John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, the last pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain, has died aged 105, severing the last living link to the most pivotal battle in our nation’s history.
The Irishman, who was shot down four times during the Second World War, flew the famous Hawker Hurricane during the fierce conflict between Britain’s RAF and Germany’s Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940.
The Nazi war machine, fresh from resounding victories over France, Belgium and the Netherlands, knew it had to knock out Britain’s air force before it could launch a cross-channel invasion and annex Britain.
Vastly outnumbered, it fell to 3,000 men- who had an average age of just 20- to defend Britain’s skies from the German Air Force’s onslaught. Paddy was one of them.
Throughout the summer of 1940, these young men engaged wave after wave of German bombers, shooting down the enemy at a rate of three to one.
But it wasn’t just bombers the young lads had to deal with. German fighters like the fearsome Messerschmitt often hovered above their bomber formations, swooping out of the sun on the intercepting British aircraft.
Terrifying dogfights ensued as Spitfires and Hurricanes twisted, dived and rolled across the Kentish sky, fighting to lock on to the Messerschmitt's tails and shoot them down instead.
Slowly, the skill, determination and resilience of men like Paddy began to take its toll on the German Luftwaffe.
Aircraft losses mounted, German morale plummeted, and Hitler was forced to postpone his invasion indefinitely.
Britain was saved.
As Churchill said: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Here are five other heroes from the Battle of Britain.
Douglas Bader
Almost certainly the most famous British pilot who flew in the Battle of Britain was Douglas Bader.
Having lost a leg in pre-war flying accident, Bader relearnt to walk on a wooden leg and rejoined the RAF when war broke out.
A brilliant pilot, he was credited with multiple victories during the Battle, downing fighters and bombers alike and rapidly became an ‘ace’ (five confirmed kills).
However, in 1941 during an engagement over France, Bader’s aircraft was hit and he was forced to bail out, losing his artificial leg in the process.
Imprisoned by the Germans, the one-legged Bader mounted three escape attempts, the latter of which was successful but only for 24 hours.
Enraged, the Germans sent him to Colditz, the famous imposing prison where the most troublesome prisoners were held. He was released in 1945 at the end of war.
Eric Lock
Britain’s most successful pilot of the Battle of Britain was Eric Lock.
Born in Shrewsbury, Lock was just 21 when the Battle broke out, but he exploited his youthful fearlessness to the maximum.
Through the summer, Lock shot down a remarkable 21 German aircraft, more than any other pilot.
He had particular skill for downing German fighters, namely the Messerschmitt, of which he claimed 18, making him an ‘ace’ three times over in just fighter kills alone.
In one engagement, Lock’s spitfire was hit by German canon fire, riddling his body with bullets and rendering his aircraft uncontrollable.
He crash-landed in a field, fell unconscious from blood loss before being carried to hospital where he underwent the first of 15 operations to remove shrapnel in his body.
He returned the RAF after several months recovery and scored three more victories.
In August 1941, he signalled to his wing leader he had spotted German troops and was going to engage them. He was never seen again.
Despite thorough searches, his body and aircraft were never found again. He was 22.
Antoni Głowacki
No list of Battle of Britain heroes would be complete with a Pole.
Having seen Poland be brutally occupied by Hitler, many Polish airmen escaped to Britain and were desperate to take the fight to Germany.
Despite entering the Battle of Britain two months late, it was one of the Polish Squadrons (303) that shot down more German aircraft than any other.
Like Paddy Hemingway, Glowaki flew Hurricanes during the Battle.
In August, he became one of only four pilots to shoot down five aircraft in a day (three fighters and two bombers), making him an ‘ace in day’.
Glowaki survived the war, emigrated to New Zealand and died in 1980, aged 70.
John Kent
Another remarkably brave pilot to fight in the Battle of Britain was Canadian John Kent.
Kent is credited with one of the most conspicuous acts of valour during the conflict when, in October 1940, he attacked 40 German fighters alone.
His citation for his ensuing Distinguished Flying Cross medal read:
“Early in October, 1940, this officer, when entirely alone, attacked 40 Messerschmitt 109's, and shot down two of them.
“He has personally destroyed at least four enemy aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Kent has been responsible in a large measure for the fighting efficiency of his squadron and has materially contributed to its successes.
“He has proved himself a born leader.”
