Nearly 200,000 sign petition to get last Dambuster hero George ‘Johnny’ Johnson a Knighthood
Johnny is the last surviving Brit of the bouncing bomb raids on Hitler’s dams
THE Sun’s petition to get Dambuster Johnny Johnson knighted is set to soar past 200,000 today.
Just a few hundred more signatures were needed last night.
Johnny, 95, is the last surviving Brit of the bouncing bomb raids on Hitler’s dams in 1943.
And a former RAF pilot has called bomb-aimer Johnny, of Bristol, “the bravest of the brave”.
Flt Lt Ken Trent, 95, joined 617 Squadron as a Lancaster bomber pilot after the daring raids.
Thousands have signed the petition to support Johnny
Ken, 95, who survived more than 40 missions including the 1945 blitz on Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" hideout in the Alps, said: "Everyone in Bomber Command was brave but in my eyes Johnny was the bravest.
"He was a bomb aimer so it was his job to make sure they hit the target.
"During the raid on the Sorpe dam he made the pilot circle round ten times before he was happy to drop it.
"Everyone on that flight just wants to get rid of the bomb and go home but Johnny was determined to get it spot on.
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"He wanted it to be bang in the right place and he had the guts and determination to make a really good job of it."
Johnny, 95, from Bristol, is the last surviving Brit from the 1943 Dambusters mission and has dedicated his life to teaching children and helping people with mental health problems.
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We launched our campaign after he was snubbed in the New Year's honours list and our online petition now has nearly 200,000 signatures.
TV star and RAF ambassador Carol Vorderman is spearheading the bid by making an official application to the government's honours committee.
Ken, who runs a property firm in Jersey, added: "They chuck these gongs around at their penpushing pals but this is someone who really deserves one.
"It would be such a great thing to honour him.
"I'd love to see him at Buckingham Palace being knighted by the Queen."
Ken published his memoirs "Bomb Doors Open" last year with proceeds going to the RAF Benevolent Fund and Holidays for Heroes.
Carol will take the petition to No10 on Thursday and will be joined at No10 by Flt/Lt John Nichol, 53, who was tortured by Saddam Hussein’s thugs in 1991.
He said: “Johnny and his Bomber Command comrades were the bravest of the brave.”