AS the Irish nation and compatriots around the world celebrated St Patrick's Day yesterday (Monday, 17 March), the death was announced of one of its great heroes – John "Paddy" Hemingway, who died at the age of 105.

Mr Hemingway was the last known surviving Battle of Britain pilot and he had a remarkable connection with South Essex, surviving after baling out when his Hurricane fighter plane crashed into Fobbing Marshes, on August 26, 1940; one of four times during the Second World War when he was shot down.

Group Captain Hemingway - who was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1941, just months after the crash – was able to watch a live television feed in 2019 when parts of his plane, P3966 of 85 Squadron, were recovered from the marshes by the Essex Historical Aircraft Society led by local hostorian Roger Pickett.

Paddy, then 99, watched the recovery on TV from his home in Ireland, when it was reported that the gun-button on the control column was still set to 'Fire'.

He recalled the crash and baling out, which came after he engaged a formation of 15 Dorniers and 30 Messerschmitt Bf 109s looming on the Kent Coast, saying: "I landed in the Marshes and the local Home Guard quickly got me back to the squadron.

"I was OK, but soon paid for it – for four days my sinuses just about killed me. By then we'd lost so many pilots we were withdrawn north."

As well as the control column, the tailwheel, the machine's data plate and the engine block the undercarriage legs and two Browning machine guns were unearthed together with smaller items, but the main body of the Hurricane was buried too deeply to be removed.

The machine's data plate.

Paddy, then a Pilot Officer, had fought in the early stages of the war during the battle of France and helped cover the retreating Allied forces. Thrown into action supporting the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) as it faced defeat, John was in the thick of the action and eventually was shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

He John recalled: "I heard the shells going by and felt one or two clobber the aeroplane, but I was too 'green' to realise it was serious and continued attacking. Suddenly there was a hell of bang and the needles in the cockpit went all over the place as it filled with smoke.

"I was furious that the Germans should do this to me – I was going to fly down the barrel of the gun and blow the whole lot to blazes. Then I thought that would apply to me too. So I turned west, and crash-landed in a field before getting away as quickly as possible."

On the ground he managed to evade German forces, linked up with troops on the ground and returned to his squadron, where he was quickly back in action.

After that came the Battle of Britain and August 18 – dubbed 'The Hardest Day' – John was shot down in Hurricane V7249 following a skirmish with a Junkers Ju 88 near the Thames estuary.

He explained: "We vectored south from Debden and then out over the North Sea – climbing all the time. While the squadron got you into the battle, you fought alone during it. As we closed, I broke away to continue climbing towards the circling bombers… I thought they presented the ideal target. If I circled inside them, but in the opposite direction, my attacks would be well forward of them.

"The bombers, by firing at me, would risk hitting each other. Alas, they must have gained height as I was still climbing when I reached them. I tried to get a good aim inside, but they were approaching too fast – instead, I decided to choose one that would cross my sights. Almost stalling, I saw two aircraft firing at me. Hitting me, it knocked the Hurricane over and I entered an inverted spin."

With the cockpit covered in oil, John released the canopy and managed to regain control at about 9,000ft: "Thankfully, the hood opened. We were often warned to enter a fight with it open because they had been known to jam.

"As I set course for home, the engine stopped. I had no wish to bale out… but I remembered that Hurricanes often tipped up and sank when ditching. I tried to climb out on to the wing while holding the stick and hoped to crash like that, but it was so slippery that I was blown off. In retrospect, had I landed that way I'm sure I'd have died… I'd have been thrown forward into the sea at 70mph. Thankfully, my parachute opened. I landed in the sea, before getting rid of the 'chute and as much clothing as possible… I was frightened I'd be dragged under."

He swam for the shore before being rescued by the crew of a lightship who had witnessed the incident."

Surviving his third crash into the Marshes, just eight days later, and after the triumph of the Few in the battle of Britain, Paddy became a flight controller and directed aircraft during the Normandy landings in June 1944. However, he soon became restless and wanted to fly in combat again.

Hurricane WWII pilot Paddy Hemingway. Picture BFBS

With the Allies turning the tide of the war, Paddy – then a squadron leader – joined 43 Squadron's B Flight at Ravenna in northern Italy during February 1945, flying Spitfires,

On April 23, he was shot down for the fourth time.

He said: "I was attacking what I thought was ordinary Germans on the ground when suddenly this ack-ack opened up and hit me – knocking out my engine" recalled John: "I wanted to bail out as I was at about 3,000ft, but they must have hit the aeroplane again as I suddenly shot out of it. Tumbling over and over; my parachute harness stripped the skin off my legs and crotch."

With the help of local farmers and the Italian Resistance he once again returned to the fight.

With the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945 and Japan four months later, John was promoted to wing commander on December 6 that year. Leaving 43 Squadron, then based at Klagenfurt in Austria, he went on to command 244 Wing.

He later served with the RAF in the Middle East, the Air Ministry in London and as a senior staff officer at NATO Headquarters in France, before becoming station commander at RAF Leconfield, East Yorkshire in 1966.

An older picture of John Hemingway in his younger days. He is looking up at the sky and has a buoyancy aid around his neck.

He retired from the RAF in September 1969 with the rank of group captain. Paddy had three children – Brian, Michael and Susan and, following the death of his wife Bridget in 1998, he moved to Canada to live with his daughter.

He returned to Ireland in 2011.

Looking back John explained: "I was just one of 3,000 pilots and 200,000 RAF personnel who won the Battle of Britain and I feel privileged to have met so many amazing young men and pilots – many of whom perished. The battle should not be about me, but all who served."

Having survived everything a determined enemy could throw at him, he jovially put the reason for his long and lucky life down to his heritage, as he summed up: "I can't say don't drink, or don't fool about with people or don't fly and get shot at – I've done everything... and I'm an Irishman. The only advice I can give to people is to be Irish!"

In a statement, the RAF said that Mr Hemingway had "passed away peacefully" on Monday.

John 'Paddy' Hemingway sits in a wheelchair on an airstrip close to an RAF jet. He is smiling at the camera as he wears a full uniform

Yesterday Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Mr Hemingway, saying his courage and those of all RAF pilots had "helped end WWII and secure our freedom".

The Prince of Wales also paid tribute, saying that "We owe so much to Paddy and his generation for our freedoms today".

Prince William added that "their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered".

Speaking to BBC News NI in 2023, Gp Capt Hemingway said he had never looked for fame for being part of "The Few".

"I don't think we ever assumed greatness of any form," he said. "We were just fighting a war which we were trained to fight."

Mr Hemingway said that his biggest regret was the loss of friends

The RAF said that Mr Hemingway's passing marked "the end of an era and a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom during World War II".

John Paddy Hemingway served in the RAF until 1969.

"His courage in the face of overwhelming odds demonstrated his sense of duty and the importance of British resilience."

Mr Hemingway "always had a twinkle in his eyes as he recalled the fun times with colleagues in France and London", the statement said.

"This quiet, composed, thoughtful and mischievous individual may not have wanted to be the last of 'The Few', but he embodied the spirit of all those who flew sorties over this green and pleasant land," it added.

Chief of RAF Air Staff Sir Rich Knighton said he had spent time with Mr Hemingway in Dublin earlier this year.

"Paddy was an amazing character whose life story embodies all that was and remains great about the Royal Air Force."

The full story of Group Captain Hemmingway's wartime heroics can be read here: https://www.key.aero/article/battle-britain-80-luck-irish