Donald Finlay
Encyclopedia
Group Captain
Donald "Don" Osborne Finlay, DFC, AFC
(27 May 1909 — 18 April 1970) was a British
athlete and Royal Air Force
officer. He was born in Christchurch, Hampshire
and died in Great Missenden
.
. He first competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics
held in Los Angeles
, United States
in the 110 metre hurdles where he won the bronze medal. He was also a member of the British relay team which finished sixth in the 4×100 metre relay event. Four years later he returned to the 1936 Summer Olympics
held in Berlin
, Germany
where he improved to win the silver medal in the 110 metre hurdles contest. With the British relay team he was eliminated in the first round of the 4×100 metre relay competition.
He was the British Team Captain in the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London
and was chosen to take the Olympic Oath
, though he failed to win any medals in these Games when he was eliminated in the first round of the 110 metre hurdles event
.
At the 1934 Empire Games he won the gold medal in the 120 yards hurdles competition. He also participated in the 1950 British Empire Games
and finished fifth in the 120 yards hurdles contest.
initially flew Spitfires with No. 54 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain
before being wounded and later commanding No. 41 Squadron. He was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander
in August 1941, becoming 11 Group Engineering Officer. He received the DFC
in June 1942. His victory tally flying fighters was 4 and 2 shared destroyed, 3 and 1 shared damaged.
He then commanded No. 608 Squadron RAF
, flying Lockheed Hudson
s in the Middle East in 1943. In 1945 he commanded 906 Wing in Burma, being awarded an AFC
. He became a Group captain in 1950. He was stationed for much of his time at RAF Acklington
, whose chapel contains a recently dedicated stained glass window to honour him. As a Group Captain he was posted to No. 1 School of Technical Training
, RAF Halton, as Senior Technical Training Officer. He regularly took part in the station sports meeting and even at the age of 43 won every event he entered: 100x Hurdles, 100x, 220x, High Jump, Long Jump and the Veteran's (over 40) Handicap, in which he took the offered three yard start! His performance in this event won him few admirers. As he reached the tape - having made sure that we all knew he could've won - he turned around and started to run back down the course. In doing so he bumped into some of the following runners (in their rolled up trousers and loosened ties - whereas he was in his RAF athletics kit), sending them flying. Many boos were heard around the stadium! We in the station athletics team had been in awe of him when he first arrived at Halton - but his 'I am famous' attitude soon burst the bubble.
He did, however raise a laugh at the prize giving ceremony at the passing out of the 61st entry of apprentices in Dec 1948. As Senior Tech Training Officer, he was describing the results of the various trades. On the subject of the Airframe Fitters he commented 'that a number of them had shone in an area not normally included in the sylabus!' This was a reference to the fact that four of the entry had been interviewed by the Buckinghamshire Police in respect of a counterfeiting operation that had enabled free entry to the camp cinema - and free passage to Aylesbury by bus! Available metal only permitted counterfeited sixpences. Excellant 2/- and 2/6d pieces had been produced - but they were too thin to be considered as a good risk!
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Donald "Don" Osborne Finlay, DFC, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(27 May 1909 — 18 April 1970) was a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
athlete and Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
officer. He was born in Christchurch, Hampshire
Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch is a borough and town in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The town adjoins Bournemouth in the west and the New Forest lies to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 and is the most easterly borough in...
and died in Great Missenden
Great Missenden
Great Missenden is a large village in the Misbourne Valley in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England, situated between the towns of Amersham and Wendover. It closely adjoins the villages of Little Missenden and Prestwood. The narrow High Street is bypassed by the main A413 London to...
.
Athletics career
He ran for Great Britain in three Olympics both pre- and post-World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He first competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
held in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the 110 metre hurdles where he won the bronze medal. He was also a member of the British relay team which finished sixth in the 4×100 metre relay event. Four years later he returned to the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
held in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
where he improved to win the silver medal in the 110 metre hurdles contest. With the British relay team he was eliminated in the first round of the 4×100 metre relay competition.
He was the British Team Captain in the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and was chosen to take the Olympic Oath
Olympic Oath
The Olympic Oath is a solemn promise made by one athlete -- as a representative of each of the participating Olympic competitors; and by one judge -- as a representative of each officiating Olympic referee or other official, at the opening ceremonies of each Olympic Games...
, though he failed to win any medals in these Games when he was eliminated in the first round of the 110 metre hurdles event
Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics - Men's 110 metre hurdles
The men's 110 metres hurdles event at the 1948 Summer Olympic Games took place August 3 and August 4. The final was won by American William Porter. Porter's compatriots, Clyde Scott and Craig Dixon took 2nd and 3rd place.-Final:...
.
At the 1934 Empire Games he won the gold medal in the 120 yards hurdles competition. He also participated in the 1950 British Empire Games
1950 British Empire Games
The 1950 British Empire Games was the fourth edition of what is now called the Commonwealth Games. It was held in Auckland, New Zealand between the 4th and 11th of February 1950, after a 12-year gap from the 3rd edition of the games...
and finished fifth in the 120 yards hurdles contest.
Military career
He joined the RAF in 1935, and during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
initially flew Spitfires with No. 54 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
before being wounded and later commanding No. 41 Squadron. He was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in August 1941, becoming 11 Group Engineering Officer. He received the DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
in June 1942. His victory tally flying fighters was 4 and 2 shared destroyed, 3 and 1 shared damaged.
He then commanded No. 608 Squadron RAF
No. 608 Squadron RAF
No. 608 Squadron was an Auxiliary Air Force squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It flew during its existence as a bomber, fighter and reconnaissance unit and was the only RAF squadron to be equipped with the unsuccessful Blackburn Botha torpedo bomber.-Formation and early years:...
, flying Lockheed Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
s in the Middle East in 1943. In 1945 he commanded 906 Wing in Burma, being awarded an AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
. He became a Group captain in 1950. He was stationed for much of his time at RAF Acklington
RAF Acklington
The former Royal Air Force Station Acklington, commonly known as RAF Acklington, was a Royal Air Force airfield airbase situated near Acklington, in Northumberland, England....
, whose chapel contains a recently dedicated stained glass window to honour him. As a Group Captain he was posted to No. 1 School of Technical Training
No. 1 School of Technical Training
No.1 School of Technical Training is the Royal Air Force's aircraft engineering school, based at RAF Halton from 1919 to 1993, as the Home of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme...
, RAF Halton, as Senior Technical Training Officer. He regularly took part in the station sports meeting and even at the age of 43 won every event he entered: 100x Hurdles, 100x, 220x, High Jump, Long Jump and the Veteran's (over 40) Handicap, in which he took the offered three yard start! His performance in this event won him few admirers. As he reached the tape - having made sure that we all knew he could've won - he turned around and started to run back down the course. In doing so he bumped into some of the following runners (in their rolled up trousers and loosened ties - whereas he was in his RAF athletics kit), sending them flying. Many boos were heard around the stadium! We in the station athletics team had been in awe of him when he first arrived at Halton - but his 'I am famous' attitude soon burst the bubble.
He did, however raise a laugh at the prize giving ceremony at the passing out of the 61st entry of apprentices in Dec 1948. As Senior Tech Training Officer, he was describing the results of the various trades. On the subject of the Airframe Fitters he commented 'that a number of them had shone in an area not normally included in the sylabus!' This was a reference to the fact that four of the entry had been interviewed by the Buckinghamshire Police in respect of a counterfeiting operation that had enabled free entry to the camp cinema - and free passage to Aylesbury by bus! Available metal only permitted counterfeited sixpences. Excellant 2/- and 2/6d pieces had been produced - but they were too thin to be considered as a good risk!