BellBoard
St Michael and All Angels
Thursday, 25 November 2021 in 2h 50 (10–1–3)
5100 Doubles and Minor (4m)
(being: 1440 each of 1-2. Johnny Johnson Surprise Minor; 3-4. Dambusters Surprise Minor; 5-6. Scampton Surprise Minor; followed by 780 Grandsire Doubles, being 3 x 240's Morris & a 60.)
1 Jane A Aked
2 Paul Sharp
3 Peter A Limage
4 Stephen L Clarke
5 Colin Aked
6 Christopher C P Woodcock (C)
Specially arranged and rung in honour of Squadron Leader George Leonard “JOHNNY” JOHNSON, MBE, DFM, upon his 100th birthday today!
Johnny is the last surviving original member of 617 Squadron, which undertook the famous Dambusters Raid in May 1943, flying out of RAF Scampton.
Johnny was born here in Lincolnshire not far away from Coningsby in the small hamlet of Hammeringham near Horncastle. His first RAF posting was just down the road from Coningsby at RAF Woodhall Spa.
It therefore seemed fitting to attempt a peal here at Coningsby in his honour with RAF Coningsby being the home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which includes the only airworthy Lancaster Bomber in the UK, which was the plane Johnny flew in during the Dambusters Raid. During the peal the RAF got the Lancaster up and flying over Coningsby especially in honour of Johnny!
Johnny has also been a key fundraiser for the International Bomber Command Centre & Memorial which has recently been built on Canwick Hill overlooking the City of Lincoln, something which has been very close to his heart - remembering all his friends and colleagues of Bomber Command.
It was truly a privilege for us all to ring in this peal attempt for this great man ‘Grand Sir’ – Many Happy Returns Johnny!
The band wish to name the following three new methods:
Johnny Johnson Surprise Minor
X36X14XXX1236X34X36-12
Dambusters Surprise Minor
X34X14XXX1236X34X16-16
Scampton Surprise Minor
X36X14XXX36X34X36-12
18 people like this 
Johnny Johnson MBE DFM (Image: Christopher C P Woodcock)
Johnny and the Lanc! (Image: Christopher C P Woodcock)
Johnny Johnson at the International Bomber Command Memorial (Image: Christopher C P Woodcock)
The Lancaster flying over the International Bomber Command Memorial (Image: Christopher C P Woodcock)
Johnson (far left) together with Joe McCarthy and the crew of Lancaster AJ-T pictured at RAF Scampton, 22 July 1943, 2 months after the Dambusters Raid. (Image: Christopher C P Woodcock)