by Nick Thomas
The Malta Spitfires had been scrambled to take on nearly twenty Bf 109s, which were closing on the coastline. No. 603 Squadron’s Spitfires were the first to engage, as Sergeant Len Webster pursued one Messerschmitt, which he claimed as ‘damaged.’ Thanks to the deterrence of the air-cover, only one of the replacement Spitfires was lost. This was due to a heavy landing which earned the luckless Pilot Officer J.F. McElroy a temporary grounding from the station commander, Wing Commander Gracie. McElroy’s Spitfire had struck the carrier as it descended at the end of the flight deck and sustained minor damage, which led to it being written off on landing.
Fighter pilots are only happy when they are in the air and in the thick of the combat. For Beurling, being on the ground and helpless to defend both himself and the island against enemy bombers was an anathema. His first few hours at Takali airfield were burned into his memory. He later recalled:
‘seeing a trio of Me 109s come whipping down out of nowhere no more than ten feet off the ground.’ The enemy fighters were making a strafe, and avoiding ground-fire by doing rolls and helling around generally, then twisting back and shooting the joint up.’
It wasn’t often that the enemy got through Malta’s air defences and were able to strafe Takali in this way, but the attack proved a rude awakening. Beurling said of his introduction to the besieged island, that it was: ‘like coming awake from a pleasant dream into the heart of an earthquake.’
According to Beurling, the German pilot’s ground attack elicited the droll comment from Flight Sergeant Williams: ‘Saucy lot of bastards, aren’t they?’
The attack on Takali that Beurling recalled may have been the raid officially recorded as by three Sm 84s and their escort of Mc 202s and Re 2001s. The enemy was met by twenty-two Spitfires drawn from Nos. 126, 601 and 603 Squadrons. During the ensuing combat No. 126 Squadron’s Pilot Officer M.A. Graves (flying MK-E) destroyed a Bf 109 of V./JG 53, and damaged a second. Flight Sergeant K.W.S. Evans (flying BP992) probably destroyed a Re 2001, while No. 603 Squadron’s Pilot Officer Hurst claimed a second as damaged.
Soon after their arrival at Takali, the reinforcement pilots were addressed by Wing Commander Gracie. Beurling recalled his rather sobering introduction to Malta’s air campaign, reminding them, if they needed it, of the scene that had greeted them and that the island was the hottest spot in the entire war:
‘Tomorrow you may be up there and you may get it. Good luck and good hunting!’
Not long after the new arrivals had landed, No. 249 Squadron’s adjutant appeared with a scrap of paper listing the details of the relief pilots. Bob Middlemiss, who had flown with Beurling in No. 41 Squadron, must have seen him at dispersal and was asked for his opinion. Flight Lieutenant P.B. Lucas, then No. 249 Squadron’s ‘A’ Flight Commander, recollected that Middlemiss was scathing of Beurling’s apparent lack of discipline in the air, reporting that he: ‘tends to get separated from the Squadron. Very individualistic – but he’s got flair. Good eyes, quick, aggressive.’ In summing-up he said: ‘He’ll either buy it very quickly here or shoot some down.’ His appraisal was sufficient for ‘B’ Flight’s Commander, Flight Lieutenant Robert Wendell ‘Buck’ McNair, DFC2, to say that he didn’t want him; Lucas didn’t push the matter.
When it came to allocating the new pilots to Squadrons, David Douglas-Hamilton of No. 185 Squadron and No. 249 Squadron’s ‘Laddie’ Lucas tossed a coin for the first choice of the new arrivals. Lucas won and selected Beurling on No. 249 Squadron’s behalf.
Douglas-Hamilton must have been surprised, as he too had learned of Beurling’s reputation in advance of the selections:
‘Someone [had] told me he thought “Screwball” was a rather crazy pilot and a line-shooter.’ This was a side-swipe at Beurling’s claims over France which had been exaggerated by his detractors and were misreported in the press as having been made ‘on his first trip over France.’ As Douglas-Hamilton said, this, ‘would have been good enough even for an experienced pilot.’ As he recalled, Beurling just didn’t look the part, ‘wearing a lock of his long, sandy hair hanging over his brow.’ Douglas–Hamilton later conceded that Beurling was, ‘a brilliant pilot in every way, but it was his shooting that was most amazing.’
