell.

Never quite knowing
as you soared to the black
if you and your mates
would or could make it back.

Per ardua ad astra
Johnny old son,
the last Dambuster
has finally gone.
 
RIP indeed. We actually met Johnny several years ago at a memorial open day at RAF Wickenby. A very interesting chap.
 
So 'Johnny' was just 21 when he took part in Chastise.

I find it quite astonishing at the feats these young men performed in WW2.

Guy Gibson went from his first tour in a bomber squadron, won a DFC, then rather than be rested for six months giving training, as was customary before a final second tour of 30 sorties, he volunteered to join a night fighter squadron. There he scored kills, was awarded a bar to his DFC and was Acting Squadron Leader aged just 22.

Wanting to be more in the thick of it than the 'cushy' night fighter role he transferred back to bombers, promoted to Wing Commander at just 23. He won the DSO and was later awarded a bar to the DSO, for having completed 172 sorties. This was when the norm, considered someone had done enough of their bit, was one tour of 30 sorties, 6 months rest training and instructing, then a second final tour of 30 sorties.

After that Gibson was asked to form 617 squadron for a special mission ie the Dams raid, for which he was awarded the VC. He was 24.

He died aged 26 and 1 month, flying a Mosquito on an operational raid he shouldn't really have been on.
 
PLACE OF GHOSTS

Listen, listen can you hear
That whispered sound so very slight
And feel again a long shed fear
As day gives way to moonless night

See beyond those misted trees
Weed choked and crazed our ruined bay
Where power surged on nightly breeze
And I hear again this fading day

Surely I am not alone
To sense and feel the pulsing air
And now a rising higher tone
And look I see them over there.

Numbers more than ever seen
I count them as they pass me by
Shadows tipped in red and green
Myriad pin points pr!ck the sky

Don't you hear, can't you see
Think and you will understand
These sights and sounds can only be
The passing of the lost command
 
PLACE OF GHOSTS

Listen, listen can you hear
That whispered sound so very slight
And feel again a long shed fear
As day gives way to moonless night

See beyond those misted trees
Weed choked and crazed our ruined bay
Where power surged on nightly breeze
And I hear again this fading day

Surely I am not alone
To sense and feel the pulsing air
And now a rising higher tone
And look I see them over there.

Numbers more than ever seen
I count them as they pass me by
Shadows tipped in red and green
Myriad pin points pr!ck the sky

Don't you hear, can't you see
Think and you will understand
These sights and sounds can only be
The passing of the lost command

You've posted that before, haven't you?

Was it written by a tail gunner?
 
You've posted that before, haven't you?

Was it written by a tail gunner?
I have and it was. It always reminds of the postscript at the end of 'No Moon Tonight' by Don Charlwood where he returns to Elsham Wolds years after WW2 to find it derelict and deserted with his hut used to store bags of fertiliser. He struggles to put it into the context of the intensity of his operational days during the war. The book is about Charlwood's time with 103 Sqdn at Elsham Wolds, the crew's survival of a 30 op tour, the first 103 crew to survive a full tour for 9 months.

The same guy who wrote Place of Ghosts, Rex Polendine, wrote this (apologies if I've posted it previously) .......................................
CREW 1.jpg
CREW 2.jpg
 
Last edited:
RIP To a legend in a squadron of Legends.

I doubt we have ever saw an act of such daring and ingenuity since and I doubt we ever will again.

Truly the best of the best
 
Back
Top