Les Munro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Les Munro
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Flight Lieutenant Les Munro (left foreground) speaking to King George VI (centre) and Wing Commander Guy Gibson (right) on 27 May 1943
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| Born | 5 April 1919 Gisborne, New Zealand |
| Died | 4 August 2015 (aged 96) Tauranga, New Zealand |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Service/ |
Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit Distinguished Service Order Companion of the Queen's Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross Legion of Honour (France) |
Squadron Leader John Leslie Munro was a brave pilot from New Zealand. He flew for the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II. Born on 5 April 1919, he became famous as the very last pilot from the special "Dambusters Raid" of May 1943. He passed away on 4 August 2015, at 96 years old.
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Early Life and Becoming a Pilot
Les Munro was born near Gisborne, New Zealand, on 5 April 1919. His family lived on a sheep farm far from town. Money was tight, so Les left high school early to work on farms.
He always dreamed of becoming a pilot. At first, he was not accepted into the air force because of his school grades. But Les was determined! He studied extra math by mail to qualify.
In July 1941, he finally joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He trained to fly in New Zealand and then in Canada. He chose to be a bomber pilot, even though fighter pilots were more popular.
Flying in World War II
Les Munro learned to fly different planes, including the Lancaster bomber. He joined 97 Squadron in England in 1942. For his bravery, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross award.
The Dambusters Raid
In March 1943, Les Munro joined a new, secret group called 617 Squadron. This squadron was formed for a very special mission: to attack important dams in Germany. This mission was called the Dambusters Raid.
Les was the only pilot from New Zealand in this special squadron. On the night of 16-17 May 1943, 19 Lancaster bombers took off. Their goal was to destroy dams in the Ruhr industrial area of Germany.
Les Munro's plane was supposed to bomb the Sorpe dam. But over the Netherlands, his plane was hit by enemy fire. His radio stopped working, so he had to turn back to England. His plane still carried its special bomb. Only 11 of the 19 planes returned from the mission. For his service, Les received another award, the Distinguished Service Order.
Later Missions and Awards
Les Munro continued to serve bravely. In 1944, he became a Squadron Leader. He took part in Operation Taxable, a clever trick to fool German radar during the D-Day landings in Normandy. His plane dropped strips of aluminum called "Window" to make it look like a huge fleet of ships was approaching a different area. This helped protect the real invasion force.
After the war, Les Munro left the Royal Air Force in February 1946. He was known for being serious, but he said he was "lucky" to have survived his missions.
Life After the War
After the war, Les Munro went back to New Zealand. He worked on farms and then bought his own farm. He also became involved in local government. He served as a councillor and then as the Mayor of Waitomo District from 1978 to 1995.
For his public service, he received two high honors from New Zealand: the Companion of the Queen's Service Order in 1991 and the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1997.
Remembering the Dambusters
Les Munro attended many events to remember the Dambusters Raid. In 2003, he was there for the 60th anniversary with Queen Elizabeth II. In 2008, he attended the 65th anniversary with actor Richard Todd, who played Wing Commander Guy Gibson in The Dam Busters movie.
As the last surviving Dambusters pilot, Les Munro helped as an adviser for a new film about the raid. His signature was even on special stamps to mark the 65th anniversary.
In 2014, a famous artist painted his portrait. In 2015, he planned to sell his war medals to help raise money for the RAF Bomber Command Memorial in London. However, a generous person, Lord Ashcroft, donated money instead. Les then gave his medals to the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in Auckland, New Zealand, so everyone could see them.
In April 2015, Les Munro was one of eight New Zealand soldiers to receive the Legion of Honour from France. This was a special award for his service.
Les Munro passed away on 4 August 2015, in Tauranga, New Zealand. He was 96 years old and will always be remembered as a true hero.
Images for kids
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Flight Lieutenant Les Munro (left foreground) speaking to King George VI (centre) and Wing Commander Guy Gibson (right) on 27 May 1943
