Just to let you know of an upcoming event in the UK. As per title - An Evening with Dambuster Johnny Johnson and the Wartime Heroes of 617 Squadron. Jonny Johnson will be giving a talk about his war time antics and will be joined by other members of 617 Squadron. Advertised in Flypast magazine, 300 seats minus the two I have booked of course. Opportunity for signed copies of Jonny's book and hopefully an all together good evening.
Sounds like it could be an interesting evening. I saw Eric Quinney at Duxford last September - pic below.
I'd love to go, but will be preparing to set out for the Duxford D-day air show early the following morning. Let us know how it went please.
Well tonight was the night, and boy what a night it was!
I take my hat off to Johnny and Eric Quinney for the pure entertaining evening they put on. Some great stories and amazing to hear their perspective of events and what life was really like for them. Johnny talked fondly of the before mission "egg and bacon" dinner. He also told as good story about when the Lanc he was in got hit by lightening and plummeted from 10,000ft to 2,000 feet in matter of seconds.
I managed to shake their hands and say a few words while getting them to sign a few items for me -
The new book -
A copy of the original cypher message of the go ahead for the raid -
Copy of the original Eder dam target map from the raid (my friend has the original) -
No introduction needed (except the Gent sat close to the camera who flew on the Tirpitz raid, can anybody identify him?) -
It's just cool to be able to meet these guys.
Johnny talked about the new remake of the Dambusters film an how he was talking to Pater Jackson about his account.
Looks like the film will get the go ahead someday.
Thanks Terry, yeah I'm gutted I didn't catch his name. I just know he's from 617 and flew against the Tirpitz. I'm sure he was on the programm about "what the Dambusters did next" that was on last Sunday along with John Bell.