Warbird Information Exchange

.... to me anyway.

I see "P76??", "OBSERVER CORPS" and two kills.
Date, Location, pilot unknown.

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Zero Surprise!!...

Its Spitfire Mark IIA (P7666,) "Observer Corps", and was originally flown by Squadron Leader D.O. Finlay, the Commanding Officer of No. 41 Squadron RAF and former British Olympic hurdler. Based at Hornchurch, Essex.

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When I was young "sex was safe & flying was dangerous".

Cool, thx

Per: http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Finlay.htm

Donald Osborne Finlay was born on 27th May 1909. He was educated at Taunton's Secondary School, Southampton and joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice in September 1925, passing out in August 1928 as a Fitter, Aero Engines.

Finlay was a well-known Olympic hurdler before the war, winning a Silver Medal in Berlin in 1936.

Finlay later remustered as an Airman u/t Pilot and on completion of his training he was granted a Permanent Commission on 30th April 1935 and posted to 17 Squadron at Kenley on 13th May. He went to 54 Squadron at Hornchurch on 16th March 1936 and on 29th August 1937 Finlay was posted to the RAF School of Aeronautical Engineering at Henlow for a course.

He was given command of 54 Squadron on 26th August 1940. Two days later he was shot down by Me109's over Ramsgate and baled out, wounded. His Spitfire, X4053, is believed to be that which crashed at Westbere Lake near Canterbury.

In mid-September Finlay was posted to command 41 Squadron at Hornchurch. On the 23rd he claimed a Me109 destroyed, on 1st October damaged a Me109, on the 7th shared a Do17, on the 9th and 20th damaged Me109's, shared a Me109 on the 27th and destroyed Me109's on 23rd and 27th November.

In August 1941 Finlay was promoted to Acting Wing Commander and posted to HQ 11 Group as Engineering Officer. He destroyed a Me109 on 3rd March 1942, flying with 485 Squadron.

Finlay was awarded the DFC (gazetted 10th April 1942).

He damaged a Fw190 on 30th July 1942, flying with the Hornchurch Wing.

Posted to the Mediterranean, Finlay took temporary command of 608 Squadron at Montecorvino on 1st April 1944. He was promoted to Acting Group Captain soon afterwards and posted to be SASO at 210 Group, British North African Forces.

He was awarded the AFC (gazetted 1st September 1944).

In 1945 Finlay commanded 906 Wing in Burma. He stayed on in the RAF in the Engineering Branch and retired on 23rd February 1959 as a Group Captain.

Finlay was badly hurt and left paralysed after a car crash in 1966. He died on 18th April 1970.


41 Squadron
Back row: F/O HC Baker, F/O DA Adams, P/O MF Briggs, Sgt. EV Darling, F/O JN McKenzie, F/O ADJ Lovell (in cockpit)
Front row: P/O DE Mileham, F/Lt. EN Ryder, Sgt. RA Angus, S/Ldr. DO Finlay, Sgt. TWR Healy, Sgt. JS Gilders, P/O EP Wells, Sgt. RC Ford


Squadron Leader D Finlay, CO of No. 41 Squadron RAF, standing with four of his pilots in front of a Supermarine Spitfire Mk II at Hornchurch, Essex, December 1940.
With four of his pilots at Hornchurch, Essex. They are (left to right): Flying Officer John MacKenzie, Flight-Lieutenant A D J Lovell, Squadron Leader Finlay, Fligh-Lieutenant N Ryder and Pilot Officer R Ford.


Squadron Leader Don Finlay on his Spitfire IIA, 41 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, November 1940.
wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Finlay

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Zero Surprise!!...

I recall that one of the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfires was painted in this scheme.

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p004.html

Shot down yesterday, 81 years ago.
P7666 IIa CBAF MXII 8MU 15-11-40 41Sq 'EB-Z' 21-11-40 54Sq 'Z' 22-2-41 Cv Vb 22-2-41 shot down by Bf109 aircraft abandoned off Harwich 20-4-41 P/O J Stokoe inj rescued by ASR

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45-47=-2

A question for Spitfire experts...

I notice the oval vent window on this ship.
However, the Spitfire I visit weekly, Mk. IXe SL633, does not have it.
When was the change made?
I would guess it was dropped as a production expediency.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Definitely not seen after MkII,s.Ive seen MkV,s with another air vent on the port side coaming skin under the windscreen.

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If the CO ask,s you to be Tail End Charlie...Just Shoot Him..A Piece of Cake

https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/p ... 06114.html

P7350 is in 41 Squadron markings. The KL-Z code on P7666 is from the aircraft's later service on 54 Squadron, it was shot down by a Bf109 on April 20 1941. (Source 'Spitfire The History' by Morgan and Shacklady)

You'll notice a few differences in the canopy relative to the Spitfire IX - the profile of the windscreen is quite different; on the early Spitfires there was external armour glass, and the side panels curve in the opposite direction at the bottom. The hood itself is bulged out at the sides for rear vision on the later Spitfires, whereas on the Mk.II shown here, it's flat sided. The pop out panel was a "direct vision" panel "for use in the event that the windscreen becomes obscured" - not quite sure what good it would have been - perhaps it was a specification requirement? As far as timing - the bulged hood came in in the Mk.V production run, so 1941, I would think?