The last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, John “Paddy” Hemingway, has died aged 105.
Born in Dublin in 1919, Group Captain Hemingway enlisted in the RAF in 1938 and soon became one of the young pilots who fought in the Battle of France.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) said Hemingway, a member of “the Few” who took to the skies during the second world war, died peacefully on Monday.
He played a key role in the successful defence of Britain against unremitting air raids conducted by the German air force, the Luftwaffe, from July through September 1940 after the fall of France.
The pilot’s squadron shot down 90 enemy aircraft during an 11-day period in May 1940, the RAF said.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, paid tribute to Hemingway and said: “I am saddened to hear of the passing of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway DFC, the last known pilot of the Battle of Britain.
“Eighty years ago, the courage and determination of Paddy and all our brave RAF pilots helped bring an end to the second world war. .
“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.”
In a post on social media Prince William said: “We owe so much to Paddy and his generation for our freedoms today. Their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered.”
Group captain Hemingway DFC retired from the RAF in 1974.
