The last surviving pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain, Group Captain John “Paddy” Hemingway, has died aged 105.
Born in Dublin in 1919, Mr Hemingway enlisted in the RAF in 1938 and soon became one of the young pilots who fought in the Battle of France.
Two years later, he was among the men known as “The Few”, coined by Winston Churchill to describe Britain’s Battle of Britain pilots.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was saddened to hear of Mr Hemingway’s death, adding: “Eighty years ago, the courage and determination of Paddy and all our brave RAF pilots helped bring an end to the Second World War.
“They fearlessly flew over enemy territory to protect the UK and its Allies, risking their lives.
“He never considered himself a hero and often referred to himself as the ‘Lucky Irishman’, a man simply doing his job, like so many others of his generation.
“Despite his sacrifice, he would tell stories of the joyous memories he made and moments he shared with his peers, many of whom never returned home.
“Their sense of duty and service secured our freedom, and we shall never forget them.”
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “Paddy came from a generation who understood the importance of freedom and sacrificed so much to achieve it.
“The last known Battle of Britain pilot, he embodied the deep courage of that incredible generation.”
In 1940, Mr Hemingway was recorded as destroying a German airliner and the following day he downed a German Luftwaffe plane, but his Hurricane fighter was hit by anti-aircraft fire and he had to make a forced landing.
He then became one of the frontline members of 11 Group’s response to daily attacks by German aircraft, which went on to be known as the Battle of Britain.
Mr Hemingway’s logbook records up to five daily sorties he and the other pilots undertook in defence of the UK.
In August 1940, amid intense dogfights, he was forced to bail out of his Hurricanes twice, landing once in the sea off the Essex coast and the other time in marshland.
On July 1 1941, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and in September that year, he was mentioned in despatches by senior officers.
Mr Hemingway went on to serve as an air fighter controller during D-Day operations, and in 1945 he joined the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces with 324 Wing.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton passed condolences to Mr Hemingway’s family and friends.
“I am thankful that I was able to meet and spend time with him in Dublin, most recently in January this year,” he said.
“Paddy was an amazing character whose life story embodies all that was and remains great about the Royal Air Force.”
Mr Hemingway was stationed in Italy towards the end of the war and commanded 43 Squadron. During this period, he was forced to bail out for a fourth time.
While attacking enemy forces near Ravenna in April 1945, his Spitfire was hit multiple times by anti-aircraft fire.
He parachuted into enemy territory and managed to contact local partisans who helped him return to his squadron.
In 1966, he became Officer Commanding RAF Leconfield and eventually attained the rank of Group Captain.
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