Wing Cdr PaulFARNESWing Commander Farnes, the last surviving Battle of Britain pilot from World War II has died, aged 101, at his home in Hampshire on Tuesday 28th January.
The World War II hero was among 3,000 airmen who defended the skies above southern England for three-and-a-half months in 1940. The group are remembered as The Few, after a speech by prime minister Winston Churchill, who said of their sacrifices: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Air Chief Marshall Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff, said: “Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM was an extraordinary man and one of a band of exceptionally brave aviators to whom we owe our freedom today.
“On behalf of the RAF, I offer Paul’s family and beloved friends our sincere condolences - lest we forget.”
It was said that he had “proudly” represented his RAF colleagues at the service of commemoration for the Battle of Britain just a week before his 101st birthday in July, and Wing Commander Farnes was “very proud” of his Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) which he received for his exploits in the Battle of Britain.
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