The last surviving hero of the Battle of Britain, John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, passes away at 105 — Prince William’s EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE moves the nation to tears, honoring a true legend lost.

Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway dies aged 105

The World War 2 hero was shot down four times while he bravely served his country.

John Hemingway (Image: RAF)

The last surviving Battle of Britain pilot has died at the age of 105. John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway DFC, the “last of the few” passed away today, closing a chapter on one of the most important periods in the country’s history.

Paddy was one of the most revered figures in British aviation history, having played a vital role in defending the country fromNazi onslaught during the summer of 1940. John Allman Hemingway was born on July 17, 1919 and was educated in one of Dublin’s best schools. He first saw action as a nineteen-year-old Royal Air Force Pilot Officer in Holland, where he was shot down just a day after registering his first kill, before making his way back to British lines three days later.

Paddy was one of the most revered figures in British aviation for his WW2 heroics (Image: RAF)

He would be forced to crash land three more times before the end of the war.

Paddy resumed flying immediately and protected retreating soldiers on the beaches of Dunkirk as they came under German bombardment.

It was under the command of Peter Townend, who would later have a relationship with Princess Margaret that Paddy enjoyed his finest hour as he defended the skies of Britain from Luftwaffe attacks.

Responding to daily attacks from the Nazis in what became known as the Battle of Britain, the 21-year old’s logbook records, almost nonchalantly, detail the daily sorties he and the other pilots undertook in defence of the United Kingdom.

In August 1940, during hectic dogfights, Paddy was twice forced to bail out of his Hurricane, landing in the sea off the coast of Essex and in marshland on the other occasion.

On 1 July 1941, Paddy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and in September that year, he was Mentioned in Dispatches. His journey to London to receive his DFC from The King began with him escaping from a wrecked Blenheim aircraft which crashed on take-off.

This wasn’t the last of his aircraft related misfortunes. In 1941, serving with No. 85 Squadron, based at RAF Hunsdon, in a Havoc night fighter, Paddy had to bail out at 600 feet due to instrument failure in bad weather, breaking his hand on the tail section.

As with many of the nation’s heroes from the time, Paddy refused to acknowledge his heroism in the aftermath of the conflict.

Prince William said in a message on X: ‘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.

Paddy Hemingway during his time in the RAF (Picture: X/@RoyalAirForce)
‘Their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered. We shall never forget them.’

Their exploits had led Prime Minister Winston Churchill to proclaim: “Never in the history of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.”

Paddy was however more reserved. In one of his final interviews, he recalled: “I’m here because I had staggering luck and fought along-side great pilots in magnificent aircraft, with the best air force.

“All my closest friends were killed. If being ‘the last’ draws attention in a good way to the Battle of Britain pilots and the rest of the RAF at that time, then I’m happy.”

Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton Chief of the Air Staff said: “It is with great sadness that I heard of the passing of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway today.

“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. In his youth he travelled from Ireland to join the RAF and following the outbreak of World War II.

“Throughout his life he inspired those he knew and served with. My thoughts are with his family and all those who cared for him over the past few years.”