KITS 12/2020

P7370, S/Ldr Adolph G. Malan DFC & bar SAAF, CO of No. 74 Squadron, RAF Kirton-in-Linsey,

Great Britain, September 1940

No.74 Squadron was among the first Fighter Command units to be equipped with the new Spitfire Mk.IIa in September 1940. The squadron,

under the leadership of the South African Adolph ‘Sailor’ Malan, was also one of most successful fighter squadrons of the Battle of Britain.

Malan himself was an ace with sixteen confirmed kills during the BoB. His aircraft carried the standard RAF Temperate Land Scheme that

included Sky bottom surfaces, with blue/white/red roundels painted on the wing undersides. It is possible that this aircraft was manufactured with a TR.9D radio installed, and with the associated wire antenna stretched between the fuselage and fin masts, but it was certainly

replaced with the newer TR.1133 VHF radio later in the fall, after which the antenna wire was removed.

P7666, S/Ldr Donald O. Finlay, CO of No. 41 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, Great Britain, November 1940

Donald Finlay was a famous British athlete. He was the European champion in the 110 metre hurdle in 1938. He won the bronze medal

at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, both in the 110m

hurdle event. After the war, he was British team captain at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he was chosen to take the Olympic

Oath. He joined the RAF in 1935. He led No. 54 Squadron in the Battle of Britain, and he was shot down over Ramsgate on August 28th and

was wounded. After recovering, he took command of No. 41 Squadron and he achieved four kills during the BoB. His aircraft here illustrates

the camouflage scheme and markings of Fighter Command aircraft in late 1940 and early 1941. The black painted (Night) left wing, Sky fuselage band and Sky spinner were ordered by the Air Ministry on November 27th, 1940.

INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

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