Beurling was only one of a number of replacement pilots to be posted to No. 249 Squadron, each of whom was to play an important part in the air defence of the island. Their ranks included:
Flying Officer John Smith
Pilot Officer J.H.R. Paradis, RCAF (a French-Canadian) (flight leader)
Pilot Officer Harry Kelly, RAF (USA)
Pilot Officer C.H. Lattimer, RNAF
Pilot Officer J.F. McElroy, (RCAF) (who would later fight for the Israeli Air Force)
Pilot Officer B.W. Spradley, RCAF (USA)
Flight Sergeant Louis G.C. de l’Ara (former Spitfire test pilot)
Flight Sergeant C.H. Parkinson, RAAF
Flight Sergeant M.E. ‘Tommy’ Tomkins
Flight Sergeant R.D. Rae, RNZAF (from 603 Squadron)
Sergeant C.J. Baxter, RAAF
Sergeant George Frederick ‘Screwball’ Beurling
Sergeant A.E. ‘Ernie’ Budd
Sergeant C.E. ‘Rip’ Mutch, RCAF
The other reinforcements who arrived on 9 June included:
Flight Lieutenant A.C. Rowe, RNZAF (flight leader)
No.126 Squadron
Pilot Officer Reade F. Tilley, RCAF (flight leader)
No. 601 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant P.W. Lovell
No. 603 Squadron
Flying Officer K. L. Charney
No. 185 Squadron
Pilot Officer G.P.B. Davies
No. 126 Squadron
Pilot Officer R.G. Smith
No. 603 Squadron
Pilot Officer G. Stenborg, RNZAF
No. 185 Squadron
Flight Sergeant R.A. Stevenson
No. 126 Squadron
Flight Sergeant B.W. Reynolds, RCAF
No. 126 Squadron
Flight Sergeant J.A.H. Pinney, RCAF
No. 1435 Squadron
Flight Sergeant Donald Frank Hubbard
No. 126 Squadron
Sergeant N. Marshall, RCAF
No. 126 Squadron
Sergeant R.H. Davey, RCAF
No. 126 Squadron
Sergeant A. Richardson, RAAF
No. 126 Squadron
Sergeant E.T. Brough, RNZAF
No. 229 Squadron
Sergeant C.L. Wood, RNZAF
No. 1435 Squadron
No 249 Squadron was commanded by Squadron Leader Stanley Grant, DFC, who Beurling described as: ‘a swell Englishman and a swell pilot.’
Grant was nearing the end of his operational tour on Malta, something which was signalled by the award of the DFC. This was announced in the London Gazette of 2 June 1942:
‘Acting Squadron Leader Stanley Bernard GRANT (33417), No. 249 Squadron.
‘This officer is an excellent fighter pilot. On one occasion he led a force of fighter aircraft over many miles of sea into Malta. On the same day, after his aircraft had been refuelled, he took off and destroyed a Junkers 88. For the rest of the day he remained at the head of his Squadron in a series of fierce battles over the island. He has destroyed at least four enemy aircraft and damaged many more.’
Beurling and the other new arrivals on the Squadron spent their first day getting settled into their quarters and meeting the other pilots:
Flight Lieutenant Robert Wendell ‘Buck’ McNair, DFC
Flight Lieutenant Norman W. Lee
Flying Officer W. Raoul ‘Daddy Longlegs’ Daddo-Langios
Pilot Officer Frank E. ‘Jonesy’ Jones
Pilot Officer Alan S. ‘Al’ Yates
Pilot Officer Oscar Mahafft Linton3
Pilot Officer C.B. ‘Chuck’ ‘Mac’ MacLean
Warrant Officer Charles Benn ‘Chuck’ Ramsey
Warrant Officer Basil ‘Micky’ Butler
Flight Sergeant Robert George ‘Bob’ Mi
ddlemiss
Flight Sergeant John W. ‘Willie the Kid’ Williams
Sergeant Virgil Paul Brennan, DFM
Sergeant John Carlton ‘Gil’ Gilbert
Sergeant J.C. Gray
Sergeant C.S. Gerry De Nencrede
At 1100 hours on 10 June, Beurling’s first full day on Malta, No. 249 Squadron scrambled ten Spitfires to engage a similar number of Bf 109s and Macchi Mc 202s, reported as targeting a minesweeper. Sergeant J.C. Gray (flying BR379 T-W) was credited with destroying an Mc 202.
Meanwhile, six of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires were scrambled at 1245 hours to intercept a Do 24 flying boat, accompanied by a dozen Bf 109s reported heading for the island, presumably on a search and rescue mission. Flight Lieutenant P.B. Lucas (flying BR108 2-20) and Pilot Officer O.M. Linton (flying BR111 C-18) evaded the fighter escort and damaged the Dornier. Meanwhile, Warrant Officer C.B. Ramsey (flying BR170 C-25) probably destroyed a Bf 109.
