DUBLIN, IRELAND – Group Captain John “Paddy” Hemingway, the last surviving pilot of the Battle of Britain, has died at the age of 105.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) confirmed that he passed away peacefully on Monday, marking the end of an era for one of the most celebrated air battles of World War II. Originally from Dublin, Hemingway joined the RAF as a teenager and became a fighter pilot at the age of 21.
He took part in the three-month-long Battle of Britain in 1940, a decisive aerial conflict in which the RAF successfully defended Britain against the German Luftwaffe’s large-scale assault. His remarkable service saw him engage in numerous aerial dogfights and survive being shot down four times.
Tributes to a War Hero
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Hemingway, stating that his courage and the bravery of all RAF pilots “helped end World War II and secure our freedom.”
The RAF released a statement describing Hemingway as “the last of ‘The Few,’” a reference to the famous speech by then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who praised the RAF pilots with the words: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, who met Hemingway earlier this year in Dublin, described him as “an amazing character whose life story embodies all that was and remains great about the Royal Air Force.”
A Daring Career in the Skies
Hemingway’s squadron played a pivotal role during the Battle of France in May 1940, shooting down 90 enemy aircraft in just 11 days. He later provided fighter cover during the evacuation of Dunkirk.
During the Battle of Britain, he was twice forced to bail out of his Hurricane fighter—once landing in the sea off Essex and another time in marshland. In 2019, the wreckage of one of his Hurricanes was recovered, with the control column still set to “fire.”
In July 1941, Hemingway was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor in combat. Ironically, on his way to receive the medal from King George VI, the aircraft he was flying in crashed during takeoff, and he had to escape the wreckage.
He continued his service throughout the war, surviving further crashes in England and Italy. In one harrowing incident, his parachute failed to fully deploy after he bailed out at low altitude, and he was saved only when his chute caught on tree branches. Another time, he landed in enemy territory in Italy but was rescued by local civilians who helped him return to Allied forces.
‘We Were Just Fighting a War’
Despite his heroism, Hemingway never sought recognition. Speaking to BBC News NI in 2023, he reflected on his role in the war with characteristic humility.
“I don’t think we ever assumed greatness of any form,” he said. “We were just fighting a war which we were trained to fight.”
Hemingway often spoke of the deep loss he felt for his fallen comrades, particularly his friend Richard “Dickie” Lee, who died in August 1940.
The RAF described Hemingway as a “quiet, composed, thoughtful, and mischievous individual” who had a “twinkle in his eye” when recalling his time with fellow pilots.
With his passing, Hemingway leaves behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and duty—a final farewell to the last of “The Few.”
