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

by Nick Thomas

  Stephens then engaged an Mc 202, which he shared with Flight Sergeant L.G.C. de l’Ara. Stephen’s combat report continued:

  ‘I attacked an Mc 202, observing strikes on starboard side of the engine. Plt Off Nash of 229 Squadron watched these attacks, and saw the aircraft crash and the pilot bail out after I was forced to break away.’

  Meanwhile, No. 1435 Squadron’s Spitfires closed in for the attack. Sergeant W.R. Whitmore (flying EN968 V-H) claiming a Ju 88 and Flight Lieutenant H.W. McLeod (flying BR236) destroying an Mc 202. Two more were destroyed by Sergeants W.B. Knox-Williams (flying EP714 V-T) and G. Philp (EP612 V-B).

  No. 249 Squadron’s ORB noted that during the day, Squadron Leader Stephens ceased to be attached on posting to command No. 229 Squadron.

  Feldmarschal Kesselring later explained the significance of the day’s air battles:

  ‘The assault in the middle of October had not been the success we hoped for; I broke it off on the third day [13th], our losses were too high.’

  During those three days, the Luftwaffe had lost sixteen Ju 88s, two He IIIs (night bombing), with a further nine Ju 88s written off. Sixty-eight air crew were killed, missing or POWs.

  At 0645 hours on 14 October, No. 185 Squadron scrambled eight Spitfires to intercept eight Ju 88s, with their escort of forty fighters stepped up to 28,000ft and approaching Malta. Headed off by the Messerschmitts, Wing Commander Thompson, Pilot Officers L.S. Reid and O’Brien each damaged a Bf 109.

  Meanwhile, four Spitfires from No. 229 Squadron were scrambled and attacked twenty German and Italian fighters head-on, north of St Paul’s Bay. Wing Commander A.H. Donaldson20 (flying 130 T3) flew straight through the fighter cover and made a head-on attack on the Ju 88s, but was hit in the head and foot by return fire. Two of his fingers were shot away, but he managed to land his damaged Spitfire safely at Takali.

  As the air-battle developed, eight Spitfires of No. 249 Squadron were scrambled at 0705 hours and joined nine of No. 126 Squadron’s Spitfires to give assistance.

  Squadron Leader E.N. Woods21 (flying AR466 T-R) led the Squadron into the attack at 0720 hours, executing a head-on pass against six of the bombers as they were making their run on the Squadron’s home base. Squadron Leader Woods damaged a Ju 88, while Flight Sergeant L.G.C. de l’Ara (flying BR565 T-T) damaged two more.

  Despite the Spitfire pilots’ best efforts, the bombers peppered Takali airstrip, which was rendered temporarily unserviceable. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer J.G. Sanderson’s Spitfire was hit in the wing.

  No. 126 Squadron’s Spitfires engaged the enemy just north of Grand Harbour. Flight Lieutenant W.T.E. Rolls (flying BR498 PP-H) hit the engine of the lead Ju 88 which he saw go down, witnessing two more descending while trailing smoke. Flight Sergeants C.F. Bush, N.M. Park (flying MK-A), R.B. Hendry and Flying Officer E.W. Wallace each destroyed a Ju 88. Flight Sergeant Carl Long (flying AR489) was shot down 12 miles from Kalafrana by Oberleutnant Michalski of Stab II./JG53 (48th ‘kill’) and picked up by seaplane tender ST 280, while two other Spitfires were damaged.

  Sergeant N.M. Park (flying MK-A) also claimed a Ju 88, before being attacked by their escort, which he out-turned, getting onto the tail of one:

  ‘I closed in without opening fire to about 100 yards when he changed his turn and I gave him a three-second burst from dead astern. He went into a steep dive straight into the sea.’

  At 0940 hours, an enemy formation, which included eight-plus Ju 88s and their escort of twenty-plus Bf 109s, approached Malta. Eight Spitfires of No. 1435 Squadron engaged the enemy twenty miles north of the Grand Harbour. They lost two Spitfires in combat, while Flight Lieutenant H.W. McLeod22 (flying BR236 V-E) destroyed one Ju 88, damaging a second. Flight Sergeant I.R. MacLennan and Sergeant W.R. Whitmore (flying EP322) each damaged a Ju 88. The Squadron lost Flight Sergeant W.B. Knox-Williams23 (flying AR470 V-Q) and Sergeant R.J. Roe24 (flying EP203 V-G).

