Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot dies aged 105

Group Captain John Paddy” Hemingway, the last surviving pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain, has died aged 105.

- ATHENA STAVROU

Born in Dublin in 1919, Hemingway dedicated his life to service. He enlisted in the RAF in 1938 and became one of the young pilots who fought in the Battle of France.

In 1940, he was among the men known as “The Few”, coined by Winston Churchill to describe Britain’s Battle of Britain pilots.

The Prince of Wales and the prime minister have led tributes to Hemingway, with Prince William sharing a message on social media signed “W”.

“I was sad to hear about the passing of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway this morning, the last of ‘The Few’,” William wrote.

“We owe so much to Paddy and his generation for our freedoms today. Their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered. We shall never forget them.”

Sir Keir Starmer also paid his respects, saying: “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.