[citation needed] The family lived in a tied cottage in Langford, his oldest sister Lena largely being responsible for his early upbringing.

[3] However, due to the difficulties in processing the vast numbers of recruits at the time, he was posted to various establishments around England and it was not until June 1941 that he was finally sent to Florida to begin his pilot training.

En route to the target, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, forcing the pilot to abort the mission and return to Woodhall Spa.

Initially, Johnson showed reticence in operating with an American skipper, however having met with McCarthy, he changed his mind.

Attacked by night fighters on their way to and returning from the target, the Avro Lancaster lost all power on one engine and developed problems in another, forcing McCarthy to land at RAF Bottesford.

97 Squadron, bringing him to the end of a full operational tour, followed by a leave, after which he spent six months working in a non-combat training role.

[5] Due to various losses and technical issues en route to the target, AJ-T was the first Lancaster to reach the Sorpe, and McCarthy soon realised how difficult the attack would be.

Reluctantly, this request was accepted, Johnson was "screened" (classed as "tour expired" or, in effect, due for a rest from operational flying).

He was subsequently posted to a Heavy Conversion Unit back at RAF Scampton, where he became a bombing instructor until the end of hostilities.

He initially taught in primary schools, subsequently becoming involved in adult education before he undertook a period in teaching psychiatric patients at Rampton Hospital.

He lived in Westbury on Trym, Bristol,[8] and continued to give interviews on the various aspects of his active service and particularly concerning Operation Chastise.

[10][11] Johnson was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to Second World War remembrance and the community in Bristol.

[12][13] The award followed shortly after an unsuccessful petition for Johnson to be knighted was initiated by Carol Vorderman, which garnered over 200,000 signatures within a few weeks.

[15][16] On 7 September 2017, Johnson received an honorary doctorate from the University of Lincoln for his contribution to British society,[17] and two months later, on 7 November, was presented his MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

[21] Following the death of his wartime colleague Fred Sutherland, on 21 January 2019, Johnson became the last survivor of the original flying members of 617 Squadron.