"Tributes have been paid to RAF hero Jack Hemmings - one of Britain's oldest Second World War veterans - after his death at 103. The highly-decorated flying ace was Squadron Leader of 353 RAF Sqn, based in Calcutta between 1942 and 1946, and later launched the Mission Aviation Fellowship [MAF], which has grown to become the world's largest humanitarian air service. His lifetime of sacrifice, service and devotion to duty was due to be recognised at an audience with King Charles in April, ahead of the following month's VE Day celebrations which will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of Second World War. In August last year Jack, who lives in Horam, East Sussex, was guest of honour at the Eastbourne International Airshow with the Red Arrows laying on a birthday flypast. He joked: "For a very brief moment, I knew how the King must feel. It was a marvellous spectacle." During the war, Jack was charged with protecting the Bay of Bengal using Lockheed Hudson and Dakota aircraft. His flying career included performing the first British humanitarian survey of Central Africa in 1948 where, alongside D-Day RAF hero Stuart King, he flew a wooden Miles Gemini aircraft from Croydon to Nairobi." 'Remarkable' RAF legend Jack Hemmings has died aged 103
