Sniper of the Skies: The Story of George Frederick 'Screwball' Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM

by Nick Thomas

  Scrambled to meet the threat, Beurling heard Paradis’ last words which came over the radio transmitter: ‘I see the bom-bairs. I go there!’

  Having given the enemy’s location to the operations room, Pilot Officer Paradis23 dived into action. By the time the Squadron’s Spitfires reached the scene, the sky was empty and Paradis was already dead. Four Spitfires made a search for Pilot Officer Paradis but no trace could be found.

  The young French-Canadian’s hometown was within 100 miles of Verdun. He had been one of Beurling’s closest friends amongst the officers on Malta. Beurling described Paradis as a: ‘swell French-Canadian kid from Shawingan Falls, Quebec, [who] talked in broken English that was a joy to the outfit,’ adding, ‘Jean and I had always been good friends. Only a couple of days before his last scramble we had gone swimming together at Sliema.’

  Beurling explained that he was a ‘natural’ in the water:

  ‘I enjoyed, as a kid, spending holidays in the Laurentians. I used to dive off a 60ft cliff into the water. Zoom – splash; like that.’

  No. 185 Squadron had also been scrambled but was unable to make any claims, while Pilot Officer D.G. ‘Shorty’ Reid, DFM24, was reported as shot down into the sea (flying BR203 T-X), falling victim to a Bf 109 while he circled the wreckage believed to be from Paradis’ Spitfire. He had earlier destroyed a Bf 109, while Sergeant C. Weaver (flying EP122) of the same Squadron, claimed two.

  A further raid was launched at 1445 hours, when three Ju 88s and over a dozen Bf 109s were assigned to attack Hal Far. While defending the airfield, No. 185 Squadron’s Spitfire, BR109, flown by Flight Sergeant E.L. Mahar, was bounced. His was one of two Spitfires damaged.

  Meanwhile, with their tours completed, Pilot Officers C.M. Lattimer, V.P. Brennan DFM25 and R.B. Hesselyn, DFM, were posted to the UK. Brennan and Hesselyn would later team up to write the best-selling title Spitfire Over Malta, an account of their exploits on the besieged island.

  The first scramble of the day on 23 July was aborted when the radar plot turned back. At 1010 hours, Squadron Leader R.A. Mitchell led a scramble of eight of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires against a raid which consisted of three Ju 88s and their escort of seven Bf 109s and five Re 2001s, which were providing withdrawal cover. Their target was Luqa. Mitchell led the fighters down out of the sun, diving through the enemy’s top cover and onto the bombers.

  Sergeant Beurling (flying BR135 T-Z) damaged a Ju 88, which was seen streaming smoke from its starboard wing. He then fought a lengthy dogfight with an Mc 202, later recalling the combat when the two fighters:

  ‘chased each other around for a hell of a time, looping, rolling, going tight turns, diving on and away from each other.’

  Finally, Beurling managed to get the upper hand:

  ‘I managed to get in a quarter-attack from below, behind, and to port. It was a pure deflection.’

  His burst was accurate and blew the port wing off, and the fighter fell away into the sea.

  Beurling’s victim was Sergente Maggiore Bruno Di Pauli of No. 151a Squadriglia, who parachuted to safety and who was finally located by High Speed Launch 128.

  Squadron Leader R.A. Mitchell (flying BR301 UF-S) destroyed one Ju 88, as the bombers made their first diving pass. The plane dived straight into the sea, which it struck in a cloud of smoke and disappeared from view. Flight Lieutenant Hetherington (flying BR373 T-N) targeted another of the Ju 88s, which he left with its starboard engine smoking, claiming the bomber as damaged. This was the Ju 88’s weak spot, as, without the starboard engine, the bomber lost its hydraulic system, controlling his undercarriage, etc. Even if the aircraft managed to limp home, considerable further damage would result from a belly-landing.

