Latest news with #John"Paddy"Hemingway
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hurricane named after last Battle of Britain pilot
The last Battle of Britain pilot, John "Paddy" Hemingway, who died at the age of 105 in March, has been honoured for his courage and resilience during World War Two. His name has been added to the body of Hurricane LF363 which is based at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) at RAF Coningsby. The 21-year-old fighter pilot flew Hurricanes in 1940, when he and others defended Britain against the German air force. The BBMF and Royal Air Force said: "His courage in the face of overwhelming odds demonstrated his sense of duty and the importance of British resilience." The pilot, known as Paddy, flew Hurricanes almost daily and was shot down four times. His squadron downed 90 enemy aircraft during an 11-day period in May 1940, and provided fighter cover during the Battle of France. Sqn Ldr Ronan Carey from the RAF has been liaising with his family to plan the tribute to a remarkable but modest man. "Paddy called the Hurricane his office and and as you look at his log book over that period of time, he was often flying three, four or five sorties a day," he said. "It was a daily occurrence to get into that aircraft, strap himself in and get up into the air as quickly as possible, not knowing what he would face when he went up there." Sqn Ldr Carey said: "As part of our memorial to Paddy we decided to put his name on one of the BBMF's Hurricanes. We believe it's the last Hurricane to come off the production line and we have now dedicated it to the last Battle of Britain pilot for this season." Paddy received the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1941 - awarded to RAF personnel for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty while flying on active operations. But he remained modest and told the BBC in 2023: "I don't think we ever assumed greatness of any form. We were just fighting a war which we were trained to fight." The RAF said the Hurricane played a vital role in the Battle of Britain. There are only 12 airworthy examples left in the world. Two are based at the BBMF in Lincolnshire, including the one bearing Paddy's name. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. 'End of an era': Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot dies Deputy First Minister pays tribute to 'hero' war pilot Battle of Britain's last pilot credits Irish luck The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight RAF
Express Tribune
18-03-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot John ‘Paddy' Hemingway dies at 105
Listen to article The last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, John "Paddy" Hemingway, has passed away at the age of 105, marking the end of an era for one of World War II's most pivotal battles. Born in Dublin, Hemingway joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a teenager before the outbreak of World War II. At just 21 years old, he played a crucial role as a fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain, a critical three-month campaign in which RAF pilots defended Britain against relentless attacks by the German Luftwaffe. During his service, Gp Capt Hemingway was shot down four times and survived numerous perilous encounters. In August 1940, he was forced to bail out twice from his Hurricane fighter, landing once in the sea off the Essex coast and another time in marshland. His Hurricane wreckage was recovered in 2019, with its control column and gun button still set to 'fire'—a reminder of the fierce battles fought in the skies. In July 1941, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a prestigious honor recognizing valor and courage in aerial combat. However, on his way to receive the medal from the King, his aircraft crashed during takeoff, forcing him to escape yet again. Later, while serving with 85 Squadron in RAF Hunsdon, he was forced to bail out of his Havoc night fighter at 600 feet (183m) due to instrument failure in poor weather. He broke his hand on the aircraft's tail and narrowly survived when his parachute got caught in tree branches. His final emergency landing occurred near Ravenna, Italy, when his Spitfire was hit multiple times. Stranded in enemy territory, he was aided by Italian civilians who helped him return to Allied forces. The pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain were famously referred to as "The Few", a term coined by Winston Churchill in his tribute to their heroism: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Reflecting on his role in history, Hemingway told BBC News NI in 2023 that he never sought recognition for being part of "The Few": "I don't think we ever assumed greatness of any form. We were just fighting a war we were trained to fight." Despite his remarkable survival, Hemingway expressed deep regret over the loss of friends, especially fellow pilot Richard "Dickie" Lee, who died in August 1940. The RAF honoured Hemingway's legacy, stating his passing marked "the end of an era and a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom during World War II." "His courage in the face of overwhelming odds demonstrated his sense of duty and the importance of British resilience." The RAF also recalled Hemingway's mischievous and thoughtful nature, describing him as a quiet yet composed individual who always had a twinkle in his eye when reminiscing about his experiences. Sir Rich Knighton, Chief of RAF Air Staff, who met Hemingway in Dublin earlier this year, described him as an "amazing character whose life story embodies all that was and remains great about the Royal Air Force."
