Sniper of the Skies: The Story of George Frederick 'Screwball' Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM
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Beurling was placed under open arrest and threatened with court-martial for persistent stunt-flying. However, as Canada’s highest scoring fighter ace and a national hero, Beurling could not be put through what would be a politically damaging trial. The Canadian Minister of Air, Charles Gavan ‘Chubby’ Power intervened and had the order rescinded. Beurling was instead temporarily grounded. Meanwhile, a hasty posting was arranged and on 8 November he was transferred to No. 126 Wing for gunnery training duties, before on 29 November being posted to Biggin Hill’s No. 412 Squadron.
A provisional list of pilots who flew with No. 403 between 6 September 1943 and 28 October 1943:
Wing Commander Hugh Constant Godefroy, DFC and Bar
DSO 14.4.44
Squadron Leader R.A. Buckham, DFC
DFC Bar 11.8.44, DFC (US) 20.7.43
Squadron Leader N.R. Fowlow, DFC
Squadron Leader F.E. Grant
KIA 4.9.43
Squadron Leader Charles McLaughlin ‘Maggie’ Magwood, DFC
CO of No. 403 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant G.F. Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM and Bar
Commander ‘A’ Flight
Flight Lieutenant Arthur Campbell Coles
POW 29.11.43
Flight Lieutenant Dean Hugh Dover
‘B’ Flight Commander, DFC 11.8.44, Bar to DFC 1.12.44
Flight Lieutenant David Goldberg
DFC 20.3.45
Flight Lieutenant Grevbial
Flight Lieutenant John Hodgson
KIA 2.6.44
Flight Lieutenant James Fielden ‘Jimmie’ Lambert
Acting ‘B’ Flight Commander, KIA with No. 421 Squadron on 20.12.43
Flight Lieutenant Noel J. Ogilvie
Flight Lieutenant Pattinson
Flight Lieutenant H.J. Southwood
‘A’ Flight Commander, KIA 24.10.43
Flying Officer Thomas Brannagan
POW 15.8.44, DFC 29.8.44
Flying Officer C.T. Brown
Flying Officer J.D. Browne
DFC 24.10.44
Flying Officer H.J. Dowding
DFC 29.10.43 and Bar 1.12.44
Flying Officer Hartland Ross Finley
DFC 24.7.45
Flying Officer L. Foster
Flying Officer James Douglas ‘Doug’ Lindsay
DFC 8.8.44
Flying Officer William Harry ‘Big Bill’ Pentland
DFC 19.9.44, KIA 7.10.44 with No. 440 Squadron
Pilot Officer A.V. Hargraves
Pilot Officer William James ‘Bill’ Myers
DFC 17.10.44
Pilot Officer Claude Weaver. DFM
DFC 17.3.44, POW 9.9.42, escaped and later KIA 28.1.44, Commendation for Valable Service in the Air 8.6.44
Pilot Officer Wilson
Sergeant S. Barnes
Sergeant J.A. Cousineau
Possibly KIA with No. 442 Squadron 24.2.45
Sergeant K.D. Windsor
1. Later Air Vice-Marshal James Edgar ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, CB (12 June 1965), CBE (1 January 1960), DSO (17 December 1943) and Two Bars (21 September 1943 and 4 July 1944), DFC (30 September 1941) & Bar (23 June 1942), Légion d’honneur (France), Officer of the Order of Léopold with Palms (Belgium), Croix de Guerre (Belgium), Legion of Merit (US), Distinguished Flying Cross (US) (25 May 1951), Air Medal (US) (14 January 1944).
2. Later Wing Commander Hugh Constant ‘Huey’ Godefroy, DSO (14 April 1944), DFC (25 May 1943), and Bar (3 September 1943), Croix de Guerre with Gold Star (France).
3. Flying Officer H. J. Dowding was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 29 October 1943:
‘Distinguished Flying Cross
‘Flying Officer Harry James DOWDING (J16027), 403 Squadron.
This pilot has at all times displayed the utmost keenness to engage the enemy, and has destroyed three enemy aircraft as well as sharing in the destruction of two others and damaging two more. He has taken part in numerous operations over enemy territory, many of which were deep penetrations on escort duty. In a period of five days he recently succeeded in destroying two enemy aircraft and damaging another. His flying skill and fighting spirit have at all times been of the highest order.’