  With the bombers already crippled, the escort had come down too late. Beurling later recalling that both ‘Red’ Bryden and Jack Rae destroyed Bf 109s during the same combat. This was Bryden’s first ‘kill’.

  Meanwhile, eight Spitfires of No. 1435 Squadron had also been scrambled, engaging the enemy 10 -15 miles north of Grand Harbour. Flight Lieutenant J.R.S. Halford destroyed a Ju 88. His combat report read:

  ‘[I] was leader of Blue Section and we were at 22,000ft going south when I noticed three Ju 88s with a small fighter escort going north from Grand Harbour about 10 miles out. I led the Section down and opened up on two Ju 88s close together at about 450 yards range. I had also noticed two 109s in the dive down which had started to follow. After a two-second burst at the 88s a 109 came between us and the bombers, which I followed down giving a five-second burst at 250 yards and noticing strikes on the wing. While smoke and stuff came away from the wing the 109 went straight down through a low cloud, which was only 800ft high.

  (signed) J.R.S. Halfords F/Lt.’

  At 1545 hours, No. 249 Squadron scrambled eight Spitfires to intercept five Ju 88s and their fighter escort, reported approaching Luqa. Flight Lieutenant L.W. Watts (flying BR373 T-N) led his flight towards the bombers, but they got tangled up with the fighter escort. Flight Lieutenant L.W. Watts and Pilot Officer J.F. McElroy (flying EN976 T-C) shared in the destruction of a Bf 109.

  Pilot Officer J.F. McElroy damaged another Bf 109, as did Pilot Officer R.P. Round (flying EP135 T-Z).

  No. 1435 Squadron’s Spitfires attacked the bombers, and, between them, Squadron Leader A.D.J. Lovell, Flight Lieutenant J.R.S. Halford and Flight Sergeant R.A. Stevenson were credited with two Bf 109s destroyed.

  No. 126 Squadron’s Spitfires engaged the enemy:

  Pilot Officer B.C. Downs destroyed one Bf 109

  Pilot Officer R.F. Tilley damaged one Mc 202

  Sergeant K.R. Mitchell damaged one Mc 202

  Sergeant Claude Weaver destroyed two Bf 109s

  Flight Sergeant A.W. Varey damaged one Bf 10926

  During the day, No. 185 Squadron lost Flying Officer Kent (flying Z2825).

  24 July saw No. 249 Squadron flying several patrols, but without making any claims.

  During the first raid of the day, at 1015 hours, No. 1435 Squadron claimed:

  Flight Lieutenant H.W. McLeod (flying EP209) probably destroyed one Bf 109

  Pilot Officer C.H. Lattimer destroyed one Bf 109.

  Sergeant C.J. Baxter, RAAF, probably destroyed one Bf 109

  Meanwhile, No. 126 Squadron’s Pilot Officer R.I.A. Smith, RCAF (flying BR122 MK-O), destroyed a Ju 88, in a port quarter attack, one of its crew bailing out. His brother, J. A. Smith, RCAF, got a second, setting the port engine on fire. Meanwhile, Flight Sergeant K.W.S. Evans destroyed a third.

  No. 185 Squadron’s Sergeants C. Weaver (flying EP122) and A. Drew (flying EP139) destroyed a Ju 88 which they shared with Pilot Officer C. King (flying BR374), who wrote:

  ‘I was Blue Leader. We climbed to 22,000ft south-east of Kalafrana. Saw the Ju 88s going out towards Filfla and went in. I got abeam and astern. Fired all my ammo and saw a flash on cabin. One Ju 88 damaged and down.’

  Sergeant K.R. Mitchell damaged a Ju 88, while Pilot Officer J.W. Guthrie (flying EP200 GL-T) destroyed a Ju 88, as did Sergeant L.S. Reid, RAAF (flying AB526):

  ‘Intercepted four Ju 88s together with large fighter escort. Dived straight down on one at a 45° angle, opening up with cannon at 500 yards closing in to 100 yards, giving one long burst. Hit top of cockpit and starboard engine which immediately gave off black smoke and went into a spin. One Ju 88 destroyed.’

