Documentary - Spitfire Paddy - The Ace with the Shamrock (2016)
http://www.cowshedmedia.ie/spitfire-paddy
This is an hour-long documentary chronicling the epic life story of Brendan Finucane, a man with his roots in Ireland (Dublin) but also a war time hero in Britain and across the world.
With a shamrock emblazoned on the cockpit of his iconic Spitfire, he had flown through the Battle of Britain, unscathed – and into the hearts of an adoring and grateful British public, for whom he was a symbol of hope and pride.
Though virtually unknown in his native country, Brendan 'Paddy' Finucane was adored by the British public and world media. A handsome 21 year old Irish man with a beautiful fiancée by his side, he distinguished himself during the Battle of Britain and led an RAF fighter wing on daring missions over enemy occupied Europe.
I had never read or heard about Paddy but I obtained this documentary from an internet source, fully expecting his history to be somewhat less than described above.
In fact, the brief career of Wing Commander Brendan Eamonn Fergus Finucane, DSO, DFC & Two Bars was astonishing. He was an inept trainee pilot who became the youngest RAF Wing Commander ever (at 21) and was the third highest-scoring "ace" of WWII with a tally of 32 victories.
He was also a very athletic and personable young man, who led his squadrons from the front and who adored his longtime "Sweetheart".
Catch it if you can .....