John Hemingway (RAF officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Group Captain
John Hemingway
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Hemingway on his 105th birthday
|
|
| Birth name | John Allman Hemingway |
| Born | 17 July 1919 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 17 March 2025 (aged 105) Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Service years | 1938–1969 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Service number | 40702 |
| Unit | No. 85 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held | RAF Leconfield No. 43 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Air Efficiency Award |
Group Captain John Allman Hemingway, known as Paddy Hemingway, was a very brave Irish fighter pilot. He flew for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He took part in famous battles like the Battle of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain. He also fought in the Allied invasion of Italy and the Invasion of Normandy. Paddy Hemingway was the very last surviving pilot from the Battle of Britain. He was awarded the DFC and the AE for his courage.
Contents
Early Life and School
John Hemingway was born in Dublin, Ireland, on July 17, 1919. His family belonged to the Church of Ireland. He went to school at St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir School. Later, he studied at St Andrew's College in Dublin.
Joining the Royal Air Force
Paddy Hemingway joined the Royal Air Force in 1938. He started his flight training in England in January 1939. By March 1939, he became a pilot officer. This meant he was officially a pilot in the RAF.
In early 1940, World War II had begun. Hemingway was flying Hurricane planes with No. 85 Squadron RAF in France. On May 10, he shot down a German Heinkel He 111 plane. The next day, he destroyed another German plane, a Dornier Do 17. His own plane was damaged, and he had to land near Maastricht.
The British Army helped him get back to England. During the Battle of Dunkirk, he flew missions to protect soldiers. These missions were flown over the English Channel.
Fighting in the Battle of Britain
After Dunkirk, Hemingway returned to No. 85 Squadron. He then fought in the Battle of Britain. This important battle took place from July to October 1940. On August 18, his Hurricane plane was hit over the Thames Estuary. He had to bail out, meaning he parachuted from his plane.
Just eight days later, on August 26, he was shot down again near Eastchurch. He was the first pilot from his squadron to be shot down over Britain. Five days later, he damaged a German Messerschmitt Bf 109. On September 3, 1940, he was promoted to flying officer.
Surviving a Parachute Jump
In 1941, his squadron started flying Havoc II night-fighter planes. On May 13, 1941, Hemingway was flying one of these planes in bad weather. His instruments stopped working. He had to bail out of the plane at a low height.
As he jumped, his right hand hit the plane's tail, breaking two fingers. He managed to pull his parachute cord with his other hand. Luckily, his fall was slowed by a tree. He landed in a soft, muddy area and survived. He had injured ankles but was alive! For his bravery, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Later War Service
After his injuries, Hemingway had lighter duties for a few months. In 1944, he became a temporary squadron leader. He worked as an air traffic controller during the Invasion of Normandy. This meant he helped guide planes safely.
From April to December 1945, he led No. 43 Squadron RAF. He flew Spitfire planes in Italy. During this time, he was shot down for a fourth time. He was incredibly lucky to survive so many incidents.
After the War
When World War II ended, Hemingway was sent to the Middle East. He continued to be promoted in the RAF. In 1946, he became a flight lieutenant. In 1948, he was promoted to squadron leader. By 1954, he became a wing commander.
Later in his career, he was in charge of RAF Leconfield air base. He also worked for NATO in France. NATO is a group of countries that work together for defense. Finally, he worked at the Air Ministry, which was a government department for the air force. He was promoted to group captain in 1969 and retired later that year.
Family and Later Years
Paddy Hemingway married Bridget, and they had three children. Bridget passed away in 1998. He lived in Canada for some years, but he returned to Ireland in 2011.
By July 2018, he was one of only nine surviving members of "The Few." This was a special group of pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain. In 2019, he turned 100 years old and was living in a nursing home near Dublin. When another pilot, William Clark, passed away in May 2020, Hemingway became the very last surviving airman of the Battle of Britain.
In 2024, on his 105th birthday, Hemingway helped show five portraits by artist Dan Llywelyn Hall. These paintings were called The Last of the Few. Also in 2024, he met the daughter of a young girl who he believed saved him during the war. He had been shot down in Italy in 1945. The girl had hidden him from German soldiers, saving his life.
Paddy Hemingway passed away on March 17, 2025, at the amazing age of 105. The Royal Air Force said his death was "the end of an era." Important people like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Prince of Wales honored his memory.
See also
- Reinhard Hardegen, last surviving German U-boat commander, also died at 105
