Last surviving pilot from Dambusters raid is honoured with book of thanks

A BOOK of thanks has been opened for the last surviving Dambusters pilot who is selling his medals to help maintain a war memorial.

Les MunroIMAGEWISE

Les Munro and his medals of honour

Les Munro, a member of the 617 Squadron, is auctioning his medals, valued at £50,000, to benefit the Bomber Command Memorial in London’s Green Park.

RAF Bomber Command lost 55,573 airmen during the Second World War.

Since the announcement of the donation, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, the custodian of the memorial, has launched an online book of gratitude for the New Zealander.

The 95-year-old squadron leader said his gift was prompted by a visit to the memorial in May 2013.

“I could not help but think of the cost of its ongoing maintenance and, with the feelings of the descendants of those 55,573 in mind, believe that every effort should be made to maintain the memorial,” he said.

Along with the Air Force medals, Mr Munro’s New Zealand honours will go on sale at Dix Noonan Webb in London on March 25.

Messages of support can be left at rafbf.org/Les

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