  A further raid came over at 1800 hours, targeting Luqa, with No. 126 Squadron’s Flight Lieutenant J.W. Slade and Pilot Officer E.W. Wallace both hitting a Ju 88, which they claimed damaged. Meanwhile, Sergeant J. Tanner registered hits on a Bf 109.

  In a new phase to the Battle of Malta, the RAF began to implement Park’s plan to intercept enemy formations out at sea, before they reached the island. The fighter Squadrons were issued with orders for new degrees of Readiness, as take-off times had to be further reduced. This was in order to allow the Spitfires a greater chance to intercept raids before they reached the coast:

  Standby – to be airborne
within two minutes.

  Immediate Readiness – to be airborne within three minutes.

  Readiness – to be airborne in five minutes.

  The following day (25th), saw a raid on Luqa and Hal Far during the afternoon, when five Ju 88s and their escort of a dozen Mc 202s of 20° Gruppo, were joined by seven from 155° Gruppo. No. 603 Squadron’s Spitfires were scrambled to intercept, taking on the fighters, with Pilot Officer E.H. Glazebrook destroying an Mc 202. Meanwhile, No. 1435 Squadron was able to attack the bombers, Flight Sergeants I.R. MacLennan and J.A.H. Pinney each damaging one.

  An enemy raid was plotted approaching the island at about 1030 hours on 26 July and No. 126 Squadron was scrambled, intercepting a formation of seven Junkers Ju 88s heading for Takali. Flight Lieutenant W.J. Johnson (flying MK-W) probably destroyed a Ju 88. Flying Officer R.O. Jones claimed another destroyed, while Flight Sergeant A.W. Varey damaged two bombers and Pilot Officer B.C. Downs claimed one damaged.

  Nos. 185 and 1435 Squadrons were also scrambled and were able to engage with the fighters and keep them occupied, while No. 126 Squadron took on the bombers. Flying Officer R.O. Jones destroyed a Ju 88, while Squadron Leader J.P. Winfield was wounded by return fire. Pilot Officer J.A. Smith’s Spitfire, BP952 MK-F, also sustained battle-damage and he had to be escorted back by his brother, Pilot Officer R.I.A. Smith.

  At 0855 hours on 27 July, No. 249 Squadron scrambled six Spitfires, joining sixteen others drawn from Nos. 126 and 185 Squadrons on an interception. The enemy raid consisted of seven Ju 88s, escorted by forty-plus fighters, flying at 25,000ft. Beurling (flying BR301 UF-S) was the first to sight the enemy and called out a warning: ‘Enemy aircraft at four o’clock, slightly below!’ He later recalled: ‘I spotted four Macchis running in line astern and took No.4.’

  The enemy fighters had seen Beurling’s approach and went into a left-handed climb. Beurling followed, coming up on the starboard quarter of one Mc 202, getting a bead on the fighter and firing his characteristic short burst: ‘It was a straight deflection shot which went into his engine and radiator.’ The Mc 202 was seen to flick over and immediately went into a spin to avoid further attention. The pilot initially turned for base, but quickly realised that his engine, which was pouring black smoke, would seize. He picked a spot and made a crash-landing in a stony field outside Victoria on Gozo, hitting his head on the control panel. Sergente Magg Falerio Gelli of 378a Squadriglia, was seen to walk away from the wreckage. Beurling quickly latched onto a second Mc 202, that flown by Capitano Furio Doglio Niclot, commander of 151a Squadriglia. Niclot was a former test pilot with six ‘kills’ to his credit.

