A campaign is afoot to name a road in Bristol after ‘the last Dambuster’, Sqn Ldr George 'Johnny' Johnson, who died on December 7.
‘Johnny’, who was 101, flew on the famous 1943 ‘op’ as a bomb-aimer with 617 Squadron. Bishopworth councillor Richard Eddy suggested a road on a new development in that area be named after him. Although this initial plan was rejected by mayor Marvin Rees, he said another road could be named after Sqn Ldr Johnson, who lived in Westbury-on-Trym, in Bristol.
Mr Eddy said: "Our generation and its successors owe a massive debt to the heroic sacrifices of the World War Two generation. Few symbolise more the service of this generation than the RAF's Dambuster crews, and Bristol is truly privileged to have had George 'Johnny' Johnson as a citizen of our city.”
According to the mayor’s office, the initial proposal was turned down because a name had already been confirmed for the road in question – but they are open to naming other streets after the late Dambuster.
"How best our city remembers him, is of course a decision for the future which should be taken in consultation with Johnny's family," they said, in a statement. "There will be plenty of opportunities to name a new road after him - as well as the many other deserving figures from our city's rich history."
