Question:  David John Shannon was selected to join the newly formed No. 617 Squadron by the most highly decorated serviceman in the country who completed over how many operations at the age of 26?

Context articles: Robert King Wittman
Nigger (dog)
No. 617 Squadron RAF
Dave Shannon
William George Barker
809 Naval Air Squadron
Johnny Johnson (RAF officer)
Hughie Edwards
Guy Gibson
John Emilius Fauquier

Robert King "Bob" Wittman was a highly decorated Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent who was assigned to the Philadelphia Field Division from 1988 to 2008.
 As a result of specialized training in art, antiques, jewelry and gem identification, Wittman served as the FBI's "top investigator and coordinator in cases involving art theft and art fraud".
 During his 20 years with the FBI, Wittman helped recover more than $300 million worth of stolen art and cultural property, resulting in the prosecution and conviction of numerous individuals.
 In 2005, he was instrumental in the creation of the FBI's rapid deployment Art Crime Team (ACT).
 He was named the ACT's Senior Investigator and was responsible for instructing the newly formed team.
 He also was instrumental in the recovery of colonial North Carolina's copy of the original Bill of Rights in 2005, after it was stolen by a Union soldier in 1865.
 Wittman represented the United States around the world, conducting investigations and instructing international police and museums in recovery and security techniques.
 After his 20 years with the FBI working against art theft, he continues to use his expertise as an art security consultant for the private sector.
 In 2010 Wittman published his memoir "Priceless" which recounts his career and activities while working for the FBI as an undercover agent.
Nigger was a male black labrador retriever belonging to Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C. of the Royal Air Force, and the mascot of No. 617 Squadron.
 Gibson owned the dog when he was previously a member of 106 Squadron.
 Nigger often accompanied Gibson on training flights and was a great favourite of the members of both 106 and 617 Squadrons.
 He was noted for his liking of beer, which he drank from his own bowl in the Officers' Mess.
No. 617 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.
 It is commonly known as the "Dambusters", for its actions during Operation Chastise against German dams during the Second World War.
 In the early 21st century it operated the Tornado GR4 in the ground attack and reconnaissance role until being disbanded in the Spring of 2014.
 it is in the process of forming ahead of standing up in January 2018 as the first British frontline squadron with the F-35 Lightning II.
David John (Dave) Shannon, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (27 May 1922 – 8 April 1993) was an Australian bomber pilot of World War II, best known for his part in the "Dambusters" raid on the night of 16/17 May 1943.
 Born in South Australia, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1941 and learned to fly under the Empire Air Training Scheme.
 After further training in the United Kingdom he was posted to No. 106 Squadron RAF, operating Avro Lancaster heavy bombers, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in January 1943.
 In March he was selected by No. 106 Squadron's commanding officer, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, to join the newly formed No. 617 Squadron for Operation Chastise, the attack on the dams of the Ruhr valley.
 Awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) following the raid, Shannon continued to fly with No. 617 Squadron until October 1944, during which time he earned bars to his DSO and DFC.
 He was then assigned to transport duties, first with No. 511 Squadron and then, in March 1945, with No. 246 Squadron.
 Ranked squadron leader, Shannon was demobilised after the war and remained in England, becoming an executive with Shell.
 He died in South London in 1993, aged seventy.
William George "Billy" Barker, (3 November 1894 – 12 March 1930) was a Canadian First World War fighter ace and Victoria Cross recipient.
 He is the most decorated serviceman in the history of Canada.
809 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm of the United Kingdom.
 It was formed in 1941 and flew in Russia, the Mediterranean and the Far East during World War II.
 After active service during the Suez Crisis, 809 was disbanded in 1959.
 Reformed in 1963 to fly Buccaneers, the squadron was disbanded briefly in 1965-66, and then again in 1978.
 A brief period during the Falklands war saw 809 reformed to bring Sea Harrier aircraft south to the UK task group and to fly from "Illustrious".
 In September 2013 it was announced that the first Royal Navy squadron equipped with the F-35 Lightning would be named 809 Naval Air Squadron with the nickname ""Immortals"".
 It will re-commission in April 2023 as the UK's second operational F-35B squadron after 617 Squadron RAF.
Squadron Leader George Leonard "Johnny" Johnson {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} (born 25 November 1921) is a retired Royal Air Force officer and the last British survivor of the original members of No. 617 Squadron RAF and of Operation Chastise, the "Dambusters" raid of 1943.
Air Commodore Sir Hughie Idwal Edwards, {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} (1 August 1914 – 5 August 1982) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force, Governor of Western Australia, and an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces.
 Serving as a bomber pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF), Edwards was decorated with the Victoria Cross in 1941 for his efforts in leading a bombing raid against the port of Bremen, one of the most heavily defended towns in Germany.
 He became the most highly decorated Australian serviceman of the Second World War.
Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson, {'1': ", '2': ", '3': ", '4': "} (12 August 1918 – 19 September 1944), was the first Commanding Officer of the Royal Air Force's No. 617 Squadron, which he led in the "Dam Busters" raid (Operation Chastise) in 1943, resulting in the destruction of two large dams in the Ruhr area.
 He was awarded the Victoria Cross, and in June 1943 became the most highly decorated serviceman in the country, but lost his life later in the war.
 He had completed over 170 operations at the age of 26.
Air Commodore John Emilius "Johnny" Fauquier, (March 19, 1909 – April 3, 1981) was a Canadian aviator and Second World War Bomber Command leader.
 He commanded No. 405 Squadron RCAF and later No. 617 Squadron RAF (the Dambusters) over the course of the war.
 A bush pilot, prior to the war, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a flight instructor in 1939.
 He then joined 405 Squadron in 1941 and would fly operationally for the rest of the war, taking a drop in rank on one occasion to return to active command.
 During his three tours of operation he participated in Operation "Hydra" and dozens of other sorties over Europe.