In retaliation Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Ehrenberger of VI./JG 53 claimed a Spitfire. No. 249 Squadron’s ORB noted, ‘One Spitfire crashed near Western Dispersal.’ This may refer to Sergeant Gray, who undershot on landing, possibly due to combat damage, and was admitted to 90 General Hospital with minor injuries.
No. 249 Squadron was back in the air at 1810 hours, when eight Spitfires were scrambled. The Controller gave orders for them to provide top cover to Beauforts arriving from Gibraltar, which were under attack, and the Spitfires’ presence was sufficient to send the enemy heading back to Sicily. A second vector, however, led the Spitfires onto a formation of four Italian Cant Z 1007 bombers, escorted by up to twenty-seven Mc 202s and twenty Re 2001s. High above were Bf 109s of II./JG 53. Radioing for assistance, a further six Spitfires were scrambled.
During the air battle that developed, Squadron Leader S.B. Grant (flying BR170 C-25) destroyed the Re 2001 flown by Sergente Giovanni Dringoli of 150a Squadriglia. This was confirmed by Flight Lieutenant R.W. McNair. Flight Sergeant J.W. Williams (flying BR165 C-23) damaged the Re 2001 flown by Tenente Agostino Celantano, which limped back to base.
Meanwhile, McNair (flying BR107 C-22), destroyed the Bf 109 flown by Unteroffizier Heinrich Sedlmaier of V./JG 53. McNair had placed his section as top cover and was able to lead them out of the sun onto a formation of twenty Bf 109s. He later recalled:
‘One of them turned and I turned with it, giving it a squirt as I dived. He dived too, with me after him. I pranged him again and he bailed out.’
No. 185 Squadron’s Flight Sergeant J.W. Yarra had a narrow escape when his windscreen stopped a bullet. During the same engagement No. 601 Squadron’s Pilot Officer W.R.P. Sewell, RCAF, destroyed the Mc 202 of 155° Gruppo flown by 378a Squadriglia’s Maresciallo Lorenzo. Meanwhile, McNair4 had witnessed a Spitfire going down in the same vicinity and, calling up the Controller, he passed on the location. The Air-Sea Rescue was despatched immediately (to rescue 601 Squadron’s Pilot Officer Innes who had been shot down from 25,000ft and whose Spitfire broke up mid-air and was thrown free) and McNair provided an escort, explaining that, ‘sometimes enemy fighters machine gunned them. I directed the boat [High Speed Launch 107] to a green colour, which marked where the Spitfire pilot had hit the water.’
Although Beurling didn’t fly under McNair’s command, he is on record as saying that he was a ‘top-drawer guy,’ describing him as, ‘one of the greatest fighter pilots the RAF ever owned with eight destroyed, and a fistful of damaged and probables in his kit.’ McNair, whose tour was nearly over, was just one of 100 such men who flew tirelessly in the defence of the island.
While there was little combat during 11 June, at 0940 hours No. 126 Squadron was scrambled against six Bf 109s, Pilot Officer J.H.E. Bisley, RAAF, claiming one Messerschmitt Bf 109 destroyed. No. 249 Squadron flew two patrols during the afternoon and evening. Beurling was airborne at 2010, flying as No. 2 to Flying Officer W.R. Daddo-Langlois, while Flight Sergeant R.D. Rae was in the No. 3 position, with another of the new arrivals as his wingman. Rae later recalled:
‘The idea of this flight was to familiarise newcomers with the formations and possibly give them some combat experience.’
And so the new pilots were following their commander’s lead in straight and level flight, watching out for possible enemy aircraft, which the Controller had reported were in the vicinity:
‘Without warning Beurling put his wing “hard over.” This, Daddo-Langlois and Rae, took to mean ‘break hard, being attacked.’ Rae remarked how: ‘Raoul and myself were halfway round before we noticed that this oaf was just playing around doing a full roll.’
Daddo-Langlois is said to have been fuming at Beurling’s recklessness and said he wouldn’t take off with him in his flight again. As a consequence Lucas had Beurling in his office and, ‘hauled him over the coals.’ Beurling was told in no uncertain terms that if he was to remain with the Squadron, he would have to fly as a part of the team, otherwise he would be sent on the next flight out to the Far East, adding:
‘Listen, we fly line abreast in pairs and fours of aircraft; never in line astern. Two or four pairs of eyes looking inwards cover the whole sky. If you get separated find another aircraft. There are more Me 109s out here than Spitfires.’
