One of the last surviving Battle of Britain veterans, whose courage and bravery under fire helped save Britain from Nazi tyranny, has died aged 101.
Tributes have poured in for Flight Lieutenant Ronald Mackay, who flew Spitfires with No 234 Squadron and helped protect Britain’s skies from German bombers during the Second World War.
Flt Lt Mackay, who was once seriously injured baling out of his aircraft following a sortie, was one of the final nine remaining members of ‘The Few’, after the deaths of two fellow survivors in July.

Tributes have poured in for Flight Lieutenant Ronald Mackay, who flew Spitfires with No 234 Squadron and helped protect Britain’s skies from German bombers during the Second World War
There are now only eight remaining Battle of Britain veterans following the death of Flt Lt Mackay, Wing Commander Tom Neil and Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum – both of whom died in July.
The group of men were dubbed The Few following Winston Churchill’s wartime address to Parliament, where he poignantly said of the brave RAF pilots: ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’
David Brocklehurst MBE, chairman of the Kent Battle of Britain Museum, said: ‘Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
‘Our flag will be flown at half mast for the next seven days as a mark of respect.
‘Sadly nature is taking its course and we have lost three of The Few in the past month.
‘Now there are only eight surviving Battle of Britain veterans, the oldest is 105 and the youngest 98.

The group of men were dubbed The Few following Winston Churchill’s wartime address to Parliament, where he poignantly said of the brave RAF pilots: ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much, owed by so many, to so few’

There are now only eight remaining Battle of Britain veterans following the death of Flt Lt Mackay, Wing Commander Tom Neil (pictured) and Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum – the youngest Spitfire pilot in the battle – both of whom died in July

Wing Commander Neil was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar and Air Force Cross (AFC). Pictured wearing his uniform in the 1950s

The Prince of Wales enjoys a joke with Geoffrey Wellum a veteran of the Battle of Britain – he along with Wing Commander Neil passed away in July
‘He should be remembered for his bravery. Many of them said they were not heroes, just doing their duty, but we see them all as heroes.
‘It makes it all the more important that we carry on their legacy as there will be a time when they will no longer be able to do so.’
Group Captain Patrick Tootal OBE, Honorary Secretary of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association, said: ‘The loss of one of the Few is very sad. In the past weeks we have lost three.’
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, Chief of the Air Staff, Tweeted: ‘Very sad to hear that another of The Few is lost to us – Flt Lt Ronald MacKay, Spitfire pilot with 234 Sqn during the Battle of Britain.’
Flt Lt Ronald Mackay was born in 1917 and served in the Auxiliary Air Force before the war.
He was called to full time service in late August 1939, joining 603 Squadron as a civilian pupil pilot the following month.
After elementary training in Perth, central Scotland, he was commissioned on March 23, 1940, before completing his intermediate and advanced flying training at RAF Lossiemouth, north Scotland.
Flt Lt Mackay joined No 234 Squadron at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire, on September 18, 1940.
Returning from St Eval after a routine sortie on September 25, 1940, he baled out and was seriously injured.
His Spitfire, X4182, crashed near St Mawgan in north Cornwall.
After being released from the RAF in January 1946, he ran the family travel business in Scotland for many years.
He died surrounded by his family in Edinburgh on Saturday, August 4.
The remaining surviving members of The Few are Flight Lieutenant William Clark, 219 Squadron; Wing Commander John Elkington, 1 Squadron; Wing Commander Paul Farnes, 501 Squadron; Squadron Leader John Hart, 602 Squadron; Flying Officer John Hemmingway, 86 Squadron; Flight Lieutenant William Hughes, 23 Squadron; Pilot Officer Archie McInnes, 601 Squadron; Flight Lieutenant Maurice Moundson, 56 Squadron.