Dambuster unveils honours board at former school

The last surviving British Dambuster said it was wonderful to revisit the school where he was a teacher.

Squadron Leader George ‘Johnny’ Johnson, 95, went back to Highfields School, Newark, to unveil an honours board for former head boys and head girls.

Mr Johnson, who grew up in Collingham, taught at Highfields from 1965 to 1969.

He is the only surviving British airman who took part in 617 Squadron’s daring raid to destroy German dams with bouncing bombs during the second world war.

“It (Highfields) is a period of my life where I started to do more and learned to teach children,” he said.

“I still find the school much the same as it was. Coming back was a wonderful experience as always.”

Knighthood campaign

Squadron Leader Johnson said one of his favourite memories was a joke told by one of his pupils.

“Apart from enjoying my time here, that is one particular story that sticks with me,” he said.

“One of the bright lads in the class asked me if I knew where Edwinstowe was. I told him as far as I knew it was near Derbyshire. He said: ‘No, it’s at the end of Edwin’s foot’.”

A campaign, spearheaded by TV personality Carol Vorderman, is calling for the war hero to be awarded a knighthood.

Squadron Leader Johnson thanked those involved in a petition that now has more than 308,000 signatures.

“I’m absolutely grateful to everyone who signed the petition, particularly to Carol, and all the people who started the whole thing off,” he said.

"They have done a wonderful job. I try to impress on people that it’s not for me. If it comes off it will be, I hope, in memory of the more then 50,000 members of Bomber Command who gave their lives fighting for freedom in this country.”

During the Dambuster raid the Möhne and Edersee dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr valley and villages in the Eder valley. The Sorpe dam sustained minor damage.

Of 19 Lancaster bombers that took part eight were lost, along with 53 crew members.

Squadron Leader Johnson, who was then a 22-year-old airman, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his part.

During his visit to Highfields the school’s advanced choir performed songs from the war. Pupil Lauren Mannering gave a solo.

The Highfields Band played the Dambusters March.

Head Mr Richard Thomson said: “We sense his presence even now. As a school there is a lot of pride felt towards Johnny as the last remaining Dambuster.

“He has a strong affinity with the school and we feel privileged to have him back here.”