One of the last surviving New Zealand-born Battle of Britain fighter pilots has died. A touching tribute to the Taranaki-born Second World War fighter ace has been published in The Telegraph. It recalls Squadron Leader Lawrence flying a Spitfire and shooting down a number of German planes in 1940, including two Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. After spending a year recovering from his injuries, he flew in the fierce air battles of the Battle of Malta, damaging and shooting down more German aircrafts. Keith Ashley Lawrence passed away on June 2 aged 96 at his home in Devon, England, where had lived since retiring in the mid-1980s.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 30, 2016 22:55 UTC