/reeve.gif)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Munro
Squadron Leader John Leslie Munro, CNZM, DSO, QSO, DFC, JP (5 April 1919[1] – 4 August 2015) was the last surviving pilot of the Dambusters Raid of May 1943.[2]
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33769486So sad to announce that kiwi No. 617 Squadron Dambusters pilot Les Munro passed away last night following a short spell in hospital with heart problems.
He was famous for being one of the chosen pilots for the Dams raid and not actually making it to the dam, but he went on to become a long term Flight Commander with the squadron and led many of their special operations.
The last surviving Dambusters pilot, Les Munro, has died at the age of 96, the New Zealand Bomber Command Association has said.
Sqn Ldr Munro died in hospital in his native New Zealand on Tuesday following heart problems, the association said.
The legendary World War Two Dambusters operation flew from RAF Scampton, near Lincoln, in 1943 and successfully used "bouncing bombs" to attack German dams.
There are now only two surviving crew members of the Dambusters missions.
Out of 133 crew, only 77 returned.
Sqn Ldr Munro's aircraft was hit by flak, but he made it home after the hit had destroyed communications in his Lancaster bomber over the Netherlands.
Dave Homewood, of the association, described Sqn Ldr Munro as a "down-to-earth man" who was "very modest about what he did during the war".
"I think he was pretty proud to have been part of the Dambusters, although he was disappointed he never got to drop his weapon.
"He went on to be a flight commander and did a lot of very important operations after the dam raid, although these are often forgotten because the Dambusters were world-renowned."
Sqn Ldr Munro, who was patron of the NZ Bomber Command, was still flyingat the age of 95 and had co-piloted
an Avro Anson plane in January, Mr Homewood added.
/maersk.gif)