  Meanwhile, No. 229 Squadron scrambled eight Spitfires and intercepted six Ju 88s from astern and head-on, twenty miles north of Grand Harbour. During the ensuing combat, Sergeant E.T. Brough destroyed a Ju 88, Sergeant E.H. Francis probably destroyed one Bf 109, while Flight Sergeant M.A. Lundy damaged two Ju 88s, and Flight Lieutenant E.H. Glazebrook25, Pilot Officer H.T. Nash (flying EN 979) and Flight Sergeant Lundy each damaged a Ju 88. Pilot Officer H.T. Nash was slightly injured in the face when his Spitfire was shot down. He was picked up by High Speed Launch 128. Pilot Officer P.A. Dixon (flying AR471) received battle damage and his Spitfire was written-off.

  At 1030 hours, eight of No. 185 Squadron’s Spitfires were scrambled and intercepted a raid approaching their home airfield. Wing Commander (flying) Hal Far, Wing Commander J.M. Thompson26 (flying EP122 JM-T) destroyed a Ju 88, Pilot Officer L.S. Reid27 (flying EP521) and Captain K.C. Kuhlmann (flying EP712) each destroyed a Bf 109, while Pilot Officer L. Cheek (flying EP696) probably destroyed a Ju 88 and damaged another. During the same engagement, No. 185 Squadron’s Pilot Officers D.G. Reid (flying EP722) and P.A.J. O’Brien (flying BR375 GL-A) damaged a Ju 88, Sergeant J. Tarbuck (AB532) damaged a Ju 88 and a Bf 109, and Captain Kuhlmann damaged a Bf 109.

  Wary of further raids, the Controller held No. 249 Squadron back in reserve and the pilots sat it out in their cockpits at Immediate Readiness, otherwise the enemy would undoubtedly have suffered further losses. Their casualties were recorded as three Ju 88s and two Bf 109s destroyed; one Ju 88 and one Bf 109 probably destroyed; six Ju 88s and three Bf 109s damaged.

  At 1300 hours, the Controller scrambled seven of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires, joining fourteen other Spitfires on an interception of a formation of nine Ju 88s with a close escort of around fifty Bf 109s of I. and II./JG 53, and Mc 202s and Re 2001s.

  No. 229 Squadron’s Pilot Officer C.H. Parkinson28 (flying X-V) destroyed a Mc 202, but received battle damage on his return flight, while Squadron Leader M.M. Stephens destroyed an Re 2001 and damaged a Ju 88. Two of the Squadron’s Spitfires were damaged by return fire.

  Parkinson’s combat report read:

  ‘Met nine Ju 88s with fighter escort of about sixty Me 109s, Macchi 202s and Re 2001s. Led the boys in head-on attack and damaged one Ju 88, then chased an Re 2001 back to Sicily, blew him up from about 60 yards with my machine guns.’

  No. 249 Squadron’s Flight Lieutenant E.L. Hetherington (flying AR466 T-R) was at the head of the first section, which included Pilot Officers Beurling and K.C.M. Giddings (flying EP338 T-A), along with Sergeant N.G. Brydon (flying BR254 T-S). Once airborne, Hetherington put his Spitfires into a battle-climb. Following the Controller’s vector, Hetherington led the formation to within sight of the enemy sweep which was approaching from the eastern end of the island at 18,000ft. The Spitfires had about 2,000ft height advantage.

  Giving the Tally-Ho, Hetherington led Giddings in a head-on attack to break up the bomber formation, which was by then just south of Zonqor, while Beurling and Brydon continued to climb in order to give them cover by taking on five Bf 109s which were waiting at about 24,000ft. Beurling called out a warning as the enemy came down, the action taking place in amongst the Ju 88s as the Bf 109s tried to defend them. The fighters’ main target had to be the Ju 88s, their own safety coming second. In the moments before the Bf 109s drew into range, all four pilots were able to get in a shot at the Junkers Ju 88s.

  Beurling recalled:

  ‘I took the one on the starboard rear position of the V and gave him a two-second burst. He burst into flames and we went headlong towards the sea.’

  Just then, Beurling caught a glimpse of Hetherington’s Spitfire flash by under him with about eight Bf 109s in hot pursuit. In that momentary lapse of concentration, the rear-gunner riddled the port side of Beurling’s fuselage and wing with a burst of about thirty explosive rounds. Bullets entered the cockpit, striking Beurling in the left forearm and the, ‘left middle finger of my throttle hand.’

  Despite his wounds, he veered off after the Bf 109 on his pal’s tail; still with two Messerschmitt Bf 109s i
n hot pursuit of his own Spitfire. Beurling knew he only had one chance and had to make every round count. Instinctively, he positioned his Spitfire above and to port of Hetherington’s would-be assailants. Beurling pressed the gun-button while at 450 yards, firing a perfect deflection shot, fatally hitting the lead Messerschmitt Bf 109 in the engine. Beurling saw pieces flying off before it plummeted seaward, leaving a thick plumb of black smoke.

