This book was first published in 1942 as a tribute to Irish-born RAF fighter pilot and flying ace, Brendan Finucane (1920-1942), who died fighting for Britain during World War II.Known amongst his colleagues as "e;Paddy,"e; Finucane was credited with 28 aerial victories-five probably destroyed, six shared destroyed, one shared probable victory, and eight damaged-and was also noted for being the youngest person ever given command of a fighter wing in the history of aerial combat, namely the Hornchurch Wing."e;IF SOMEONE asked me to describe Wing Commander Brendan Finucane R.A.F. in two words, I would say "e;bright and shining."e; He seemed always to radiate light and lift of the spirit-his frequent smile, the way the corners of his generously drawn mouth went up-his witty friendly eyes-even his crisp dark red hair seemed always lifted by a breeze from "e;the upper air"e; he loved so well, the upper air in which from his eighteenth birthday until the day of July seventeenth, nineteen hundred and forty-two, he spent the greater part of his waking life. This smiling friendliness, this winning manner, caused him to be known as "e;Paddy"e; to all the world."e;-JAMES REYNOLDS