After the fall of France to the Nazis in 1940, Britain stood alone in Europe against the Germans. However, before Hitler’s armies could land on the British Isles, his Luftwaffe needed to secure control of the skies. Standing between thousands of German airmen, fighters, and bombers was a numerically inferior Royal Air Force. Pilots came from across the Empire and the globe to fly against the Germans. Their bravery in the skies against the blitz was recognized by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who said, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” Those few are gone now with the passing of Group Captain John “Paddy” Hemingway DFC: the last surviving RAF pilot from the Battle of Britain.
Hemingway was born in Dublin, Ireland. Following the outbreak of WWII, he traveled to Britain and joined the RAF as a Hawker Hurricane fighter pilot. Assigned to No. 85 Squadron, Hemingway is credited with destroying two enemy aircraft during the Battle of France. He also flew supporting missions during the Battle of Dunkirk as the British Expeditionary Force retreated across the English Channel.
Hemingway briefly served with No. 253 Squadron before returning to No. 85 Squadron in June 1940, just in time for the Battle of Britain to start the next month. He was shot down twice during the ferocious fighting and was his squadron’s first official combat victim over Britain. Hemingway also damaged a German Bf 109 fighter and was promoted to flying officer.
After the Battle of Britain, Hemingway transitioned to night fighters and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after a harrowing nighttime bailout. He served as an air traffic controller during the Invasion of Normandy and commanded No. 43 Squadron in Italy, flying Spitfires, at the end of the war. During that time, Hemingway was forced to bail out again.
After WWII, Hemingway remained in the RAF and retired as a group captain in 1969. He and his wife, Bridget, had three children. Hemingway lived in Canada for a time but moved back to Ireland in 2011; Bridget passed away in 1998. In 2020, following the death of flight lieutenant William Clark, Hemingway became the last known surviving airman of the Battle of Britain. On March 17, 2025, Hemingway passed at the age of 105. The RAF released a statement saying, “It is with great sadness we announce the passing of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway DFC – the last Battle of Britain Pilot. Paddy was an amazing character whose life story embodies all that was and remains great about the Royal Air Force. His passing should make us reflect not only on his sacrifices but on the sacrifices of all those who served and fought during WWII.”