The last surviving fighter pilot ace who fought against the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain has died aged 101.

Wing Commander Paul Farnes was one of the 3,000 airmen who defended the skies above southern England for three and a half months in 1940.

They were dubbed "The Few" after the speech by then prime minister Winston Churchill who said: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

Image: W/Cdr Paul Farnes meeting Prince Charles in 2017

W/Cdr Farnes died at home in Hampshire on Tuesday morning, the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust said.

The trust said he was the last member of The Few who was fit enough to be able to attend the aerial conflict's memorial day last year.


In a tribute, the trust said: "A tall, distinguished man with striking silver grey hair that he retained throughout his life, Paul Farnes was known for plain speaking but was generous with his time in support of trust activities."

The trust said he was "very proud" of his Distinguished Flying Medal, which he got for his service in the Battle of Britain.

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He destroyed six enemy aircraft, left one probably destroyed and damaged another six.

His battle victories made him an ace, a term for any fighter pilot who is credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft.

There are now thought to be two surviving members of The Few - Flight Lieutenant William Clark and Flying Officer John Hemingway, both aged 100.

Image: W/Cdr Paul Farnes meeting the Queen in Folkestone

In 2015, he described the "moving" moment he and his colleagues were spontaneously applauded during a service at Westminster Abbey which marked the 75th anniversary of the battle.

He said: "It was very emotional today because, when we walked out of the Abbey, the audience applauded and it's never happened before at the annual service and I was very moved by it.

"It is amazing that the Battle of Britain has caught on with the public and I am very proud to have been a part of it.

"I didn't at the time, but latterly and gradually I came to realise the importance of the Battle of Britain."

Nearly 550 RAF pilots and air crew died in the Battle of Britain.

Image: Battle of Britain veterans (left to right) Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson, pilot Geoffrey Wellum, Squadron Leader Tony Pickering, Wing Commander Paul Farnes and Spitfire fitter Sergeant Stan Hartill

Mr Farnes, who flew a Hurricane during the war, joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1938 and then joined RAF No 501 Squadron. He also fought in the Battle of France in 1940.

After the Battle of Britain, he was commissioned as an officer and served as an instructor. He fought in Malta, with No 229 Squadron as well as serving in North Africa and Iraq.

At the end of the Second World War, he was in charge of two squadrons in the UK. He stayed in the RAF until 1958, retiring as Squadron Leader and retaining the rank of Wing Commander.

He is survived by a daughter, Linda, and a son, Jonathan. Another son, Nicholas, died in 1954.