THE SHAMROCK SPITFIRE

HOW A PUGNACIOUS YOUNG IRISHMAN OVERCAME THE ODDS TO BECOME A FIGHTER ACE

Directors: Dominic Higgins, Ian Higgins Starring: Shane O’regan, Jamie B Chambers, Sophia Eleni Released: Out now

This recently released film from the renowned writer-director brothers Dominic and Ian Higgins tells the remarkable story of one the RAF’S leading ‘aces’ of the Second World War: Wing Commander Brendan ‘Paddy’ Finucane.

With the leading role taken by Shane O’regan, the story chronicles the real-life challenges of a young man from an Irish Republican family to enlist in the pre-war RAF, apply for a short service commission in 1938, learn to fly, and then to go on to fly Spitfires during the Battle of Britain.

The film faithfully tells the story of those challenges and hurdles and dramatically portrays how Finucane started to rack up an impressive score of aerial victories during the Battle of Britain while serving with 65 Squadron at RAF Hornchurch. It was here that he honed his air-fighting skills and an aggressive spirit that is explicitly set out from the film’s very outset where, as a young boy, he is seen being inspired by reading of the exploits of an Irish fighter ace in the First World War, ‘Mick’ Mannock. His ‘fighting Irish spirit’ is also seen being encouraged by his Republicansympathising father, who eventually warms to his son’s service to the Crown.

The characters portrayed in the film are largely based on real-life individuals – especially the pilots of 452 (Australian) Squadron, RAAF, where Finucane becomes a flight commander in April 1941 when flying from RAF Kenley. Among the pilots with whom he forms a special bond is the ebullient Australian ‘Bluey’ Truscott – the pair soon building up an impressive score of victories, with the very first squadron victory being scored by Finucane in July.

Eventually given command of his own squadron, where he was also wounded in a dogfight, Finucane became wing leader of the Hornchurch fighter wing and, at 22, the youngest wing commander in the RAF. It was in this role during the summer of 1942 that he was shot down over the French coast and crashed in the English Channel. No trace of him was ever found.

The film is a reasonably accurate portrayal of his story and uses ‘borrowed’ clips from other films such as Battle of Britain, but understandably relies on a degree of CGI for the aerial scenes. Nevertheless, pretty good attention to detail is given to uniforms and flying equipment (if not always in the manner it is worn!) and even, mostly, to the depiction of correct squadron code letters on the Spitfires. That attention to detail extends to a scene in Finucane’s office where an emblem used as a trophy decorates the wall – exactly as it does in a period photo of Finucane at his desk!

All in all, this is a charming if not slightly whimsical film that tells the little-known tale of this Irish ace and brings his inspiring story into the spotlight. Well-made on a limited budget, it is certainly well worth a watch.