  The Mc 202 wiggled its wings as Beurling closed to open fire: ‘the poor devil simply blew to pieces in the air.’ Beurling now lined up a third Mc 202 and was about to send this to join the others, when he sighted two Bf 109s below. It was the Macchi pilot’s lucky day. Performing a half-roll, Beurling bailed out of the attack and pulled up under the Bf 109s, firing a cannon burst into the petrol tank of one, which went down in flames. Beurling had conserved his ammunition and fired a well aimed burst into the second Bf 109, seeing pieces fly off the fighter’s wings and tail, but it managed to get away: ‘He flew off in a hurry, skidding all over the sky.’

  Some of the pilots and ground crew went to inspect Sergente Gelli’s Macchi Mc 202, which landed pretty-much intact. The rudder was removed, while the ‘Cat and Mice’ emblem of 51° Stormo CT was also cut out of the fuselage as a war trophy. Beurling later posed with them both in what was to become one of the most famous images of the ace.

  Douglas-Hamilton later explained that it was the destruction of this Mc 202 that cemented Beurling’s reputation as a crack shot:

  ‘he came down from a fight and claimed to have damaged a Macchi,’ on the starboard side of the fuselage and in the port aileron.’ The shot had been made, according to Douglas-Hamilton’s memory, with only two machine guns, as his cannons had suffered a jam. The wreckage of the Macchi was fairly intact and the combat damage was said to match Beurling’s claim, ‘its ailerons was jammed, while there were rounds to the starboard side of the fuselage.’ No-one else had made a claim, so it had to be Beurling’s, and damaged in the same way he had reported: ‘He immediately became a hero.’

  For the Italians however, it was the loss of Capitano Furio Doglio Niclot, commander of 151a Squadriglia, which led many to doubt for the first time their own chances of survival and the outcome of the whole campaign.

  Meanwhile, Sergeant N.G. Brydon (flying EP196 T-M) fired into a Bf 109, hitting the pilot, the fighter plummeting 20,000ft into the sea. Flight Sergeant J.W. Williams (EN976 T-C) also claimed a Bf 109 destroyed, firing a deflection shot. Hetherington, Beurling recalled, ‘damaged another’. In reply, Feldwebel Kneur of V./JG 53 claimed an unknown Spitfire destroyed.

  The Controller’s voice came over the radio; their airfield had taken a pounding, with four Spitfires and a Hurricane damaged in their pens. Beurling recalled that the bombers, ‘plastered the joint, leaving the ‘drome pocked with bomb craters.’ The Squadron was ordered to Luqa, where they refuelled and rearmed ready for further action.

  No. 185 Squadron’s Spitfires had also been scrambled. Pilot Officer J.W. Guthrie (flying AB526) engaged a Bf 109, one of a formation of twenty, giving it an eight-second burst and leaving it smoking heavily. This was confirmed by Sergeants A. Drew and K.R. Mitchell. However, by the time No. 126 Squadron was able to get near the bombers, they were heading back to base, their Mc 202 escort moving in to defend them.

  The third raid of the day was composed of nine Ju 88s, and their escort of Bf 109s and Mc 202s. Eight of No. 126 Squadron’s Spitfires were still airborne, returning from their earlier sortie. Meanwhile, eight of No. 185 Squadron’s fighters were scrambled, to be joined by five from No. 249 Squadron. The pilots of Nos. 126 and 249 Squadrons located the enemy, but were too late to prevent the Ju 88s from targeting Takali airfield. No. 126 Squadron flew through flak to get within range of the Junkers, claiming one Ju 88 probably destroyed, with two more damaged.

  Red 1, Flight Lieutenant W.J. Johnson (flying MK-W), claimed one Ju 88 probably destroyed. His combat report read:

  ‘I picked out one Ju 88 flying a little out of formation and attacked from full beam to a quarter. I fired a four-second burst and saw hits all along the fuselage. I then attacked from starboard quarter closing to astern and fired a two-second-burst, and saw strikes on starboard wing and engine. The aircraft was now losing height and well out of formation; the starboard engine was streaming black and white smoke. This aircraft just may have reached home, but it is improbable.

