RAF chiefs have paid tribute to the last of The Few — by painting his name on a fighter plane that starred in movies.
Group Captain John “Paddy” Hemingway died last month aged 105.
PAGroup Captain John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway died last month aged 105[/caption]
Arthur Edwards / The SunPaddy, left, with fellow pilots at their base[/caption]
The decorated hero was the last surviving Battle of Britain pilot.
He was shot down four times during World War Two, and flew Hurricanes during the battle for Britain’s skies in the summer of 1940.
Today the Royal Air Force will unveil one that took part with Dublin-born Paddy’s name painted on the fuselage.
The Hawker Hurricane LF363 is believed to be the last such plane to enter service during the war.
Afterwards, the plane survived the scrapyard and was used in classic movies including Angels One Five in 1952, 1956’s Reach for the Sky and the Battle of Britain in 1969.
It is now part of the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and is expected to be used in fly-pasts next month to mark the 80th anniversary of VE-Day.
An RAF spokesman said: “Paddy Hemingway’s courage in the face of overwhelming odds demonstrated his sense of duty and the importance of British resilience.”
His son Brian, 72, said: “Dad would be so proud to be honoured in this way.”
Paddy died on St Patrick’s Day in the Dublin care home where he had lived for eight years.
The dad of three maintained he survived the war as he “had the luck of the Irish”.
In one of his final interviews, he said: “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.”
The SunThe hero pilot, second from right, scrambles to take on an incoming threat[/caption]
Arthur Edwards / The SunOne of Paddy’s downed planes was dug out of the ground and is being restored[/caption]
Arthur Edwards / The SunPaddy, second from right, relaxes between missions with fellow fighters[/caption]
Arthur Edwards / The SunPaddy’s proud son Brian at the restoration site of his dad’s jet[/caption]
PAGroup Captain ‘Paddy’ celebrating his 105th birthday, with son Brian and daughter Susan[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