  Not for the first time however, Beurling had placed himself in immediate danger to prevent a fellow pilot from being shot down. And again he paid the price, as one of the Bf 109s already tailing him fired, with rounds hitting Beurling’s port wing and piercing the perspex canopy, passing inches above his head. The second Messerschmitt punched holes into the starboard wing.

  Beurling pulled back hard on the stick, which responded, and his damaged Spitfire climbed out of immediate danger. Searching the sky, Beurling could see the battle below and that Hetherington was still in danger. But just as he was about to dive on a gaggle of Bf 109s, a call came over the radio from Pilot Officer J.W. Williams: ‘Anybody around Kalafrana Bay? Come give us a hand! Two of us are in a jam with twenty Me’s!’

  Beurling was right above the action. He put his Spitfire into a power-dive, only pulling out at 14,000ft to sweep under a Bf 109 which was just about to shoot Pilot Officer Williams out of the sky. Beurling delivered a short burst of fire at close quarters:

  ‘I gave the son of a Hun a two-second burst and blew his whole left wing off at the root. He flicked over, and that was that.’

  As the Bf 109s spiralled down, Beurling made the classic mistake of following its path. In the same instant, an unseen Bf 109, probably that flown by Oberfeldwebel Riker of IV./JG 53 or Leutnant Karl von Lieres of II./JG 27 (who was credited with his 26th ‘kill’ during the battle), ripped into Beurling from behind, hitting the belly of his Spitfire (BR173 T-D), with a cannon shell splinter embedding itself in Beurling’s right heel:

  ‘Other fragments went between my left arm and body, nicking me in the elbow and ribs. Shrapnel spattered into my left leg.’

  The cannon strikes had blasted the Spitfire’s controls to pieces and the throttle was jammed wide open, putting the aircraft into spin at full power. Clearly there was no chance of saving his Spitfire. Somehow, Beurling managed to jettison the damaged hood, but the centrifugal forced pushed him back into his seat. Meanwhile, he was being sprayed with oil, which might ignite at any moment.

  As man and plane plummeted towards a watery grave, thoughts raced through his mind. He felt resignation. He had proved himself, done his bit, made his mark, but then something else took over and he began to fight again:

  ‘The engine was streaming flames by this time.’ Beurling managed to pull himself out of the cockpit as far as the port wing root, ‘from which I could bail into the inside of the spin.’ Beurling freed himself from the rotating aircraft, at around 1,000ft, the lowest safe limit for deploying his parachute. He delayed pulling the ripcord to avoid tangling with the tail-plane, which meant the parachute didn’t open until he was at around 500ft: ‘The chute opened with a crack like a cannon shell and I found myself floating gently down in the breeze.’

  Beurling was out over the Mediterranean and, without any points of reference, he couldn’t work out his altitude. He took off a glove, but the silk inner was too light and was caught by the air turbulence. Just as he tried to repeat the experiment with his flying boots, he hit the water.

  Flying above, Beurling’s old pal Pilot Officer R. ‘Bob’ Seed had witnessed his final moments in the air, and was put through the mill until he saw a parachute moments before the Spitfire ploughed into the water. Seed had to fend off a Bf 109 lining up to strafe Beurling in his parachute. He radioed a Mayday message to the Controller, who immediately despatched High Speed Launch 128. Meanwhile, Seed circled Beurling’s dinghy.

  Pilot Officer Seed later jibbed Beurling:

  ‘A couple of Me’s had been hovering around like vultures, so I stuck around to save your useless goddam Canadian hide!’

  Beurling bobbed around in his dinghy for about twenty minutes before he could be picked up, by which time he was starting to lose quite a bit of blood.

  Pilots and aircrews are generally a superstitious breed. Many fighter pilots had a set routine before take-off, even when on a scramble. Some carried a lucky charm, a gift from a girlfriend or loved one. Beurling, as a devout Christian, carried a small pocket Bible which was a gift from his Mother.

  Apparently less concerned about his wound when the crew of the Air-Sea Rescue launch arrived, Beurling refused to be pulled aboard until his Bible was found. After a brief search it was seen floating in the water close to Beurling’s dinghy. Relieved at its discovery, moments later Beurling passed out.

  Beurling was undergoing surgery at Mtarfa Military Hospital, a little over half-an-hour of being shot down, his wound resulting in the loss of a part of his heel, reducing his shoe size from 11½ to 10:

  ‘As I passed out under the anaesthetic I could hear another dogfight getting going. The blitz was in full spate – and I was out of it!’

  Meanwhile, as the air battle continued above, Flight Lieutenant E.L. Hetherington probably destroyed a Ju 88. Pilot Officer K.C.M. Giddings and Sergeant N.G. Brydon claimed one each as damaged, while Sergeant V.H. Wynn (flying BR373 T-N) probably destroyed another. The attack was broken up by the Bf 109s of I./JG 53 and II./JG 53.

