News & Blog

Even fewer of the few

Posted on Thu, 30 January 2020 by Phil Mussell - General News, Medal News

The February issue of MEDAL NEWS contains a short obituary of Battle of Britain pilot Flt Lt Maurice Mounsdon who passed away in December. The piece states that there are now only three surviving members of "the Few" left but sadly we learn today of the death of Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM AE at his home in Hampshire on Tuesday morning. Wing Commander Farnes was a Sergeant Pilot with 501 Squadron when he won his DFM with a tally of six enemy aircraft destroyed, one probably destroyed and six damaged. 

After the Battle of Britain he was posted to North Africa and the Middle East both as instructor and combat pilot, he was given a permanent commission in 1945 and remained in the RAF until 1958 retiring with the rank of Wing Commander. 

His passing leaves just two Battle of Britain pilots still with us.

RIP Sir