Newly discovered photo of Paddy Finucane's Spitfire

[Flavio]

Dear all,

I just found this photo and I would like to share it with you.

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10313643&wwwflag=3&imagepos=10

The caption of the photo says "26 February 1942. Four members of Finucane's Squadron wheel out the new Spitfire. It has been specially prepared for his return".

Since a long time I am looking for information about Finucane's personal planes and for me this picture is fantastic.
The code should be "LO-W" (the individual letter is barely visible but seems "W", as usually for Finucane' planes) and it carried the famous Shamrock insigna on the cowling.

Any way I have some troubles with the serial number: the last two digits seem "22", but according with the book "Spitfire the History" by E.Morgan there are not serial numbers matching with “22” (Spitfires in charge at 602 Sqn in February 1942).

Have you any idea about this incoherence?

Regards
Flavio

[SMF144]

Flavio,

Congratulations with the find! It's always nice to find a diamond in the rough, especially after years or searching for it.

Although the Spitfire book by Morgan and Shacklady is considered a bible, it's not a 100% correct either. So, just because they don't have it listed doesn't mean it's gosple.

Anyhow, here's to further digging!

Stephen

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi
Checking Chris Shore's Aces High, Finucane piloted the following Mk V when making his claims
AB852
AB972
BL548
AD536
BM124
He was lost in BM308
Of course he could have used others, OR the caption might even be wrong...

Cheers
Stig

[JeffK]

Originally Posted by Flavio

Dear all,

I just found this photo and I would like to share it with you.

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10313643&wwwflag=3&imagepos=10

The caption of the photo says "26 February 1942. Four members of Finucane's Squadron wheel out the new Spitfire. It has been specially prepared for his return".

Since a long time I am looking for information about Finucane's personal planes and for me this picture is fantastic.
The code should be "LO-W" (the individual letter is barely visible but seems "W", as usually for Finucane' planes) and it carried the famous Shamrock insigna on the cowling.

Any way I have some troubles with the serial number: the last two digits seem "22", but according with the book "Spitfire the History" by E.Morgan there are not serial numbers matching with “22” (Spitfires in charge at 602 Sqn in February 1942).

Have you any idea about this incoherence?

Regards
Flavio

I hope the title is correct.

Finucane left 452 RAAF Sqn on 25 January 1942 for 602 Sqn.

Pictures in the RAAF history show 452 Sqn to have either LD- or LO- serial numbers.

You might find the serial No if you have a look there.

[Alex Smart]

Just a little ,

P8722 was lost from 602 on 2/1/42 with Capt. Hertzberg kia.
BL548 from 602 crashed on 20/2/42 and SLdr. Finucane was wounded.
BM228 was lost from 602 on 25/4/42 with Sgt. Green kia.
Finucane was injured in late 41 and returned to command 602 in January of 42, so P8722 may have been his proposed aircraft but perhaps lost even before he had chance to try her out ?

Alex

[Graham Boak]

Just because it was "his" aircraft, doesn't mean that no-one else would fly it. Even if he was around.

[Alex Smart]

Graham, O.K.

[Flavio]

Dear all,

thanks for your comments; I add some notes:

Yes Alex, Finucane was wounded in late 1941 but at that time he was with 452; after his recovery, he was posted for the first time to 602 Sqn on January 20th 1942 , so unfortunately "P8722" was lost weeks before Finucane arrived to 602 Sqn.

In my opinion the caption should be correct infact we may read two
details: "new Spitfire" and "specially prepared for his return" : Finucane crash landed 6 days earlier of the date of the photo so he need a "new" aircraft, and he "returned" to command the 602 only on 10th March; the date and the text match with the facts.

Any way this does not help us to understand which was the serial number of the plane.

I will try to search between 452 Sqn. codes, but I believe this plane was in charge at 602 sqn. This is also confirmed by Stokes in his book "Paddy Finucane: Fighter Ace" were there is another photo of this very plane (detail of the shamrock); unfortunately Stokes give it the (now wrong) serial number BL548.

Hoping to find more details about this Spitfire

Regards
Flavio

[Alex Smart]

Hi Flavio,

From Men of the BoB,

"After breaking an ancle in the blackout, Finucane entered RAF hospital, Halton on November 14th and left a week later to convalesce at Torquay. He rejoined 452 then at Kenley, on January 19th 1942.
One week later Finucane took command of 602 Squadron at Redhill ( this would be around the 26th January), he was wounded on 20th February in an engagement with FW190s over the channel."
And according to "Aces High"vol 1 He flew BL548 on the 20th February 1942 when he damaged the FW190.

Also, I have recently come accross a simular photo of "W" taken from a different position but cannot find it now again the squadron code cannot be seen but an "LO" a/c is again in the background.

All for now

Alex

[Flavio]

Hi Alex,

thank you for the new details.

Please, I hope you will be able to find the photo you quote, for sure it will be very usefull to help us to solve the dubts about the serial number.

Regards

Flavio