View Full Version : George Johnny Johnson
sunnybunny
19th Aug 2014, 18:27
Can't see another thread but if there is Mods please merge/delete as appropriate
Petition to get the last surviving dambuster crew member a knighthood.
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-chief-of-defence-staff-award-mr-george-johnny-johnson-dambusters-a-knighthood?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=121180&alert_id=cSVrWFAIOR_VJ8ubgpjgVu6tpxodftYP8Src%2BdQkAu%2BDHmE lPgmC4A%3D
I've signed.
SpringHeeledJack
19th Aug 2014, 18:46
How about getting him a ride in the BBMF Lancaster in the next month whilst the Canadian Lancaster is still in the UK ? Anyone with connections able to pull some strings ?
Old-Duffer
19th Aug 2014, 19:44
Is this petition accurate - what happened to Les Munro?
Old Duffer
Typhoon93
19th Aug 2014, 19:55
Signed.
All of these heroes deserve one IMHO.
igs942
19th Aug 2014, 20:00
Was thinking the same about Les Munro. Last I heard was that he was alive and kicking and acting as a technical advisor on Peter Jackson's Dambusters remake. Annoying that Jackson has been putting it off while finishing The Hobbit trilogy.
Agree with the knighthood idea though :)
Robert Cooper
19th Aug 2014, 20:06
Les Munro, last surviving pilot of the Dambusters, is still going strong down in NZ as far as I know. He had his portrait painted by Richard Stone earlier this year.
Bob C
AirportsEd
19th Aug 2014, 22:29
Pleased to say Canadian Fred Sutherland, front gunner of the Eder-busting AJ-N crew, is still with us.
Three knighthoods required!
superq7
19th Aug 2014, 22:38
Signed, Stuart.
Robert Cooper
20th Aug 2014, 04:08
So how many Knighthoods are we recommending here, three?
Bob C
igs942
20th Aug 2014, 07:51
Any ground crew still around? Obv. nothing would have happened without them.
goudie
20th Aug 2014, 08:01
Signed yesterday
Why do we have to struggle to get these petitions signed for these valiant guys, so late in the day?
Should have been sorted years ago by the politicians...yes I know too busy cuddling up to show biz and footballer types:(
Any ground crew still around?
That is a very good question.
Old-Duffer
20th Aug 2014, 12:52
Unfortunately, I cannot support this petition.
Whilst I have the greatest respect for George Johnson, whom I met years ago when escorting MRAF Harris and a group of Dam Busters, I am concerned where bestowing a knighthood would take us (I accept the comments above about sucking up to celebs etc).
My question and the reason for my discomfort is this: where do we stop?
Soon there will be the last BofB pilot, the last Dunkirk veteran, the last El Alamein participant, the last man who jumped in to Arnhem and any number of major and important operations.
A few years ago, we bade our farewell to people like Harry Patch and Henry Allingham but their passing was different. In their case they represented the final members of an entire generation who had been through (probably) the most appalling ordeal this nation and the world had faced.
It took over sixty years to get a memorial to the crews of Bomber Command and a clasp to a medal but those were 'collective' recognitions, rather than individual symbols of gratitude and acknowledgement. As I commented a few years ago, when it was proposed that Cpl Labalaba be awarded a VC, forty years after his exceptional courage at Mirbat: 'those who know what he did, know what he deserved and that is recognition enough now and a tribute to his memory'. In the case of the Dam Busters, we know what they did, what they sacrificed and what their (and the rest of BCs) legacy is- perhaps we should leave it there.
Old Duffer
MPN11
20th Aug 2014, 14:31
Sadly, I have to agree with Old-Duffer.
It is tokenism, a bit like Life Peerages to Party mates.
The intended recipient(s) were brave men, who did their duty. So, as alluded above, did many others. I cannot for the life of me see how 'being the last one alive' from one famous operation (amongst many) is a deserving cause.
Sorry, folks. Not signing.
Robert Cooper
20th Aug 2014, 15:26
The problem is, George is not the last one.
Apart from that, I have to agree with the sentiments of Old-Duffer.
Bob C
Fg Off Bloggs
22nd Aug 2014, 15:47
Me too!
Sadly, I have to agree with Old-Duffer.
I'm sure Johnny Johnstone would smile if he read this forum or if he knew a petition was doing the rounds.
Why? Do we all get awards now if we served our country and live into our 90s? What purpose would it serve!?
He served his country, survived the war, did a bloody good job (but if you read his book you'll find out the true story of his raid, which was on neither the Mohne nor the Eder but was on the less well defended Sorpe and, of which, he was a member of the first and only crew to get through to it on the first raid) and has lived to a ripe old age!
A knighthood? I don't think so!:=
But very well done, Sir, on all that you have achieved on a fulfilled and long life.:ok:
Bloggs
Rigga
23rd Aug 2014, 09:37
I agree with Old Duffer - To qualify for a knighthood just because you haven't died earlier seems a bit of a misuse of knighthoods to me!
He/they didn't qualify for them earlier for whatever reasons; I don't see why he/they should have one at this late stage...or is it "just tokenism"?