Kent survived the war with 15 victories to his name. He died in Surrey in 1985 aged 71.
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The Irishman, who was shot down four times during the Second World War, flew the famous Hawker Hurricane during the fierce conflict between Britain’s RAF and Germany’s Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940.
The Nazi war machine, fresh from resounding victories over France, Belgium and the Netherlands, knew it had to knock out Britain’s air force before it could launch a cross-channel invasion and annex Britain.
Vastly outnumbered, it fell to 3,000 men- who had an average age of just 20- to defend Britain’s skies from the German Air Force’s onslaught. Paddy was one of them.
Throughout the summer of 1940, these young men engaged wave after wave of German bombers, shooting down the enemy at a rate of three to one.
But it wasn’t just bombers the young lads had to deal with. German fighters like the fearsome Messerschmitt often hovered above their bomber formations, swooping out of the sun on the intercepting British aircraft.
Terrifying dogfights ensued as Spitfires and Hurricanes twisted, dived and rolled across the Kentish sky, fighting to lock on to the Messerschmitt's tails and shoot them down instead.
Slowly, the skill, determination and resilience of men like Paddy began to take its toll on the German Luftwaffe.
Aircraft losses mounted, German morale plummeted, and Hitler was forced to postpone his invasion indefinitely.
Britain was saved.
As Churchill said: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Here are five other heroes from the Battle of Britain.
Douglas Bader
Almost certainly the most famous British pilot who flew in the Battle of Britain was Douglas Bader.
Having lost a leg in pre-war flying accident, Bader relearnt to walk on a wooden leg and rejoined the RAF when war broke out.
A brilliant pilot, he was credited with multiple victories during the Battle, downing fighters and bombers alike and rapidly became an ‘ace’ (five confirmed kills).
However, in 1941 during an engagement over France, Bader’s aircraft was hit and he was forced to bail out, losing his artificial leg in the process.
Imprisoned by the Germans, the one-legged Bader mounted three escape attempts, the latter of which was successful but only for 24 hours.
Enraged, the Germans sent him to Colditz, the famous imposing prison where the most troublesome prisoners were held. He was released in 1945 at the end of war.
Eric Lock
Britain’s most successful pilot of the Battle of Britain was Eric Lock.
Born in Shrewsbury, Lock was just 21 when the Battle broke out, but he exploited his youthful fearlessness to the maximum.
Through the summer, Lock shot down a remarkable 21 German aircraft, more than any other pilot.
He had particular skill for downing German fighters, namely the Messerschmitt, of which he claimed 18, making him an ‘ace’ three times over in just fighter kills alone.
In one engagement, Lock’s spitfire was hit by German canon fire, riddling his body with bullets and rendering his aircraft uncontrollable.
He crash-landed in a field, fell unconscious from blood loss before being carried to hospital where he underwent the first of 15 operations to remove shrapnel in his body.
He returned the RAF after several months recovery and scored three more victories.
In August 1941, he signalled to his wing leader he had spotted German troops and was going to engage them. He was never seen again.
Despite thorough searches, his body and aircraft were never found again. He was 22.
Antoni Głowacki
No list of Battle of Britain heroes would be complete with a Pole.
Having seen Poland be brutally occupied by Hitler, many Polish airmen escaped to Britain and were desperate to take the fight to Germany.
Despite entering the Battle of Britain two months late, it was one of the Polish Squadrons (303) that shot down more German aircraft than any other.
Like Paddy Hemingway, Glowaki flew Hurricanes during the Battle.
In August, he became one of only four pilots to shoot down five aircraft in a day (three fighters and two bombers), making him an ‘ace in day’.
Glowaki survived the war, emigrated to New Zealand and died in 1980, aged 70.
John Kent
Another remarkably brave pilot to fight in the Battle of Britain was Canadian John Kent.
Kent is credited with one of the most conspicuous acts of valour during the conflict when, in October 1940, he attacked 40 German fighters alone.
His citation for his ensuing Distinguished Flying Cross medal read:
“Early in October, 1940, this officer, when entirely alone, attacked 40 Messerschmitt 109's, and shot down two of them.
“He has personally destroyed at least four enemy aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Kent has been responsible in a large measure for the fighting efficiency of his squadron and has materially contributed to its successes.
“He has proved himself a born leader.”
Kent survived the war with 15 victories to his name. He died in Surrey in 1985 aged 71.
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