Finucane’s Spitfire
Text: Michal Krechowski
Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz
Irish fighter pilot Brendan Finucane ranks among the most famous figures in the history of aerial combat during the Second World War. Not only his combat career and tragic death are surrounded by numerous question marks, but even one of his Spitfires required a thorough reassessment of all previously published material during the preparation of the kit and box art. The non-standard upper-surface scheme depicted in Piotr Forkasiewicz’s box art has already sparked debate within the modelling community. It is therefore useful to explain in more detail how we arrived at this interpretation.
Surviving period photographs of Spitfire BM124 suggest, at first glance, a major anomaly in the aircraft’s upper-surface colours when compared to standard camouflage patterns. The reason why the Temperate Sea Scheme shades were ultimately selected for the upper surfaces of BM124 in this kit is something I will attempt to explain briefly, as deciphering colour schemes from black-and-white photographs can be an almost alchemical process, one that at times produces surprising conclusions.
Spitfire BM124 was a brand-new aircraft, donated to Britain by Queen Sālote of Tonga and assigned specifically to S/Ldr Finucane. On March 14, 1942, it was delivered to No. 602 Squadron, already in the new Day Fighter Scheme (DFS) of Dark Green/Ocean Grey/Medium Sea Grey. For reasons unknown, shortly after its arrival, the upper surfaces were completely repainted in a new camouflage layout. This is well documented in numerous black-and-white photographs taken at Kenley on March 26, 1942, by a Life magazine photographer. These photographs of Finucane’s BM124 show a low contrast between colours, strongly reminiscent (on closer examination) of the “maritime” shades Dark Slate Grey/Extra Dark Sea Grey. The wing leading edge exhibits an unusual wavy demarcation between upper and lower camouflage, and the upper wing surfaces are missing the characteristic black walkways and stencilling, all of which were overpainted by the new camouflage. The undersides remained in Medium Sea Grey with factory stencils intact.
Three further photographs of BM124 are preserved in the IWM archive under catalogue numbers CH5575, CH5576 and CH5577. These were taken on May 21 1942, when the Home Office commissioned images for propaganda purposes and for distribution to the media in Tonga. For this purpose, the inscription “QUEEN of SALOTE” was painted on the left side of the fuel tank cover. As it later became clear, the inscription was not grammatically correct, and the Air Ministry subsequently demanded that the caption be altered on the photographs from “QUEEN of SALOTE” to “QUEEN SALOTE.” The word “of” was therefore scraped off the negatives, and all three images show obvious retouching.
It is thus certain that Brendan Finucane flew BM124 carrying the incorrect name “QUEEN of SALOTE.” Besides the inscription, the photographs also show the squadron emblem placed on the engine cowling, an upright red Scottish lion on a yellow shield. Out of respect for the heritage and traditions of No. 602 Squadron, Finucane had this emblem applied to the engine cowlings of the squadron’s Spitfires. Once again, the photographs clearly show the repainted upper surfaces, which have historically been misinterpreted as an “inverted” Ocean Grey/Dark Green camouflage, something that, in light of the detailed Life photographs, is pure nonsense. Several similarly repainted No. 602 Squadron Spitfires from autumn 1941 to spring 1942 are documented (interestingly, all from “B” Flight).
A key detail in determining the most probable scheme was to establish which photographic filter had been used and then compare the images with those of other aircraft photographed under the same conditions. In this case, the filter was red. When comparing various camouflage possibilities, the final comparison yielded the closest match between BM124 and aircraft PA103, BM124 and NX890, BM124 and NX857, and BM124 and EP200. Within the same tonal spectrum, the aircraft appears to be finished in the Temperate Sea Scheme.
What was the reason for overpainting a newly delivered aircraft? The most probable explanation is described by Paul Lucas in Guideline Publications ´ Colour Conundrum: RAF Day Fighter Schemes 1941–1943, vol. 2:
“The reason why the Temperate Sea Scheme might have been adopted by some Fighter Command Day Fighters could be explained by the operational requirement to escort and support No.2 Group Bomber Command's Blenheims in their low level anti-shipping strikes, which were being carried out as Operation Channel Stop. As part of this Operation, the Blenheim Bombers of No.2 Group had adopted the Temperate Sea Scheme for their upper surfaces from 26 July 1941, as described in the June 2018 issue of SAM. As for why Fighter Command might have been motivated to adopt the same camouflage scheme, an RAF Intelligence report, dated 18 August 1941, stated that No.602 Squadron report new camouflage on bombers very effective as they found it difficult to keep them in view. In addition to this, fighter aircraft themselves took on an increasing anti-shipping role during 1941, with Hurricanes modified to carry two 250lb General Purpose or Semi Armour piercing bombs for this purpose. These Fighter attacks were considered so successful, especially in view of the much lower casualties suffered by the Hurricane Bombers compared to the Blenheims, that from 9 October 1941, Fighter Command began to assume responsibility for Operation Channel Stop with Bomber Command being fully relived of its commitment to the Operation from 25 November. Thus the application of the Temperate Sea Scheme to the upper surfaces of the Day Fighters involved in these attacks would make tactical sense.”
From the above, it becomes clear why the new BM124 upper surfaces were immediately overpainted upon its arrival with No. 602 Squadron. It provided superior concealment during low-level escort missions and Rhubarb operations.
Close-up of the “QUEEN SALOTE” inscription on Spitfire BM124. The word “of” was removed from the negatives. (Photo: Imperial War Museum)
F/Sgt W. W. J. “Bill” Loud with Spitfire BM124, donated to Britain by Queen Sālote of Tonga. Delivered on 14 March 1942 to No. 602 Squadron. This photograph, taken on 21 May 1942 at Kenley, confirms that the wings carry neither black walkways nor stencilling, and it is entirely evident that, for “some reason,” the upper surfaces of the fuselage and wings were completely repainted. (Photo: Imperial War Museum)
Flight Lieutenant Brendan “Paddy” Finucane DFC (Photo: Imperial War Museum)