"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. 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. 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." www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6042907/Another-lost-One-surviving-Battle-Britain-heroes-dies-aged-101.html
