by InTrieste
In a deeply moving reunion that spanned nearly eight decades and continents, Group Captain John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, the last surviving RAF fighter pilot from the Battle of Britain, met with Lina Volpi, the daughter of the Italian girl whose selfless actions saved his life during World War II.
The emotional encounter, which took place in Dublin last Thursday, marked the culmination of Hemingway’s heartfelt quest to express his gratitude to the family who had sheltered and protected him behind enemy lines in northern Italy. The journey began in April 1945, when Hemingway’s Spitfire was hit by ground fire during a mission near Ferrara, forcing him to make an emergency landing in Copparo. Remarkably, this was the fourth time he had been shot down and survived, a testament he humorously attributed to “the luck of the Irish.”
Rescued by a courageous Italian family and aided by local partisans, Hemingway found himself under the protection of nine-year-old Carla Fabbri, who bravely guided him through perilous terrain beyond the Gothic Line, evading capture by German troops despite the grave risks to her family’s safety. The bond forged during those perilous hours endured in Hemingway’s memory for a lifetime.
“For all those hours I was scared as hell, not for my life, I’m Irish, but I was terrified of becoming the cause of the death of that brave little girl,” recalled Hemingway as he launched a heartfelt campaign earlier this year to locate and thank Carla or her descendants.
Last week, his wish was fulfilled as he met Carla’s daughter, Lina Volpi, in Dublin. Overwhelmed with emotion, Volpi presented Hemingway with a poignant gift: a framed picture containing fragments of the very Spitfire he had piloted in 1945 when fate brought him crashing near Coccanile. The gift, donated by the Archaeologists of the Air, stirred deep emotions in Hemingway, whose eyes “lit up” at the sight.
“While I shook his hand, I immediately thought that the same hand had shaken my mother’s 79 years earlier, and in that moment, I felt very close to her. An emotion that is really difficult to describe,” shared Volpi, reflecting on the profound connection forged across generations and continents, symbolizing courage, gratitude, and the enduring bond of humanity in the face of adversity.
The reunion not only honored the bravery of Carla Fabbri and her family but also served as a poignant reminder of the resilience and compassion that transcends borders and time, resonating deeply with all who cherish stories of courage and humanity amid the turmoil of war.
