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?

 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. 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. <SEP> 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. <SEP> 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. <SEP> 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.