Last Battle of Britain Pilot dies at 105

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

Y They're still digging bits of their aircraft out of the ground down home

I'm amazed you weren't on hand (knowing how you 'fob' around Kent) in 2019 when they dug his second shootdown Hurricane aircraft #P3966 out of the Pitsea Marsh:

On 26 August he was shot down in combat off the coast of Kent and landed in Pitsea Marshes at Fobbing Creek.
The wreckage of his Hurricane was recovered in 2019 with the control column and the gun-button frozen in time, still set to "fire".

https://www.key.aero/article/exclusi...will-fly-again

“Pilot Officer Hemingway took part in the general engagement with the Dorniers, and was then climbing to engage some Me 109s when he was hit behind the cockpit and in the engine by cannon shell. As the engine became red hot and it was impossible to remain in a/c, P/O Hemingway bailed out, and landed safely in Pitsea Marshes. He did not see where the Hurricane crashed.”
Paddy’s own report stated, “We turned to attack and three Do 215s were separated from the main formation. After several attacks on these three Dorniers P/O Hemingway (Blue 2), broke away and climbed up to engage Me 109s. While climbing P/O Hemingway was hit behind the cockpit and in the engine on the starboard side. The engine became red hot and thinking that the aircraft was on fire P/O Hemingway bailed out, delaying his chute deployment until he was in clouds. He landed in Pitsea Marshes at 15.30 and went to Pitsea Police Station, reporting to Intelligence Officers at Croydon and Hornchurch. He reported back to unit at 10.30 the same night.”

It had been reported that some Luftwaffe pilots had been shooting down pilots under parachutes, which is why Paddy decided to delay pulling his parachute release cord until he was under the cover of the clouds. The lengthy descent from nearly 8,000ft caused him issues with his sinuses for several days, but at least he had survived, and he returned to flying just two days later. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1941 and continued to fly before eventually retiring from the RAF in September 1969 as a group captain.

[Jimbuna]

BLUE SKIES

[vienna]

The last of the few...

A great man has probably given John Hemmingway and his compatriots in arms the best eulogy they could ever receive...

The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

It is one of the wonders of mankind that the survival of nations very often depends on a very small fraction of their populace making the sacrifice of their lives and well being in the protection of the greater populace; it is also one of the failings of mankind to seem to quickly 'forget' that small fraction of their populace once hostilities end; the debt owed by the many to the so few really will never be paid...

RIP, Group Captain John Hemmingway, may you be given the wings you so richly deserve...

...and thank you, sincerely, for your service...



<O>

[Eichhörnchen]

^ Very well put, vienna - very moving. Likewise to CW - reminds me that we still have true friends 'over there'

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by vienna

The last of the few...

A great man has probably given John Hemmingway and his compatriots in arms the best eulogy they could ever receive...



It is one of the wonders of mankind that the survival of nations very often depends on a very small fraction of their populace making the sacrifice of their lives and well being in the protection of the greater populace; it is also one of the failings of mankind to seem to quickly 'forget' that small fraction of their populace once hostilities end; the debt owed by the many to the so few really will never be paid...

RIP, Group Captain John Hemmingway, may you be given the wings you so richly deserve...

...and thank you, sincerely, for your service...



<O>

More appreciated than you might realise