Page 39 - Linkline Spring 2017

Spitfire Paddy: The Ace with the Shamrock
Dublin born Brendan Finucane, or ‘Spitfire Paddy’ as he came to be known, was a young man whose dream of piloting a plane led him into the Second World War. As one of Britain’s best Spitfire pilots Finucane became famous, however, his achievements were little known in his home nation. Now a new documentary tells the tale of the Irish WWII fighter pilot ace.
Brendan 'Paddy' Finucane
The story of Brendan ‘Paddy’ Finucane may come as a surprise to many Irish people. A member of the Royal Air Force with a shamrock emblazoned on his Supermarine Spitfire, he was one of the top fighter pilots, and at 21, the youngest wing commander during the Battle of Britain – the youngest to ever hold this rank.
The young Dubliner achieved hero status in Britain during the early years of the Second World War and following his death in 1942 over 2,500 people attended his memorial service in Westminster Cathedral. Today, a London street and hospital wing bear his name but it’s only very recently that Finucane’s story has started to be remembered here at home.
Taking more than four years to produce, documentary film Spitfire Paddy: The Ace with the Shamrock chronicles the fascinating life story of Finucane, the Irishman who became a war hero in Britain and around the world.
For an RAF fighter pilot his background was not what you would expect. Born in Dublin, Finucane was educated by the Christian Brothers and his father fought as a volunteer alongside Eamon de Valera in Boland's Mill during the 1916 Rising.
Growing up, Brendan was a keen sportsman, excelling in boxing, rowing and rugby – where he proved to be a natural leader on the pitch. Like most young boys, he had a passion for flying and on visits to his cousins in Britain he would camp out at Southampton Airport and watch the planes take off
and land. In 1932 Brendan’s interest in flying was cemented when he and his younger brother Ray took a trip around Baldonnel Aerodrome in a biplane. It was at that moment he knew he had to become a pilot
In the winter of 1936, at the age of 16, Brendan emigrated with his family to Richmond in London where he started work as an accounts clerk in a local garage. However, his childhood ambition to fly still burned and he joined the RAF on a short service commission two years later at just 171⁄2, the minimum age requirement. With political unrest in Europe and the dark clouds of war looming, he began his training in Sywell, Northants. It was there that the nickname ‘Paddy’ began. Given to him because of his Irish heritage, it would follow him throughout his RAF career.
Surprisingly, considering his later accomplishments, Brendan initially struggled to gain his pilot’s license and at one point even crashed a plane. He was on the verge of being dismissed when his commanding officer, noting his determination to succeed, decided to send him for further training. It was only when ‘Paddy’ finally took the controls of a Spitfire in June 1940 that he truly felt at home with his aircraft.
On 12 August that same year, Nazi Germany launched ‘Eagles Day’, an offensive that marked the beginning of what was to become the Battle of Britain. In his first true test, Finucane proved his prowess, shooting down his first German plane that morning. Over the course of the campaign he was credited with destroying four enemy planes and damaging one. This exceptional contribution led to his commanding officer recommending him for a distinguished Flying Cross medal.
Altogether it’s believed that Spitfire Paddy downed 32 enemy planes in just two years – the second highest tally of any RAF pilot. He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming wing commander at just 21, the youngest ever to hold the rank. Finucane became a poster boy for the RAF during the war in particular after shooting down the well-known German pilot Adolph Gallard. His reputation and fame spread on both sides of the Atlantic and he was interviewed by the BBC serval times.
In one interview Finucane spoke with pride about his Irish blood but expressed concern at seeing it wasted when it would gush out of him after being shot. “The cockpit was awash with blood. It was not until I was feeling a bit sick and dizzy did it dawn on me that it was my blood!" he said. "It was good Dublin blood which, I thought, should not be wasted. How I even managed to land without a crack-up will never be known. The luck of the Irish triumphed that day."
Despite the media attention however, Finucane’s nephew, Brendan Finucane QC, said his uncle didn’t like the limelight. If Finucane had a weakness, it was for his girlfriend Jean Woolford. She lived on the same street as him, only two doors up, and was often referred to by the press
The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport 39
SPITFIRE PADDY