The last surviving pilot of the legendary Dambusters raid has blown off suggestions he should receive a knighthood. A campaign in the UK is gaining mass support to knight George "Johnny" Johnson - the last British survivor of the WWII raid on hydro-electric dams serving Hitler's industrial Ruhr Valley.
Thereare just three survivors out of 133 aircrew who volunteered for the 1943 mission - Mr Johnson, Canadian Flight Sergeant Fred Sutherland, and Squadron Leader Les Munro, who lives in Tauranga.
Yesterday Mr Munro, 95, was surprised by the push to bestow a knighthood on his old comrade. And he didn't want the same fuss for himself.
"I don't think it would be justified," said the sole surviving 617 Squadron pilot.
Flight Sergeant Johnson was a bomb aimer on the Dambusters mission that used ingenious "bouncing bombs" invented and developed by Barnes Wallis, who was knighted in 1968. This year, Mr Johnson, 92, called for a medal to recognise the aircrews. Now, a petition launched through Change.org by Stephen Hadley of Kent calls for Mr Johnson to be knighted.Meanwhile, New Zealand aviation historian Paul Harrison believes Mr Munro is worthy of a knighthood. "Although he did not get to drop his bomb - his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire [and] had to turn back - the mere fact that he was part of the raid should warrant recognition," he said.
But Mr Munro isn't so sure. He does not believe a special medal - let alone a knighthood - is warranted just for one raid. "I didn't get one and I don't think I deserve one," said Mr Munro, whose flying exploits earned him medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and Distinguished Service Order. "I feel I have received enough recognition for what I was a part of."