  Beurling had been taken out of the battle through his wounds almost at the very moment of victory. The Squadron’s ORB told its own tale, recording their combat victories:

  2 Bf 109 and 1 Ju 88 destroyed: Pilot Officer G.F. Beurling [flying BR173 T-D]

  1 Bf 109 destroyed and 1 Ju 88 damaged: Pilot Officer K.C.M. Giddings [flying EP338 T-A]

  1 Ju 88 probable: Flight Lieutenant E.L. Hetherington29 [flying AR466 T-R]

  1 Bf 109 probable: Sergeant V.H. Wynn [flying BR373 T-N]

  1 Ju 88 damaged: Sergeant N.G. Brydon [flying BR254 T-S]

  2 Bf 109s damaged: Pilot Officer J.W. Williams [flying EP340 T-M]

  ‘Pilot Officer G.F. Beurling was shot down by Bf 109, bailed out and was picked up with slight wound in heel. Admitted Hospital.’

  Luftwaffe records indicate that no Messerschmitt Bf 109s were lost during the operation. Their casualties included Oberfeldwebel Josef Edere who was wounded when 2 Staffel (Black 1/7619) of I./JG53 was damaged in the action. Edere crash-landed at San Pietro, Sicily. Of the II Gruppe aircraft involved, three were reported damaged due to landing incidents at Comiso, with one of these having suffered prior combat damage. Seven Ju 88s were claimed to have been shot down by the RAF, while according to records, only one failed to return. In retaliation, the enemy claimed three Spitfires, one of which was Beurling’s.

  The air battles continued while Beurling was on the operating-table. At about 1515 hours, a raid of thirty-five-plus aircraft, including seven Ju 88s, approached the island. The enemy was intercepted fifteen miles north east of Zonqor. Four Bf 109s and one Re 2001 were destroyed, with one Ju 88 probably destroyed, three Ju 88s and two Bf 109s damaged.

  Part of the enemy formation got through, bombing Hal Far. They were engaged over Kalafrana by eight Spitfires protecting their home base. Flight Sergeant E.L. Mahar destroyed a Ju 88, and Sergeant D.G. Guy probably destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged a Ju 88.

  At 1635 hours, ten Ju 88s and their escort of forty fighters were reported as heading for Takali. No. 229 Squadron scrambled seven Spitfires, which targeted the bombers head-on, forcing them to turn out to sea and away from their target, jettisoning their load. Sergeant R. Miller destroyed one Ju 88 and damaged another, while Squadron Leader M.M. Stephens30 and Pilot Officer F.R. Johnson each damaged a Ju 88.

  In a further raid, ten enemy bombers approached Malta at 2100 hours; all but one turned back before crossing the coast, while forty-five minutes later five enemy fighter-bombers launched a dive-bombing attack on the RAF station at Qawra Tower.

  During the night, eight enem
y bombers approached the island at about 0230 hours, dropping bombs on Takali, Ghain Tuffieha and Hamrun. Malta’s Beaufighters were airborne and destroyed one He 111.

  Although not all of the RAF’s claims were confirmed by Luftwaffe records, during the day the island’s defenders claimed their 1,000th ‘’kill’, which is said to have been shot down by Beurling. The achievement was reported the following day (15 October), under the heading ‘Malta Defenders Bag ninety-four Planes in Four Days’. The report read:

  ‘Axis air losses over Malta increased to ninety-four since Sunday [11th] with the destruction of thirteen more enemy aircraft over the rocky island fortress this morning [14th], as the Germans and Italians strove mightily to reinforce and supply their stalled army in Egypt.

  ‘Nine Axis aircraft went down in the morning’s fighting, three of them before the guns of Pilot Officer George Beurling of Verdun, Que., the Canadian ace who knocked down Malta’s 1,000th victim three days ago. Beurling now has accounted for twenty-nine of the enemy.

  ‘Beurling destroyed two Messerschmitt 109s and a Junkers 88 before being forced to bail out of his bullet-riddled fighter, the Air Ministry’s News Service said.

  ‘He got wet as he fell into the sea, it added, but he was picked up soon after little the worse for wear.

  ‘In the afternoon two more Axis planes were downed and the day’s total was five fighters and six bombers.

  ‘Malta has undergone more than 3,000 air raids since Italy entered the war. The intensified air siege was in its fifth day after the RAF had shot down twenty-three Axis planes during four enemy swoops on Malta on Wednesday, losing only five Spitfires from which three pilots were saved.’

  On 15 October, the Times of Malta carried a similar article, leading with a headline which boasted the destruction of eighty-two enemy aircraft in the space of four days, as the RAF answered the Luftwaffe’s renewed assault; five being claimed by Beurling on 14th. The feature continued: