The last surviving member of the World War Two Dambusters, George Leonard “Johnny” Johnson, has died at the age of 101, according to the Press Association.

Mr Johnson was the last British member of 617 Squadron, which destroyed crucial dams in Germany during the war.

He died peacefully at his care home in Westbury on Trym, Bristol, on Wednesday night surrounded by his family, a source told PA.

Mr Johnson was a bomb aimer during Operation Chastise, which was tasked with attacking German dams.

Around a third of the RAF Bomber Command crew did not survive the raid.

Mr Johnson became the last survivor of the original flying members of 617 Squadron after the death of wartime colleague, Fred Sutherland, in January 2019.

The retired RAF squadron leader celebrated his 101st birthday on 25 November this year.

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He was awarded an MBE from the Queen in 2017 for services to Second World War remembrance and the community in Bristol.

Speaking after he collected the honour, Mr Johnson revealed the Queen told him: “Glad to see the Dambusters are still here.”

TV presenter Carol Vorderman launched a petition calling for the veteran to be knighted.

She hand-delivered the petition, signed by 235,000 backers, to 10 Downing Street alongside RAF veteran John Nichol.

Bouncing bombs looked like “glorified dustbins”

Mr Johnson was the final person to survive the infamous bombing raids on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams in Germany in 1943.

On 16 and 17 May, a 133 Allied air crew left for the raid on board 19 Lancaster bombers armed with specially-adapted bouncing bombs invented by British scientist Sir Barnes Wallis.

The bombs had the appearance of “glorified dustbins”, Mr Johnson said.

The raid, led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, claimed the lives of 53 men with three others captured.

Speaking in 2017, Mr Johnson told how he still had “strong memories” of his service: “That is something which will live forever, as far as I’m concerned.”

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