Richard Hillary was a British fighter pilot during World War II, known for his bravery and skill in the Royal Air Force. Born on April 21, 1919, in Sydney, Australia, he moved to England as a child. Hillary joined the RAF in 1939 and quickly became a notable figure in aerial combat. Tragically, his career was cut short when he was severely injured in a plane crash in 1940. After extensive recovery, he wrote a memoir titled The Last Enemy, which detailed his experiences as a pilot and his struggles with injuries. Hillary died in action on January 8, 1943, at the age of 23.