Squadron Leader H.J. Dowding was awarded a Bar to the DFC, London Gazette, 1 December 1944:
‘Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross
‘Squadron Leader Harry James, DFC (J16027), No. 442 Squadron
This officer continues to display the highest standard of skill, courage and devotion to duty. His example has greatly inspired the Squadron which, within a period of a few weeks, has inflicted much loss on the enemy. More than 500 mechanical vehicles have been put out of action, many of them by Squadron Leader Dowding. In addition, this officer destroyed two of the nineteen enemy aircraft which were shot down by the Squadron during the period.’
4. Flight Lieutenant Buckham was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 4 June 1943:
‘Flight Lieutenant Robert Andrew Buckham (J15246), No. 416 Squadron.
‘This officer has taken part in a large number of sorties and has proved himself to be a fine fighter and a first class leader. He has destroyed four enemy aircraft and damaged five locomotives.’
Squadron Leader Buckham was awarded a Bar to the DFC, London Gazette, 11 August 1944.
‘Squadron Leader Robert Andrew BUCKHAM, DFC (J15246), No. 403 Squadron.
‘During May 1943, this officer was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Since then he has flown on a great number of sorties and on many occasions has successfully led his wing, sometimes under very adverse weather conditions. He is a fearless leader and set an inspiring example to those serving under him.’
The recommendation draft (Air 2/9633), dated circa 28 March 1944, when he had flown 167 sorties (327 operational hours), of which 83 sorties (141 hours) had been since his previous award. The text is included as it provides greater detail than the official citation:
‘Since the citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to this officer on May 24th, 1943, he has flown a further 142 hours on operations involving 83 offensive sorties. The types of operations comprise Ramrods, Rodeos, Circus and Rangers. He has destroyed a further two aircraft and damaged one, bringing his total personal score to 6½ destroyed, two probable and two damaged.
‘He is an outstanding fighter leader who is an inspiration to those serving under him. Absolutely fearless personally, he combines this quality with innate good judgement in the air. He has led the Wing on many occasions, always successfully and sometimes under very adverse weather conditions.
‘This was favourably endorsed by his Wing Commander (Flying) on 30 March 1944, by an Air Vice-Marshal (appointment not stated) on 11 April 1944, by the Air Officer Commanding, 2nd Tactical Air Force (Air Marshal Coningham) on 24 April 1944, and by the Air Commander-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Air Force (Air Chief Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory) on 28 May 1944.’
Buckham was awarded the DFC (US), London Gazette, 20 July 1943.
USAAF 8th Air Force General Order No. 104 (16 July 1943)
‘For extraordinary achievement while escorting bombers of the United States Army Air Force on seven bombing raids over enemy-occupied Europe. Flight Lieutenant Buckham has fervently sought out the enemy on each occasion and has destroyed three enemy airplanes in aerial combat. The courage and skilful airmanship displayed by Flight Lieutenant Buckham on all these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of His Majesty’s government.’
5. Squadron Leader Norman Ralph Fowlow, DFC, later served with No. 411 Squadron. On 19 May 1944 (flying Spitfire IX MK834) he took off for a dive-bombing sortie. His bomb was hit by flak while attacking a railway crossing at Hazebrouk, and Fowlow bailed out near Neufchatel but was killed-in-action.
Fowlow was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 24 September 1943:
‘Acting Flight Lieutenant Norman Ralph FOWLOW (Can/J.15095), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 421 Squadron.
‘This officer has ta
ken part in a very large number of sorties and has proved himself to be a skilful and courageous fighter. He has destroyed four and shared in the destruction of another enemy aircraft.’
6. Flight Lieutenant (C/1091) Herbert John Southwood, RCAF, was the son of John and Emmie Southwood of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He was buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension. Plot 6, Row D, Grave 1.
Chapter Twelve
Fit For a Hero
On 29 November 1943, Beurling was sent to No. 412 Squadron, operating Spitfire IXbs out of Biggin Hill, as part of No. 126 (RCAF) Airfild Wing. The posting had been made following the personal intervention of Wing Commander McNair, DFC and Two Bars, who had flown with No. 249 Squadron during early 1942. McNair had completed his tour of operations in June, a little after Beurling’s arrival on Malta.
