RIP Johnny Johnson, the last of the Dambusters

It’s such a shame that all of the massive loss of life in the RAF produced little to accelerate the Allies victory.
Bombed cities and damns into submission. Killed civilians at such an indiscriminate rate yet rarely hit the actual production facilities which would have made the difference. It didn’t really weaken the German resolve either, more akin to revenge killings.

Heroes like him were left out to dry by bomber command
 
" 600 yards from target... Stand by to release bomb at 400. Steady steady maintaining course 500 yards... Steady 450..400 RELEASE NOW!.. BOMB AWAY! Right chaps let's get the hell out of here!". RIP Johnny.
 
Chunkylad said:
It’s such a shame that all of the massive loss of life in the RAF produced little to accelerate the Allies victory.
Bombed cities and damns into submission. Killed civilians at such an indiscriminate rate yet rarely hit the actual production facilities which would have made the difference. It didn’t really weaken the German resolve either, more akin to revenge killings.

Heroes like him were left out to dry by bomber command
Click to expand...
I agree with your last line, but respectfully suggest the facts do not support the first.

The Allied day and night bombing pulled dozens of divisions back to Germany from the Eastern Front. This helped the Russians crush what was left, it really was a theatrical strategy.
 
Tangerinemoss said:
I agree with your last line, but respectfully suggest the facts do not support the first.

The Allied day and night bombing pulled dozens of divisions back to Germany from the Eastern Front. This helped the Russians crush what was left, it really was a theatrical strategy.
Click to expand...
Stalin requested that the Allies bomb Dresden as it was an important railway and communications centre with over 50,000 working in factories for the German war effort. He said that it would aid the Russian offensive into Germany if the city was pulverised. It was and although the death toll was high the figure was inflated ten fold by the Germans AFTER the war. The Germans got what they deserved in WW2 so no tears for them from me.
 
These people were all heroes, the vast majority completely unsung.
My dad was a Sergeant Pilot on Lancs. Luckily for me he was too young to see the main action and was mostly involved towards the end and after the war, first doing a bit of "window" Window then repatriating PoWs etc back and forth. I recently (delayed 60th present) had the brilliant experience of a taxy in a Lanc in my Dads memory at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre Lancaster Taxy experience Massively recommended and helps keep the aircraft and volunteer team going.
 
There was another "Johnny" Johnson, also a bomb aimer, who along with the rest of the crew successfully took out the Eder. He was Blackpool based and worked for many years at Sellers Fireplaces which was near the Con Club on Common Edge Rd.
Being friends with my wifes late father he gave him a souvenier of a piece of the dam, mother-in-law kept it wrapped up in a piece of paper and passed it over to us. No real way of authenticating however the tale that it came back as shrapnel in his aircraft will do for me.
 
'The bouncing bombs'. One of the great wartime inventions.
However, a beautiful part of Germany.
Anyone ever stood on the Mohne See dam side?
I have.
 
Steamgun said:
There was another "Johnny" Johnson, also a bomb aimer, who along with the rest of the crew successfully took out the Eder. He was Blackpool based and worked for many years at Sellers Fireplaces which was near the Con Club on Common Edge Rd.
Being friends with my wifes late father he gave him a souvenier of a piece of the dam, mother-in-law kept it wrapped up in a piece of paper and passed it over to us. No real way of authenticating however the tale that it came back as shrapnel in his aircraft will do for me.
Click to expand...
My wife had him as a 'home visit' when she was working as an Occupational Therapist. I was made up about it. An actual Dambuster!
 
I’m sure my Grandad told me he was involved in the reconnaissance photos before the dambuster raid. He was very much into photography, even during the war. Wish he was around to ask him. He didn’t really like to talk about the war tbh.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top