Battle of Britain. The punch-out panel from Wing Commander 'Paddy' Finucane's Spitfire, the oval perspex panel with 6 holes for fixing with evidence of small stress cracks and general surface scratches, old adhesive marks and inscribed in pen '436', approximately 15 x 25cm, sold with a letter of authenticity supplied by Andy Saunders (Battle of Britain authority) Provenance: Originally acquired by the late Mr Pat Nelson of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex during the 1970s. Mr Nelson was chairman of the Wealden Aviation Archaeological Group and was given the item from a Mr Batchelor who had been the rigger for Finucane during at RAF Hornchurch during WWII. The panel was removed by Mr Batchelor when he replaced the canopy on Finucane's Spitfire due to damage. It was subsequently purchased by Andy Saunders in the mid 1970s and sold on and resided in the Halstead War Museum collection formed by the late Ken Anscombe until it was purchased from the auction of contents on 8 December 2018 (Lot 729). Wing Commander Brendan Eamonn Fergus 'Paddy' Finucane, DSO, DFC & Two Bars (1920-42), was a WWII fighter ace credited with 28 aerial victories but could be as as high as 32. He joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot in August 1938 and after passing training converted to training in Supermarine Spitfire from June 1940, on 13 July he was posted to No.56 Squadron at RAF Hornchurch. Finucane's first victory was on 12 August 1940 during the Battle of Britain. He was credited for two enemies destroyed, two probably destroyed and one damaged during the Battle of Britain. In April 1941 he joined No.452 Squadron flying offensive patrols over France (aka known as the Circus offensive). During this period he destroyed 20 German aircraft. Finucane was promoted to the Squadron Leader with No.602 Squadron and within six months was credited for a further six individual victories bringing his tally to 28. In June 1942 he was promoted to Wing Commander and was the youngest in the history of the RAF. On 15 July 1942, he took off for a mission over France but his Spitfire was damaged by ground fire and he attempted to fly back across the English Channel but was forced to ditch into the sea. His body was never recovered.
Battle of Britain. The punch-out panel from Wing Commander 'Paddy' Finucane's Spitfire, the oval perspex panel with 6 holes for fixing with evidence of small stress cracks and general surface scratches, old adhesive marks and inscribed in pen '436', approximately 15 x 25cm, sold with a letter of authenticity supplied by Andy Saunders (Battle of Britain authority) Provenance: Originally acquired by the late Mr Pat Nelson of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex during the 1970s. Mr Nelson was chairman of the Wealden Aviation Archaeological Group and was given the item from a Mr Batchelor who had been the rigger for Finucane during at RAF Hornchurch during WWII. The panel was removed by Mr Batchelor when he replaced the canopy on Finucane's Spitfire due to damage. It was subsequently purchased by Andy Saunders in the mid 1970s and sold on and resided in the Halstead War Museum collection formed by the late Ken Anscombe until it was purchased from the auction of contents on 8 December 2018 (Lot 729). Wing Commander Brendan Eamonn Fergus 'Paddy' Finucane, DSO, DFC & Two Bars (1920-42), was a WWII fighter ace credited with 28 aerial victories but could be as as high as 32. He joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot in August 1938 and after passing training converted to training in Supermarine Spitfire from June 1940, on 13 July he was posted to No.56 Squadron at RAF Hornchurch. Finucane's first victory was on 12 August 1940 during the Battle of Britain. He was credited for two enemies destroyed, two probably destroyed and one damaged during the Battle of Britain. In April 1941 he joined No.452 Squadron flying offensive patrols over France (aka known as the Circus offensive). During this period he destroyed 20 German aircraft. Finucane was promoted to the Squadron Leader with No.602 Squadron and within six months was credited for a further six individual victories bringing his tally to 28. In June 1942 he was promoted to Wing Commander and was the youngest in the history of the RAF. On 15 July 1942, he took off for a mission over France but his Spitfire was damaged by ground fire and he attempted to fly back across the English Channel but was forced to ditch into the sea. His body was never recovered.
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