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

by Nick Thomas

  Flying Officer W.H. Bliss

  Flying Officer H.W. Bowker

  KIA near Caen 2.6.42

  Flying Officer P.M. Charron

  Flying Officer J.R. Cronk

  Flying Officer Dominic Joseph Dewan

  later Squadron Leader, AFC

  Flying Officer J.S. Hamilton

  Flying Officer Andrew Boyd Major Banks Ketterson

  KIA 4.3.44

  Flying Officer Donald Currie Laubman

  later Lieutenant General, DFC 20.10.44 and Bar 24.11.44

  Flying Officer J.P. Laureys

  Flying Officer J.H. MacLean

  Flying Officer H.L. Phillips

  Flying Officer T.M. Saunderson

  Flying Officer R.W. Thatcher

  Flying Officer D.E. Trott

  Flying Officer R.P. Vatcher

  Pilot Officer Allen

  Pilot Officer J.N. Godberg

  Pilot Officer H.A. Heacock

  Pilot Officer D.R. Jamieson

  Pilot Officer J.F Jasmin

  Pilot Officer R.F. McDermid

  Pilot Officer F.T. Murray*

  Pilot Officer Robertson

  Pilot Officer A.B. Wheeler

  Pilot Officer J.Z. Zabek

  Warrant Officer L.H. Guillot

  Flight Sergeant W.F. Aldcorn

  Flight Sergeant D.L.A. Johns

  Flight Sergeant Lawrence Wynne Love

  D air accident 17.6.44

  Flight Sergeant S.R. Payne

  * Possibly Pilot Officer ‘Freddie’ Murray DFC, with No. 401 Squadron in 1944.

  1. Pilot Officer (J/18964) John Alfred St. John, RCAF, was the son of Victor Alfred and Ida St. Denis, of Waterloo, Province of Quebec, Canada. St. John, who was 21-years-old, was buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery. Plot 8, Row B, Grave 32.

  2. Flying Officer L. F. Berryman returned to combat operations with the Squadron and was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 21 November 1944:

  ‘Distinguished Flying Cross

  ‘Flying Officer Lloyd Frederick BERRYMAN (Can/J.24513), RCAF, No. 421 Squadron.

  ‘In September 1944, this officer, against tremendous odds, destroyed three enemy aircraft and damaged another. On a subsequent occasion Flying Officer Berryman engaged a superior number of enemy aircraft. His own aircraft sustained severe damage but he destroyed one enemy aircraft and damaged another. He has achieved much success against ground targets. Flying Officer Berryman has displayed a fine fighting spirit and his devotion to duty has been of a high order.’

  3. Squadron Leader George Clinton KEEFER was awarded a Bar to the DFC, London Gazette, 14 April 1944:

  Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross.

  Acting Squadron Leader George Clinton KEEFER, DFC (Can/J.5022), No. 412 (RCAF) Squadron.’ Wing Commander G. C. Keefer was awarded the DSO, London Gazette, 20 October 1944:

  ‘Distinguished Service Cross.

  ‘Acting Wing Commander George Clinton KEEFER, DFC (Can/J.5022), RCAF

  ‘This officer has completed many sorties since being awarded a bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross and his record is outstanding. Within the past few months he has led large formations of aircraft on air operations during which forty enemy aircraft have been destroyed. The successes obtained reflect the greatest credit on the skill, gallantry and resolution of Wing Commander Keefer. This officer has been responsible for the destruction of eight hostile aircraft.’

  4. The Ju 88 was shared, Flying Officer D.C. Laubman being awarded a half ‘kill’, the pilot’s first combat victory. Laubman would end the war as Canada’s fourth highest scoring ace, with fourteen destroyed, two shared and three damaged.

  Flying Officer D.C. Laubman was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 20 October 1944:

  ‘Flying Officer Donald Currie LAUBMAN (Can/J.I40I3), RCAF, No. 412 (RCAF) Squadron.

  ‘This officer has consistently displayed outstanding courage and determination to engage the enemy and has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft. He has invariably pressed home his attacks against road transport with great success.’

  Flight Lieutenant D. C. Laubman was awarded a Bar to the DFC, London Gazette, 24 November 1944: ‘Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Flight Lieutenant Laubman has completed many sorties against the enemy. He continues to show tenacity of spirit and outstanding courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Flight Lieutenant Laubman has led his flight with such ability that they have accounted for sixteen out of twenty-six enemy aircraft destroyed by his Squadron and he was responsible for the destruction of eight and the damaging of two in three days, bringing his total to thirteen enemy aircraft destroyed and two damaged. This officer’s Squadron was outnumbered by the enemy on all three occasions, but with undaunted courage and determination they successfully broke up repeated enemy attacks to destroy bridges vital to our ground forces in the Arnhem and Nijmegan area.’

