Carol Vorderman delivers petition with more than 200,000 signatures to Downing Street demanding Dambusters hero ‘Johnny’ is knighted

THE Sun’s petition to get a knighthood for the last Dambuster George “Johnny” Johnson has been hand delivered by TV star Carol Voderman today after it gathered more than 200,000 names.

Former Countdown presenter and RAF ambassador Carol Vorderman took the petition to No10 with veteran John Nichol.

George "Johnny" Johnson was part of Royal Air Force 617 Squadron, which conducted a night of raids on German dams in 1943 in an effort to disable Hitler's industrial heartland.

The 95-year-old is the last surviving British member of the Bomber Command crews who used Barnes Wallis's revolutionary bouncing bombs, releasing them 60ft above ground.

Of the 133 airmen who left on the missions, 53 did not return, giving the mission a survival rate of just over 60 per cent.

Thousands have signed the petition to support Johnny

Despite being nominated for an accolade, the former squadron leader was not recognised in the New Year Honours list.

TV presenter Carol Vorderman, who launched the petition presented it alongside RAF veteran John Nichol, said the public response has been "overwhelming and cannot be ignored".

Speaking yesterday Voderman said: “It’s clear that the British public want heroes like Johnny to be given the respect they deserve.

His story is as relevant today as it ever was. In addition, Johnny has devoted his life to helping others and continues to do so with his charity work and work with young people.

"We have put together a new official nomination for an honour which we will deliver at the same time. I'm not sure that anyone has had as many letters of support for a nomination as Johnny."

Speaking earlier this month from his home in Bristol, Mr Johnson said he was "absolutely amazed" at the public's response to the petition.

He said he would accept an honour if he was offered one, but added that it would be to remember his squadron and not himself.

He said: "I would... bearing in mind it wasn't me, it was the squadron it was going to - that's the whole point.

"I try to emphasise to people that I am the lucky one and I am still alive. It is the squadron that I served with, represented and still represent. Any honour that comes in my direction is an honour for the squadron."

Johnny, 95, from Bristol, is the last surviving hero from the 1943 bouncing bomb raids on Hitler’s dams.

And a former RAF pilot has called bomb-aimer Johnny, of Bristol, “the bravest of the brave”.

Flt Lt Ken Trent, 95, joined 617 Squadron as a Lancaster bomber pilot after the daring raids.

Ken, 95, who survived more than 40 missions including the 1945 blitz on Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" hideout in the Alps, said: "Everyone in Bomber Command was brave but in my eyes Johnny was the bravest.

"He was a bomb aimer so it was his job to make sure they hit the target.

"During the raid on the Sorpe dam he made the pilot circle round ten times before he was happy to drop it.