Battle of Britain fighter pilot Paul Farnes dies at 101

Paul Farnes, one of last remaining Battle of Britain fighter pilots who helped protect U.K. during World War II, has died. He was 101. Farnes, who was a wing commander during war, died at his home Tuesday, Battle of Britain Memorial Trust said late Wednesday.

He h been last surviving pilot who h been officially designated an “ace” because of number of enemy aircraft he downed.

He was one of roughly 3,000 airmen who fought German Luftwaffe in skies above sourn England in 1940 when Britain was vulnerable to invasion by Nazi forces.

group was honoured by wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill who said: “never in field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

Farnes was also last remaining member of group who was healthy enough to attend a memorial day event last year.

Farnes was "very proud" of his Distinguished Flying Medal, Battle of Britain Memorial Trust said. He was responsible for destruction of six enemy planes, damage of six ors, and probable destruction of anor.

In 2015, Farnes and ors received spontaneous applause at a service in ir honour at Westminster Abbey.

“It was very emotional today because, when we walked out of abbey, audience applauded and it's never happened before at annual service and I was very moved by it,” he said at time.

“It is amazing that Battle of Britain has caught on with public and I am very proud to have been a part of it.”

He retired from Royal Air Force in 1958.