Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot dies, at 105.

[GHT]

Group Captain John "Paddy" Hemingway, the last surviving pilot of the Battle of Britain, has died at the age of 105. Born in Dublin in 1919, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1938 and served with distinction during World War II. As one of the renowned "The Few.," he helped defend Britain against the German Luftwaffe in 1940. Over the course of the war, he survived being shot down four times, demonstrating remarkable resilience. After the war, Hemingway continued his RAF career until his retirement in 1969.

Churchill, after leaving an RAF Operations Room during the battle, turned to Major General Hastings Ismay and said, "Don't speak to me; I have never been so moved." Minutes later, he added, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Four days later, he echoed those words in a speech to Parliament, cementing them in history.

 

[GHT]

No. 85 Squadron, under a new commanding officer, Peter Townsend, became one of the front-line squadrons of the 11 Group (Fighter Command) response to the daily attacks from Nazi aircraft, which came to be known as the ‘Battle of Britain’. Paddy’s logbook records, almost nonchalantly, 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.

 

[rogueclimber]

May he rest easy. A true HERO

 

[Peacoat]

Yes, he is a true hero. The last of his breed. He lived a long life after his defining actions in the Battle of Britain. Thankfully, Britain had him and hundreds more to save the Country from chaos.

 

[Tiki Tom]

The Battle of Britain always captured my imagination. Hero is a much over-used term, but these guys saved the day, against great odds. The word “hero” is appropriate.

 

[Peacoat]

The Battle of Britain always captured my imagination. Hero is a much over-used term, but these guys saved the day, against great odds. The word “hero” is appropriate.

It captured my imagination as well.

Yes, the word "hero" is much overused. So much so that the definition has been expanded:

"A person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities."

In the past it meant bravery under fire, or, as in the above definition, "A person who is admired . . . for courage . . . . "

That is the definition I grew up with and was surprised a few months ago when I looked it up and saw how diluted the word hero had become.

 

[Tiki Tom]

What impresses me to no end is that these young RAF pilots went up day after day for a couple of months knowing that they were outnumbered, and knowing that each takeoff could be their last. The pit in their stomach and the anxiety attacks (aka fear) Must have been almost crippling. almost, but not quite. Somehow they kept their nerve and selflessly did what had to be done. I hate to wonder how any of us, today, would hold up in similar circumstances.

R.I.P.

 

[Peacoat]

What impresses me to no end is that these young RAF pilots went up day after day for a couple of months knowing that they were outnumbered, and knowing that each takeoff could be their last. The pit in their stomach and the anxiety attacks (aka fear) Must have been almost crippling. almost, but not quite. Somehow they kept their nerve and selflessly did what had to be done. I hate to wonder how any of us, today, would hold up in similar circumstances.

R.I.P.

I think if our country were faced with annihilation, the way Great Britain was, there would be plenty who would step to the plate. Those were extraordinary times.