When Beurling arrived at No. 412 Squadron, it was to command ‘A’ Flight, which then comprised of:
Squadron Leader G.C. Keefer, DFC
Flight Lieutenant G.F. Beurling
Flying Officer W.H. Bliss
Flight Lieutenant J.A. Crimmins
Flight Lieutenant R.H. Cull
Flight Lieutenant F.H. Richards
Flight Lieutenant R.P. Vatcher
Flight Lieutenant D.B. Wurtele
Flying Officer D.J. Dewan
Flying Officer A.B. Ketterson
Pilot Officer J.F Jasmin
Pilot Officer F.T. Murray
Pilot Officer J.Z. Zabek
Flight Sergeant D.L.A. Johns
Flight Sergeant S.R. Pyne
‘B’ Flight meanwhile consisted of:
Flight Lieutenant D. G. McKay
Flight Lieutenant Trott
Flying Officer H.L. Phillips
Flying Officer R.W. Thatcher
Flying Officer Donald C. Laubman
Flying Officer E.C. Likeness
Pilot Officer R.F. McDermid
Pilot Officer J.H. MacLean
Pilot Officer T.M. Saunderson
Pilot Officer H.A. Heacock
Pilot Officer H.W. Bowker
Pilot Officer Allen
Pilot Officer J.N. Goldberg
Pilot Officer Robertson
Pilot Officer P.M. Charron
Flight Sergeant W.F. Aldcorn
One of the replacement pilots, Flying Officer Lloyd Berryman, had arrived fresh from No. 61 OTU. Berryman later recalled that Beurling went out of his way to drop by his room to welcome him to the Squadron. Beurling was keen to give his pilots every chance in the air and schooled them in deflection firing:
‘He liked to get the pilots out on the dispersal for ‘mental’ drills designed to help them make instantaneous decisions in deflection shooting.’
Beurling would give his pilots a scenario where they were in combat with an Fw 190, with a wingspan of thirty-four feet. Then he’d reel off the closing speed of pilot and target, followed by the angle of the attack, giving the men under his instruction just over a second to respond. Beurling would call out the answer if they got it wrong.
Berryman added of his flight commander:
‘The fact that on his own initiative he sought out every pilot to master the skills of deflection shooting dispels completely the notion that George Beurling was not a team player.’
Beurling not only taught his flight the finer points of deflection firing, but also how to avoid the enemy on their tail. Beurling’s preferred method of evading enemy fire was, ‘an aileron turn where you kick everything [the stick and the rudder] into the corner.’ This would cause the aircraft to roll over and drop like a stone.
During the morning of 1 December, No. 412 Squadron flew Ramrod 343 as a part of No. 126 Airfield Wing, comprising of Nos. 401, 411 and 412 Squadrons. Led by Wing Commander R.W. McNair, the Wing provided an escort to seventy-two Marauders bombing Cambrai-Epinoy airfield.
Flying as No. 412 Squadron’s Blue 3, Flying Officer H.L. Phillips reported the destruction of an Fw 190 by No. 411 Squadron’s Flight Lieutenant D.R. Matheson (flying MJ236), who, like Pilot Officer St. Denis (Flying MJ288), failed to return. Matheson became a POW.1
Meanwhile, No. 411 Squadron’s Blue 3, Flying Officer S.A. Mills (flying MH850), destroyed an Fw 190 in three attacks from line astern, crashing from fifty feet.
The Wing flew on Ramrod 344 escorting returning Fortresses and Liberators during the early afternoon. No. 412 Squadron’s Red 3, Squadron Leader G.C. Keefer, DFC, reported:
‘After we had turned to sweep in front of the bombers and just south of Knocke, while at 15,000ft, three Fw 190s were seen 1,000 yards behind a Fortress flying 4,000ft below. Wing Commander McNair ordered my Section to go down. I attacked from 20 to 15 degrees to port and gave him two or three bursts of both cannon and machine gun. I saw strikes on two of the burst[s] at the rear of the engine and the front of the cockpit near the wing root. The pilot took no evasive action at all and a few seconds later rolled slowly over to starboard, pouring grey smoke, went straight down and disappeared in cloud.’
Beurling flew on two aborted Ramrods during 4 December, before joining a further Wing operation on 13 December, when at 0920 hours, the Squadron took off on Ramrod 262 flying over Holland acting as formation support for Fortresses. As a flight commander, Beurling had been assigned Spitfire MH 883 VZ-B and had his tally of thirty ‘kills’ emblazoned on the side of the cockpit.
Ramrod 363 was made between 1400 to 1600 hours, with Squadron Leader Keefer again at the head of the Squadron, which included Beurling. No. 126 Airfield Wing was assigned to escort seventy-two Marauders on their return leg, picking them up while they were still over Holland.