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The remarkable life of 'Paddy' John Hemingway, the last Battle of Britain pilot
The last surviving pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain has died. Group Captain John "Paddy" Hemingway, who was from Dublin, died on St Patrick's Day at the age of 105. The Royal Air Force (RAF) said Hemingway "passed away peacefully" on Monday, the last of "The Few", the name coined by then prime minister Winston Churchill to describe the Battle of Britain pilots. Churchill had said: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." The current prime minister Sir Keir Starmer was among those to pay tribute to Hemingway, who was shot down four times during the Second World War. In an interview with the BBC in 2023, Hemingway said: "I was shot down many times but I'm still here. So many others were shot down first time and that was the end of them. I was lucky. And I'm still lucky." Hemingway was born on 17 July 1919 in Dublin and as a child attended St Patrick's Cathedral Choir School and St Andrew's College. Hemingway was accepted into the Royal Air Force and began training in Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire, in January 1939, before being appointed a pilot officer two months later. Hemingway flew his single-seater Hurricane fighter aircraft in the Battle of France, providing cover in the form of dogfights and patrols to the allied troops as they retreated to the beaches of Dunkirk. During an 11-day period in May 1940, Hemingway's No. 85 Squadron shot down 90 enemy Luftwaffe aircraft. On 10 May, he was recorded as destroying a He 111 bomber and the next day he took down a Do 17 fighter, but his Hurricane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and he had to make a forced landing, before all Allied pilots, aircraft and crews returned to the UK. Hemingway played a key role in the three-month Battle of Britain between July and October 1940, under No. 85 Squadron's new commanding officer, Peter Townsend, who would later go on to have a romance with Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II. Hemingway said of Townsend: "He was a very nice person and a very good leader. He always went in first." Their squadron became one of those on the front line of the 11 Group (Fighter Command) responding to daily attacks from Nazi aircraft. He was twice forced to bail out of his Hurricane in dogfights in August 1940, once landing in the sea off the coast of Essex and in marshland on another occasion. The wreckage of his Hurricane was recovered decades later in 2019 with the control column and the gun-button still set to "fire". Hemingway said of dogfights: "There were two of you. One of you was going to be dead at the end. You thought: 'Make sure that person was not you.' "Every day, off you went. When you took off you knew some of you would come back - and some of you wouldn't." A photo of Hemingway looking skyward was published in the US magazine Life. On 1 July 1941, Hemingway was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, given to RAF personnel for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty while flying on active operations. While on his way to London to receive his medal from the King, he was forced to abandon his Blenheim aircraft after it crashed during take-off. In the same year, while flying a Havoc night fighter with No. 85 Squadron based at RAF Hunsdon, Hemingway had to bail out at 600ft because of instrument failure in bad weather, and broke his hand on the tail section. His parachute failed to open properly and he was spared further injury when his chute caught on the branches of a tree. In January 1944, Hemingway was made a temporary squadron leader and served as an air traffic controller during the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day. He had to bail out a fourth time in April 1945 while serving in the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces and fighting near Ravenna in Italy. His Spitfire was hit multiple times by anti-aircraft fire and he parachuted into enemy territory, but managed to contact Italian partisans who helped him find his way back to his squadron. Hemingway retired from the RAF in 1969 as a Group Captain. Hemingway said two years ago he put his long life down to "Irish luck". He told the BBC: "I'm not a great man - I'm just a lucky man. I don't think we ever assumed greatness of any form. We were just fighting a war which we were trained to fight. "We were doing a job we were employed to do. We just went up and did the best we could." Hemingway became the last surviving member of The Few in May 2020, following the death at the age of 101 of former radar operator Terry Clark. Hemingway spent the last few years of his life back in Dublin, living in a care home. Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, head of the RAF, said: "It is with great sadness that I heard of the passing of John 'Paddy' Hemingway. I am thankful that I was able to meet and spend time with him in Dublin, most recently in January this year. "Paddy was an amazing character whose life story embodies all that was and remains great about the Royal Air Force. Throughout his life he inspired those he knew and served with." The Prince of Wales said: 'I was sad to hear about the passing of John 'Paddy' Hemingway this morning, the last of 'The Few'. '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.' Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said: '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." 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.'