  (signed) W.J. Johnson.’

  No. 185 Squadron could not out-run the Ju 88s and turned back to attack the Bf 109s, which were already in a dogfight. Pilot Officer J.W. Guthrie (flying AB526), Green 2, claimed one Bf 109 destroyed south of Gozo, part of a formation of twenty engaged by the Squadron:

  ‘We chased the raiders over the island and eventually caught the escort about five miles south of Gozo. I attacked ten Me 109s from astern giving the last one an eight-second burst with cannon and machine guns. The 109 halfrolled with smoke pouring from it and I then had to break away as I was attacked by the rest of the formation. Sgt Drew and Sgt Mitchell from my Section saw an aircraft go into the sea at this place.

  (signed) P/O Guthrie.’

  Meanwhile, No. 249 Squadron positioned themselves to the south-west of the island, meeting the enemy fighters as they turned north-west. During the ensuing dogfight, two Mc 202s and three Bf 109s were destroyed, while a Bf 109 was damaged.

  At about noon, five Ju 88s of III./JG 77 and their escort, which Beurling estimated at about twenty Bf 109s, were picked up on radar. In response to the threat, the Controller scrambled twenty Spitfires drawn from Nos.126, 185, 249 and 603 Squadrons.

  Among those engaged were six of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires. By the time they joined the battle, three Ju 88s had been shot down, parachutes emerging one by one, as the stricken bombers d
escended out of control. A number of Bf 109s circled the Ju 88 crews, giving them protection as they drifted down.

  No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires climbed above the enemy fighters which were at 17,000ft. As Red Section bore down onto the Bf 109s, Pilot Officer J.W. Williams (flying BP976 T-C) was hit by another Messerschmitt. Forced to disengage, Williams put his nose down and headed back for Luqa. Sighting a lone Bf 109 below, he dived down and caught the pilot off-guard, firing a decisive burst which raked the Bf 109, setting it on fire. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 dived straight into the sea.

  Sergeant Beurling (flying BR301 T S) sighted two of the Bf 109s that had peeled off the main formation to engage Pilot Officer J.W. Williams, destroying one and damaging the second. Beurling recalled: ‘I started chasing one of them around in tight turns.’ The pair flew in ever decreasing circles until the Messerschmitt stalled out and fell away in a dive, with Beurling in hot pursuit. Lining him up, the young Canadian, ‘put a one-second squirt into his glycol tank’. The Messerschmitt rolled over and went straight in from 1,000ft.’ As the melee continued, Beurling got onto the tail of the second Bf 109, ‘just long enough to give him a quick one. The enemy fighter was raked with fire and left a trail of black smoke as the pilot desperately made for cloud and headed for home.’

  One of the Bf 109s destroyed was piloted by Unteroffizier Heinrich Freckmann of VI./JG 53, another by Leutnant Karl-Heinz Preu of Stab/JG 53. Also lost was a Bf 109 of III./JG 77.

  Eight Spitfires from No. 126 Squadron engaged the enemy, making a head-on attack. Flight Lieutenant W.J. Johnson claimed two Ju 88s destroyed, sharing one with Sergeant Bush and the other with Flight Sergeant Evans:

  ‘I was flying Dumbell Red 1. I was told to return to St Paul’s Bay and turned right to comply, and immediately saw enemy aircraft approaching the island. I led the Squadron to attack one bomber staffel. I opened fire at about 500 yards closing to 50 yards. I saw the nearest bomber stream glycol and one of the crew bailed out, and I later saw the aircraft hit the sea. The bomber on the port of the nearest one also streamed glycol from both engines and lost height at about 100ft per sec in a turn to port. I am firmly convinced it could not have got more than a few miles. I exhausted all my ammunition and returned to Luqa. All the bombers jettisoned their bombs on contact and attempted to turn for home.