John Hemingway, the last surviving fighter pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain, is now 104 years old. Hemingway joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a teenager before the Second World War. He was just 21 when he flew as a fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain for three months, defending the skies against a large-scale assault by the German air force, the Luftwaffe.
Hemingway was shot down four times during the war and is credited with his Irish luck for coming out alive. Despite being recognized as one of the “few” by Sir Winston Churchill, Hemingway remains modest as he reflects on his role as a professional fighter pilot. He claimed that his squadron never thought they were great but rather were fighting a war that they were trained to tackle.
He also recalled the extreme measures they took to stay alive when in aerial combat with the enemy. They had to ensure that their opponent was the one to die, or the risk was theirs. Hemingway ended up being rescued twice, once from the North Sea and the other from enemy lines in Italy. He thinks of all those who came to his aid during the war with “huge gratitude.”
Despite his brave contribution to the war, Hemingway never looked for accolades or fame. He insists that he was just a regular man who was doing his job well. Hemingway’s recollections of the war highlight the professionalism of a group of people who put their nation first and showed immense bravery
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