Last of The Few’s tribute to Battle of Britain heroes ... 80 years on
Remember them, Battle of Britain pilot begs nation
THE last living member of The Few yesterday praised the “true professionals” of the RAF who helped to beat off the German Luftwaffe and win the Battle of Britain in 1940.
Group Captain John Hemingway is now 101 and cheerfully calls himself “a lucky Irishman” after surviving several horrific Second World War dogfights.
As the country prepared to mark today’s 80th anniversary of the momentuous battle, he paid an emotional tribute to all the Royal Air Force crew members who gave their lives to achieve the victory.
And he called on the whole nation to remember and honour them all.
The widower said: “I am privileged to have met so many amazing young men and pilots throughout my life. There is no doubt in my mind that we should applaud all those who fought during those difficult months – and not just the pilots.
“The RAF was the most sophisticated air force in the world at that time.
“But we would not have prevailed unless everyone had been true professionals and played their part.”
The RAF’s heroes fought the Battle of Britain against overwhelming odds between July 10 and October 31, 1940.
Of the 3,000 air crew involved in it, 544 were killed.
Sir Winston Churchill, the then Prime Minister, said as the battle raged: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Dublin-born John was given an RAF short service commission on March 7, 1939, and was quickly posted to 85 Squadron in Debden, Essex.
He flew Hurricanes throughout the Battle of Britain.
In April 1941 he was mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in July that year.
He then served at an offensive- action radar station in 1942 but returned to operational duties in 1945 and took command of a Spitfire squadron amid fierce fighting in Italy.
During the war he shot down or severely damaged seven enemy aircraft and was himself shot down four times.
After the conflict ended he stayed in the RAF and retired in 1969 with the rank of Group Captain.
The father- of- three, whose wife Bridget passed away in 1998, lives at Wicklow in Ireland.
After celebrating his 100th birthday last year he was asked for his advice on life.
He replied: “I can’t say don’t drink. I can’t say don’t fool about with people. I can’t say don’t fly aeroplanes. I can’t say don’t shoot and get shot at.
“I’ve done everything. I’m an Irishman. The only advice I can give to people is to be Irish.”
We should applaud all those who fought – and not just the pilots
JOHN HEMINGWAY LAST SURVIVOR OF THE BATTLE