Good to see wiki is well up to date............16th May 2008. Les Munro From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Learn more about using Wikipedia for research • Jump to: navigation, search Les Munro King George VI speaking to Flight Lieutenant Les Munro Allegiance United Kingdom Service/branch Royal Air Force Rank Squadron Leader Battles/wars World War II Awards DSO DFC Squadron Leader Les Munro, CNZM, DSO, QSO, DFC, JP, is the last surviving pilot of the Dambusters Raid of May 1943[1]. Munro was posted from 97 squadron to 617 squadron which was specially created to attack the dams of the Ruhr in an effort to wreck the industrial capacity of Germany during the war. Of the nineteen Lancasters that flew on that full-moon night, only eleven came back. Munro, as pilot of W-Willie, was scheduled to bomb the Sorpe dam. His bomber was damaged by flak over Holland[2] which knocked out the radio, and after a vote among the crew it turned back to land back home in Lincolnshire. During the war he won the DSO and DFC and later attained the rank of Squadron Leader[3]. He participated in the operations to deceive the Germans about the destination of the D Day landings by dropping aluminium strips of window every four and half seconds throughout long patrols over the English Channel [4]. Les is a proud New Zealander, still living in Tauranga. Following his career in the military, Munro retired to a life in local politics and farming. Munro attended the 60th Anniversary commemoration of the Dambusters raid, along with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in May 2003 at RAF Lossiemouth [5]. He was also present, along with Richard Todd, the actor who played Wing Commander Guy Gibson in The Dam Busters movie, for the 65th anniversary commemoration held at Derwent Water on 16th May 2008. He has a street named in his honour in his native New Zealand. [6]
It's going to be really sad when he goes. The most famous squadron in the RAF during WW2 will be no more.
Pathfinder, I suspect that the lads and lasses at RAF Lossiemouth would dispute the fact the the most famous WW2 RAF Sqn is no more - they would probably suggest that they continue to carry on the traditions of those brave men. Roxy
Good for him. I gather he was quite sprightly at the flypast on the 16th. May he continue to be so for many years to come.