Beurling agreed to play things No. 249 Squadron’s way and there was scarcely another bad word said about him while he was stationed on Malta.
His initial act of bravado put to one side, Lucas’ lasting impression of Beurling was overall quite positive, apart from being habitually untidy. Far from considering Beurling aloof, Lucas remarked that the young Canadian nearly always seemed to have a smile for his comrades, which, ‘came straight out of those striking eyes.’
On one occasion however, Pilot Officer Frank Jones and Beurling had a rather vocal disagreement over the radio regarding navigation while on a night patrol. Beurling apologised the following morning, but Pilot Officer Jones, then a section leader, refused to fly with him again and asked for him to be moved to ‘B’ Flight.
In the scheme of things, this was nothing more than a disagreement, and, over the following weeks, No. 249 Squadron’s pilots grew to hold Beurling in the very highest regard. Indeed, many would owe their life to Beurling, who dived in on numerous occasions to shoot enemy aircraft off their tails.
While the recent reinforcement of pilots and Spitfires had provided a lifeline for the island, the siege continued and no supply vessels had succeeded in breaking the blockade in months.
In the early hours of the morning of 12 June, a convoy, Operation Harpoon, passed through the Straits of Gibraltar, sailing eastwards. The carriers HMS Eagle and HMS Argus provided air cover with their Sea Hurricanes and Fulmars, while they and the merchantmen also had a heavy Royal Navy escort. It would be several days until the vessels came under the umbrella of Malta‘s Spitfires.
Meanwhile, the air operations continued on Malta as usual. Beurling had been assigned to Red Section, which was to be the first on patrol. As Beurling later explained, the pilot’s day began well before dawn with, ‘a hurry-up call from bed’, meaning he reported for duty at 0430 hours, before the station bus would collect them and head off for the airfield. Dropped off near dispersals, they donned their flying-gear and waited for their first patrol or scramble. The pilots, officers and NCOs would freely mingle in the dispersal hut – there were no rank distinctions. They sat around, drinking hot chocolate, playing cards or board-games, or talking. Beurling recalled that when the calm was broken by the Ops phone bell, the call would go out: ‘“Scramble Four aircraft!” and we were away, Daddy-Longlegs [Flying Officer W.R. Daddo-Langlois], Berkeley-Hill [Pilot Officer O.W.H. Berkeley-Hill], Flight Sergeant R.D. Rae, and I – off the ground in a few seconds over the minute.’
The early morning raid composed a brace of Ju 88s and their escort of fifteen Bf 109s. The bombers evaded No. 249 Squadron and attacked Luqa, but caused little damage. Nos. 185 and 601 Squadrons had been scrambled to combat the raid. Flight Sergeant Peter Terry of No. 185 Squadron damaged a Bf 109, as did
No. 601 Squadron’s Pilot Officers J.A. ‘Jerry’ Smith (flying BR175 UF-Z) and W.R.P. Sewell.
At 1020 hours the Squadron scrambled and made an intercept of eight Bf 109s. Despite the Spitfires going into a steep battle-climb, the enemy had the advantage of height. The Spitfires peeled off to go into action and, as the combat developed, Beurling and Berkeley-Hill, flying in their pair, found themselves isolated from the rest of the Squadron.
Four Bf 109s focussed their attention on Pilot Officer O.W.H. Berkeley-Hill. Acting immediately, Beurling (flying BR176 C-25) turned in under one of the Bf 109s. Firing a well-aimed burst, Beurling hit his mark. His rounds ripped through the Messerschmitt’s fuselage, blasting the tail off:
‘He went down vertically and that was the last I saw of him.’
While none of the Squadron witnessed Beurling’s victory, he explained: ‘Berkeley-Hill had seen my burst hit him, so I was credited with another damaged.’
Elsewhere in the air battle, Flight Sergeant J.D. Rae5 (flying BR254 X-G), who had only recently returned to combat following his recovery from wounds received during an engagement with a Messerschmitt 109, damaged a Bf 109 in a head-on attack.
Meanwhile, Flying Officer W.R. Daddo-Langlois’ Spitfire (flying BR107 C-22) was hit in the tail and fuselage by cannon-fire, while the enemy’s machine gun bullets raked his fuselage. Having come off worst in the head-on pass, he managed to make it back to Takila, unhurt. He annotated his log book with the understatement:
‘Found myself alone with three [Bf 109s], 15 miles out. Got shot up.’