GUARDED HIS LEADER
AUSTRALIAN AIRMAN DISOBEYS ORDER
(Rec. 12.45 p.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 20
Squadron Leader Paddy Finucane, former leader of an Australian squadron of the Fighter Command, who has won the D.F.C. with two bars, today made a perfect landing though he had been wounded in a fight over the Channel.
He was flying in company with an Australian, Pilot Officer Richard Lewis, who possibly saved his life. After the two Spitfire pilots had attacked a ship near Dunkirk they were engaged in a head-on attack by two FW 190's. The squadron leader's aircraft was hit and he was wounded. He gave his companion the order to go home, but the Australian, knowing that the squadron leader had been wounded, took up a guarding position a little behind and below his tail. The Germans, realising thai one Spitfire had been hit, gave chase; At least six times during the journey back the Australian turned to beat off attacks, and saw one FW 190 crash into the sea.
Now twice wounded, the squadron leader joined the Australian as he turned to fight off the Germans, but by the time they reached the English coast he was feeling ill from his wounds. He made a perfect landing and taxied up to dispersal before he blacked out.
It is probable that the second FW 190 was damaged.—B.O.W.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1942, Page 8
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224GUARDED HIS LEADER Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1942, Page 8
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