Born in Dublin in 1919, Mr Hemingway enlisted in the RAF in 1938 and soon became one of the young pilots who fought in the Battle of France. Two years later, he was among the men known as “The Few”, coined by Winston Churchill to describe Britain’s Battle of Britain pilots.

Also paying tribute was Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who said he was saddened to hear of Mr Hemingway’s death, adding: “Eighty years ago, the courage and determination of Paddy and all our brave RAF pilots helped bring an end to the Second World War. They fearlessly flew over enemy territory to protect the UK and its Allies, risking their lives.

“He never considered himself a hero and often referred to himself as the ‘Lucky Irishman’, a man simply doing his job, like so many others of his generation. Despite his sacrifice, he would tell stories of the joyous memories he made and moments he shared with his peers, many of whom never returned home. Their sense of duty and service secured our freedom, and we shall never forget them.”

In an interview with the Mirror in 2019, when he turned 100, Mr Hemingway said he disliked being called a Second World War hero. Instead, he says it’s the luck of the Irish that saw him through the war. Hewas shot down four times, but lived to tell the remarkable tale – from being plucked out of the North Sea by a rowing boat to strolling past Nazi troops disguised as an Italian farmer.

He said at the time: “I regard myself as an exceptionally lucky man. I have recently celebrated my 100th birthday, my health is good and I survived being shot down four times – twice in two weeks during the Battle of Britain – with just minor injuries. I lived through extraordinary times but I don’t see myself as exceptional in any way. I’m alive because of luck.”

In 1940, Mr Hemingway was recorded as destroying a German airliner and the following day he downed a German Luftwaffe plane, but his Hurricane fighter was hit by anti-aircraft fire and he had to make a forced landing. He then became one of the frontline members of 11 Group’s response to daily attacks by German aircraft, which went on to be known as the Battle of Britain.

His logbook records up to five daily sorties he and the other pilots undertook in defence of the UK. In August 1940, amid intense dogfights, he was forced to bail out of his Hurricanes twice, landing once in the sea off the Essex coast and the other time in marshland.

On July 1 1941, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and in September that year, he was mentioned in despatches by senior officers. Mr Hemingway went on to serve as an air fighter controller during D-Day operations, and in 1945 he joined the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces with 324 Wing.

He was stationed in Italy towards the end of the war and commanded 43 Squadron. During this period, he was forced to bail out for a fourth time. While attacking enemy forces near Ravenna in April 1945, his Spitfire was hit multiple times by anti-aircraft fire.

He parachuted into enemy territory and managed to contact local partisans who helped him return to his squadron. In 1966, he became Officer Commanding RAF Leconfield and eventually attained the rank of Group Captain.