Medals won by Dambuster war hero from Blackpool expected to sell for up to £70k at auction

The medals of a Dambuster from Blackpool whose bomb breached the Eder Dam could fetch up to GBP70k when they go under the hammer. Watch more of our videos on Shots! and live on Freeview channel 276

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Edward Cuthbert Johnson - or Johnnie to his friends, family and comrades - was born in Lincoln[2] on May 3, 1912. He was just two years old when his father was killed in action on the Western Front in December 1914.

Edward moved with his mother to Gainsborough and was educated at Lincoln Grammar School.

The medals of Edward Cuthbert Johnson could fetch up to GBP70k when they go under the hammer (Credit: Spink)

In 1936, he married May Beckwith and moved from Leeds to Blackpool[3] before establishing a boarding house prior to the outbreak of World War II. He joined the RAF[4] in 1940 and qualified as an Air Observer Navigator on 25 October 25, 1941 and a bomb aimer on December 6, 1941 After further training he was posted briefly to 106 Squadron, but then sent back to a training unit to be crewed up with Les Knight and his colleagues.

They moved to 50 Squadron in September 1942, and Edward flew on some twenty-two operations with the Knight crew.

Edward's medals and memorabilia are due to be auctioned at Spink in London on November 29 (Credit: Spink)

On May 16, 1943 - the famous night of the Dams Raid - Edward was part of the main Strike Force under Guy Gibson and was a witness to the breaching of the Mohne. Edward's opportunity soon presented itself when Knight's crew were called to centre stage.