Flight Lieutenant Richard Hope Hillary was a Battle of Britain pilot who died during World War II. He is best known for his book The Last Enemy, based upon his experiences during the Battle of Britain. Hillary was the son of an Australian government official and was sent to England to be educated at Shrewsbury School and Trinity College, Oxford. Whilst at Oxford, he was secretary of the Oxford University Boat Club and president of the Rugby Club. He rowed in the successful Trinity College VIII of 1938. He joined the Oxford University Air Squadron and RAFVR in 1939. Hillary was called-up to... the Royal Air Force in October 1939 and joined No. 603 Squadron RAF at RAF Hornchurch in 1940. Richard Hillary writes about his first experience in a Supermarine Spitfire in The Last Enemy: On 3 September 1940, assigned to 603 Squadron, he had made his fifth "kill" when he was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 flown by Hauptmann Helmut Bode of II.
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| Birthdate: | April 20, 1919 |
| Birthplace: | Sydney |
| Date of death: | January 8, 1943 |