Battle of Britain pilot Archie McInnes dies after 100th birthday

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by dbf, Aug 2, 2019.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

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    Last year Flt Lt McInnes was taken for a flight in a two-seater Spitfire over Kent


    A Battle of Britain veteran has died hours after celebrating his 100th birthday, taking the number of surviving members of "The Few" to five, his biographer said.

    Archie McInnes, who retired to Cambridge, flew Hurricanes during the battle in the skies over southern England.

    He completed his pilot training aged 21 and was commissioned the next day.

    He celebrated his 100th birthday on Wednesday. He then died that night.

    ...

    The veteran pilot flew Hurricanes with 601 Squadron in Exeter, later moving to 238 Squadron at Chilbolton, Hampshire, on 8 October 1940.

    After the Battle of Britain ended on 31 October 1940 he was on board HMS Victorious as part of the team hunting for German battleship the Bismarck.

    From April 1941, Flt Lt McInnes was part of the North African campaign where he flew various missions including providing cover for bombers.

    He was shot down by a Messerschmitt fighter plane on October 30 1941 and lost his left arm.

    He was released from the RAF in 1946 as a flight lieutenant and eventually retired to village life just outside Cambridge.
     
    SteveDee and CL1 like this.
  2. DunkirkDude

    DunkirkDude Member

    Oh no :( That is sad news. On the other hand its good to know he got to enjoy his 100th birthday.

    It is incredible he has lived almost 80 years after losing his arm. A true warrior.
     
  3. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    RIP Archie.
     
  4. Lindele

    Lindele formerly HA96

    RIP Archie.
    Stefan.
     

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