At about 1445 hours, two Bf 109s were reported flying over the target area at 17,000ft. No. 411 Squadron’s Flight Lieutenant McFarlane, Flying Officer Walker and Pilot Officers Steele and Wheler, flying as Yellow Section, were detailed to engage, damaging both enemy aircraft.
Yellow 1, Flight Lieutenant McFarlane’s combat report read:
‘We broke to port and started climbing after the E/A. When we were 1,000 yards away they half rolled and went down in a steep dive. I followed them down and closed slowly to 500 yards. I fired a short burst to make them weave and give us a chance to close on them. I waited until I was within 300 yards and opened fire from 10 degrees allowing ¾ to 1 ring deflection, giving a 3-second burst; the Hun took evasive action and steepened his dive. I followed him. I fired several sort bursts and saw strikes on the starboard wing.’
Yellow 2, Flying Officer Walker noted that the Bf 109s were caught while diving to make a head-on attack on the bombers:
‘I fired one burst at 500 yards and we closed to 300 yards. One E/A broke off, followed by Yellow I, and I followed the other on the starboard to 1,000ft and opened fire at 300 yards at 20 degrees to starboard wing, wing root, fuselage and tail. When last seen the E/A was weaving violently from side to side.’
Yellow 3, Pilot Officer Wheler, fired two 2½ second bursts at an Bf 109 but without seeing any results.
No. 126 Airfield Wing flew on their last major operation at 1000 hours on 20 December. Flight Lieutenant J.D. McFarlane led twelve of No. 412 Squadron’s Spitfires, including Beurling’s, on Ramrod 374. The Wing flew as forward sweep for Fortresses flying in the Rijen-Brussels area of Holland.
At about 1105, five miles east of Brussels, a Do 217 was sighted a mile ahead and flying at 16,000ft, about 1000ft above the Wing. No. 411 Squadron’s Blue Section was ordered to attack. Blue 1, Flying Officer D.J. Givens (flying NJ295) shared the bomber with Blue 2, Pilot Officer L.A. Dunn (flying MJ283).
Blue 1, Flying Officer D.J. Givens’ combat report read:
‘I closed to 300 yards and opened fire closing to 100 yards, giving one long burst from 15 degrees with ¾ ring deflection. I saw strikes all up the port side of the aircraft, parts of the tail unit blew off and the port motor started to smoke, and leaked glycol and oil. The aircraft started to lose height and turned slightly to port. Blue 2 (P/O Dunn) attacked at this time and I saw strikes on the port engine whic
h caught fire. The aircraft went into a spiral dive and I saw three parachutes open. The aircraft crashed in the centre of Brussels.’
Five minutes later, No 401 Squadron’s Blue 1, Flight Lieutenant Cameron, destroyed a Ju 88 near Lille:
‘Red 1 (Flight Lieutenant Sheppard) took his Section in to attack and I climbed up to 1,000ft above with my Section to cover them. I watched Red 1, 2, 3 and 4 attack and when Red 4 completed his attack and was breaking away, I half rolled from above and opened fire with a 2-second burst of cannon and machine gun from 250 yards angle off 35 degrees closing to 50 yards angle 15 degrees. I observed strikes on nose of aircraft and later starboard engine burst into flames and two parachutes opened under the aircraft. The aircraft on fire glided slowly towards the ground and crashed.
(signed) L.M. Cameron Fl/Lt.’
No. 401 Squadron lost three pilots, all of whom bailed out to became POWs. Pilot Officer R.J. Buckles (flying EN629) was hit by return-fire from a Ju 88. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer N.W. Maybee (flying MH845) and Flight Sergeant J.J. Morrisey (flying MJ172) collided, and the tail of the latter’s aircraft was seen to come away.
Beurling was rested during the afternoon, when No. 412 Squadron flew on Ramrod 376, a Wing fighter sweep to the Arras-Albert area.
Under Squadron Leader G.C. Keefer, No. 412 Squadron, including Beurling, took off at 0910 hours on 21 December. Flying on Ramrod 381, the Wing acted as target cover for bombers heading for the area around Toulon. No. 411 Squadron’s CO, Squadron Leader L.C. Ormston, was seriously injured and admitted to Orpington Hospital following an engine failure, Flight Lieutenant J.D. McFarlane taking over command.