RIP Group Captain John 'Paddy' Hemingway

[Dodder]

End of an era - the last of the few. RIP Group Captain John 'Paddy' Hemingway - he flew in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain plus other campaigns and destroyed or probably destroyed 7 huns and was himself shot down several times. A real hero - thank-you for your service sir.

John Hemingway: Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot dies aged 105

Mr Hemingway, who is originally from Dublin, joined the RAF as a teenager before World War Two.

www.bbc.com

 

[enfieldspares]

He was a good old age. 105. My late mother died in April 2014 aged 94. She was married aged 21 and a War Widow in 1944 aged 24 her, then, husband, Bert Spriggs, being killed in March 1944 aged 30. She always used to say "I think I've lived so long because I've been given Bert's years he never had to live for him." I wonder if John Hemingway ever wondered the same. That he'd been given the years to live for them that his friends never had?

 

[Pedro]

I suspect he lived a life without excess which stood him in good stead and after a few close calls in the war didn't worry too much about his own mortality, which also probably helped. Or maybe he was just lucky and stuff just kept on working. But what do I know?

RIP.

 

[Foxyboy43]

The BBC article is well worth the few moments it takes to read it - an utterly remarkable man who served his country well and to do survived many near-death experiences.
RIP sir.

 

[lochty]

Always a poignant moment when something goes from being a living memory to history.

 

[Swedish]

The BBC article is well worth the few moments it takes to read it - an utterly remarkable man who served his country well and to do survived many near-death experiences.
RIP sir.

Proper 'daring-do' stuff!

 

[bullet chucker]

Thanks for posting.

BC.

 

[LuckyEddie]

RIP sir.
May God grant you the love and peace in the after life that you so valiantly fought for in this.

 

[jammygunner]

A real hero and genuine character, lived grand to a grand old age. RIP.