Khaleej Times
18-03-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot dies aged 105
The last surviving British pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain during World War II has died aged 105, the UK's Royal Air Force said. John "Paddy" Hemingway "passed away peacefully" on Monday, the RAF said in a statement, describing his death as "the end of an era". He was among the pilots known as "The Few" for their role in the seminal 1940 air battle that defended Britain against major attacks from Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe. Britain's wartime prime minister Winston Churchill coined the term. "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few," he said of the men's sacrifice. Born in Dublin in 1919, Hemingway enlisted in the RAF in 1938, a year before war broke out in Europe. In 1940, Hemingway downed a German Luftwaffe plane but his Hurricane fighter was hit by anti-aircraft fire and he had to make a forced landing, according to the air force. He then became one of the frontline members of pilots responding to daily attacks by German aircraft, which became known as the Battle of Britain. During intense dogfights in August 1940, Hemingway was forced to bail out of his Hurricanes twice, landing once in the sea and another time in marshland. Hemingway later received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) medal for bravery. "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," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. "Their sense of duty and service secured our freedom, and we shall never forget them."
Saudi Gazette
18-03-2025
- General
- Saudi Gazette
'End of an era': Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot dies
LONDON — The last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, John "Paddy" Hemingway, has died at the age of 105. Hemingway, who was originally from Dublin, joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) 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 paid tribute to Hemingway, saying his courage and those of all RAF pilots had "helped end WWII and secure our freedom". Those who fought in the three-and-a-half-month battle came to be known as "The Few" after a speech by the then Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few," he said of their sacrifices in battle. In a statement, the RAF said that Hemingway had "passed away peacefully" on Monday. The pilot's squadron shot down 90 enemy aircraft during an 11-day period in May 1940, and provided fighter cover during the Battle of France. During the war, Gp Capt Hemingway was shot down four times. During dogfights – or one-on-one aerial combats — in August 1940, Hemingway was forced to bail out of his Hurricane single-seat fighter on two occasions, landing in the sea off the coast of Essex and in marshland. The wreckage of his Hurricane was recovered in 2019 with the control column and the gun-button still set to "fire". In July 1941, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross — awarded to RAF personnel for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty while flying on active operations. On the way to receive his medal from the King, he was forced to escape from a Blenheim aircraft, which crashed during take-off. While serving with the 85 Squadron in RAF Hunsdon near Hertfordshire, Hemingway was forced to bail out of his Havoc night fighter at 600ft (183m) due to instrument failure in bad weather. He broke his hand on the tail section and his parachute failed to open, with the chute catching on the branches of a tree. He was forced to bail out a fourth time while fighting near Ravenna, Italy, when his Spitfire was hit multiple times. He landed in enemy territory, and made contact with Italian citizens, who helped him back to the Allies. Speaking to BBC News NI in 2023, Gp Capt Hemingway said he had never looked for fame for being part of "The Few". "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 said that his biggest regret was the loss of friends, in particular that of Richard "Dickie" Lee in August 1940. The RAF said that Hemingway's passing marked "the end of an era and a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom during World War II". "His courage in the face of overwhelming odds demonstrated his sense of duty and the importance of British resilience." Hemingway "always had a twinkle in his eyes as he recalled the fun times with colleagues in France and London", the statement said. "This quiet, composed, thoughtful and mischievous individual may not have wanted to be the last of 'The Few', but he embodied the spirit of all those who flew sorties over this green and pleasant land," it added. Chief of RAF Air Staff Sir Rich Knighton said he had spent time with Hemingway in Dublin earlier this year. "Paddy was an amazing character whose life story embodies all that was and remains great about the Royal Air Force." — BBC
