‘End of an era’: Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot dies
Royal Air ForceThe last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, has died at the age of 105.
Mr Hemingway, who was originally from Dublin, joined the Royal Air Force as a teenager before World War Two.
At 21, he was a fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain, a three-month period when air force personnel defended the skies against a large-scale assault by the German air force, the Luftwaffe.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to Mr Hemingway, saying that his courage and those of all RAF pilots “helped end WWII and secure our freedom”.
RAFIn a statement, the Royal Air Force said that Mr Hemingway “passed away peacefully” on Monday.
His passing marks “the end of an era and a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom during World War II”, they added.
“His courage in the face of overwhelming odds demonstrated his sense of duty and the importance of British resilience.”
More to follow.
