Flying ace Paddy Finucane became a legend in his own lifetime and was widely publicised in the press. He was modest by nature and resented the constant references to him as Bader's successor, but the limelight never left him. Finucane, who joined the RAF in 1938, had a poor start to his flying career and was only deployed in the Battle of Britain when every pilot was needed. During the Battle of Britain, he was assigned to 65 Squadron and then became the flight commander of 452 Squadron, the first Australian squadron in Britain. His leadership qualities quickly came to the fore, and it was with them that he achieved his most spectacular successes during the reconnaissance flights along the French coast. In January 1942 he became Squadron Leader 602nd and was promptly promoted to Wing Commander Flying, Hornchurch. Finucane earned an outstanding reputation for his tactics and flying skills. He eventually destroyed 32 enemy aircraft before ditching and disappearing in the English Channel in July 1942. Thanks to the full co-operation of the Finucane family, the myth of a fierce, fighting Irishman who turned out to be a thoughtful, highly disciplined and respected man, a man born to lead, can finally be dispelled.
