Posted on 08/04/2015 7:10:59 AM PDT by Borges
The last surviving pilot from the Dambusters raids has died at the age of 96. Les Munro died on Tuesday morning in hospital in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty in his native New Zealand.
His death means there are just two survivors from the 1943 bombing raids on Germany’s Ruhr dams: George “Johnny” Johnson, from the UK, who was a bomb-aimer; and Canadian front-gunner Fred Sutherland.
In a statement, the New Zealand Bomber Command Association announced the “extremely sad news”, saying: “Our New Zealand Bomber Command Association patron, and well known Dambuster pilot, Les Munro passed away last night following a spell in hospital with heart problems. So, so sad. He was a mighty man.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
I hope he’s in a better place where he is free and where he can again pet the unit’s dog and call him by name...
One of yours has gone home.
In the movie..which is a superb, and faithful narrative..the PC police always blip out the name of the wing commander’s black lab..
‘People can pass comment on certain aspects of all wars but I do not believe it is right to criticise someone or something that they were not involved in or with’
Agree completely. The Left side of politics constantly judges HISTORY by the mores of today. And Big Media amplifies the criticisms. These men, and countless others, did whatever needed to be done to WIN World War 2. They are HEROES. Sadly, the climate in our country, and other countries, is one that denigrates History for it’s political incorrectness. Sigh.
Yep. The ‘N’ word is worse than any other word in human history.
There are three iconic, single strike air missions in WW II: The Doolittle Raid, The Dambusters, and the ambush of Yamamoto. The first was of immense propaganda value, the second was of limited strategic success, while the last was a tactical victory, and likely contributed the most to victory.
We were on a tour of Hoover Dam. The workers buried their mascot,a black lab,at the site. The guide showed us the plaque. I said to the guide” they cared for him so much that they didn’t put his name on the plaque.” He said that the crews were mostly white and it was the 30’s. I just said,”yea and I’m the one who had to ask.
Great movie. Always makes me cry at the end. Used to live down the road from where they did their trial runs.
Said motto being meant for whoever stands in Munro's way. :^)
I used to have a computer simulation of the Dambusters raid, which depicted the details of the approach, altitude and bomb aiming problems of the mission. To say it was difficult would be an understatement. Not only did they have to avoid enemy fire, but had to spin the bomb to get it to bounce on the water and release it at the exact moment and the exact altitude. Hell of an accomplishment.
I am of this clan. I’ve been to the castle in Scotland. Got married in the Munro kilt.
Its a hoot that most of them are flaming leftists, and when I mention that Dread God translates simply to “have a healthy respect for God” the universal response is grumpy, lemon-sucking face.
RIP.
Slide rules, Mark 1 calibrated eyeballs, coathangers and raw chutzpah.
No more difficult than bullseyeing womp rats...
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