Seventy years ago this week (15 July 1942), Wing Commander Brendan 'Paddy' Finucane DSO, DFC** (1920-1942) died when he ditched his Spitfire Mk V off the French coast north of Le Touquet. He had taken a round through his radiator, fired by a German gunner on a beach sand dune, as he led the Hornchurch Wing in to attack the German Army camp at Etaples. Paddy had timed the attack for lunchtime, and had claimed for himself the target of the Officer's Mess.

His plans were thwarted by the damage to his Merlin's cooling system, and he immediately did a 180, followed by his wingman, Flt Lt Al Aikman, who found himself nicely lined up on the solitary beach gunner as he rolled out of his turn. A squirt on the gun button redressed matters somewhat.

Paddy failed to escape from his cockpit, & may well have knocked himself out on the gunsight.

He overtook Douglas Bader's score (by now he was a POW) & became the RAF's highest scoring ace at that time, with a final total of 32 victories. He was a fearless leader & a terrific shot, once scoring a kill (Fw190) from 500yds with some considerable deflection (26 March 42). On his best day, he downed x3 Me109's in one sortie (20 Sep 41).

In June 1942, he was promoted Wing Commander & OC Hornchurch Spitfire Wing, age 21yrs. He held this post for only 19 days, before his death.

I flew close to his ditching spot a few weeks ago, on a commercial pax flight; looking out of the window at an impossibly blue sky & sea, I thought of my fellow Irishman and his Spitfire somewhere below the calm Channel waters. Hope you are having a good pint of the Black Stuff somewhere, Wing Commander Finucane.

HB

Inspiring tale.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Had the pleasure of visiting Casement Aerodrome a few years ago and seeing the new memorial garden which had been recently dedicated to Wg Cdr Finucane and planted with roses named after him in his honour.

It was touching to see such a memorial in the heart of the home of the Irish Air Corps.

I knew a chap who flew Mk IX Spit's from Hornchurch with 129 Sqn around that time, he often told me about their sweeps into France - Brave chaps.

Paddy was an inspirational fighter leader, never forgotten.

... he was promoted Wing Commander & OC Hornchurch Spitfire Wing, age 21yrs. He held this post for only 19 days, before his death.
The more you think about it, the more impressive it becomes. An amazing man of an amazing generation. We owe them everything...

His medals are on display at the RAF Museum Hendon and Finucane Rise on the patch at Bushey Heath is named after him.

He is also commemorated in his old home town of Richmond, Surrey, by "Finucane Court", a block of flats. Not particularly inspiring, unlike the man himself, but at least he's remembered.

Here's a bit more on the gentleman in question. Alot achieved in such a short life / career.

Paddy Finucane - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_Finucane)

Runnymede Memorial

http://www.pro-patria.co.uk/Panel064.jpg

Aah, Group Captain Victor Beamish - another 'Fighting Mick', lost in action.

Glad to see his & Paddy's name so close together.

HB

There was a large photograph of "Paddy" Finucane positioned above the exit door to the hut I was assigned during aircrew selection at Hornchirch in 1956I would reach up and touch it every time I went out!

IIRC, at Ickenham cricket club there is a memorial to a Sgt Dennis James of Finucane's squadron, who died on the same operation.

Bob C

And then there is Finucane Rise, No 23 in our case, at Bushey Heath!

'Paddy' Finnucane is well remembered by Australians as well - he was a Flight Commander on 452 (RAAF) Sqn in 1941, helping the squadron to become a top scoring Fighter Command unit.
He mentored the boggies like 'Bluey' Truscott, Bardie Wawn and 'Throttle'-Smith, before they came back for the desperate NG campaign in 1942.