  5. Flight Lieutenant N. R. Fowlow was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 24 September 1943:

  ‘Distinguished Flying Cross

  ‘Acting Flight Lieutenant Norman Ralph Fowlow (Can/J.15095), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 42 Squadron.

  ‘This officer has taken part in a very large number of sorties and has proved himself to be a skillful and courageous fighter. He has destroyed four and shared in the destruction of another enemy aircraft.’

  Chapter Thirteen

  No Place to Rest for a Hero

  On 9 April 1944, Flight Lieutenant Beurling was posted away to the Repatriation Depot. Beurling’s posting would later be attributed to conflict with his commanding officer, lack of team work and stunt flying, which had led to him being grounded.

  The latter was confirmed by an official communiqué which was picked up by a number of newspapers. The Sunday Chronicle reported that Beurling had been grounded for low flying, quoting Beurling as saying: ‘I don’t know how long I am likely to be grounded.’

  The RCAF admitted a ‘low flying’ incident had taken place and said investigations were being made, but they thought it unfair to, ‘mention names at the present time.’ Beurling embarked for Canada on 30 April, the Queen Elizabeth docking at port on 8 May. Meanwhile reports appeared in the press stating that he was to serve with a training unit.

  ‘Beurling To Quit Operations and Teach Fledglings in Canada

  ‘Ottawa, May 4 1944 (CP) – Flt. Lt. George (Buzz) Beurling, multi-decorated ace from Verdun, Que., is to leave operational flying in Britain to teach his deadly flying gunnery tactics to fledging RCAF trainees in Canada, it was learned reliably here today.’

  News was released in an article by Kenneth C. Cragg, Ottawa, that Beurling that had arrived in Halifax on 7 May:

  ‘Beurling left the train at Montreal to visit his parents and will continue to Ottawa tomorrow. He is back in Canada to teach his deadly deflection gunnery skill to fledgling fighter pilots, but no announcement has been made as to which station he will be posted.

  Anything to do with Beurling was still considered hot news. However, unlike his earlier triumphal return, this time there would be no organised photo-calls. Despite this, the press, still sought him out at his parent’s home:

  ‘No More Fun, Says Buzz; Wants Crack at Japs.

  ‘Montreal, May 8 1944 (CP) – Flt. Lt. George (Buzz) Beurling, back home in Canada for instructional duties with the RCAF, thinks the, “Germans are beaten,” and says there’s, “no fun anymore” because the German pilots won’t fight. He declares, “the bombers are doing the real job. Give me a fast fighter any day.”

  ‘Duels Are Side Shows

  ‘“Fighter duels are just side shows compared to the continuous pounding of Germany by the bombers.”

  ‘While he talked, the holder of the DSO, DFC, and DFM and Bar, toyed with a nickel, left his chair to walk up and down the room, and stopped to give a reassuring look at his mother in the kitchen of the Beurling home in suburban Verdun.

  ‘“There’s no place like home,” he emphasised when he looked at her.

  �
��Depressed by Inaction

  ‘“The inactivity over there was getting me down,” he said grinning. “We never hunt the Huns anymore. They’ve lost all their spirit. As soon as we spot one he dives away and stays away.

  ‘“There’s no fun anymore. You can’t shoot down Huns if they don’t show up, can you?

  ‘“Since I’ve been back in Britain from my last furlough, I’ve seen only three of them. When I say see, I mean near enough to engage, and I was lucky enough to shoot two of them down. Yes sir, Lady Luck rides with me right on my tail.”

  Then turning to what he hoped would be his future role in the war, Beurling was quoted as saying:

  ‘“I sure would like to go to the Pacific where there’s still plenty of action,” he mused. Then to his mother: “Don’t worry, mom; guess I’ll stay over here for a while – till I get itchy feet again.”’

  While still in Halifax, Beurling telephoned Diana Gardner ‘out of the blue’. Diana was then in Vancouver and hadn’t heard from Beurling for nine months. Bizarrely, during the call Beurling proposed marriage.

  Diana would later acknowledge that beyond their deep Christian faith, the pair had very little in common. Through Beurling’s celebrity status, their time together had been action packed and exciting, but ultimately this had given a false impression of how things would been once the spotlight was off them and they only had each-other for company.

  In an interview which appeared in late May, Beurling was picked up on his clean living approach to being a fighter ace:

  ‘Buzz Spurns Drink, Likes Soft Stuff

  ‘Vancouver, May 28 1944 – (CP) Flt Lt George (Buzz) Beurling, Canada’s ace fighter pilot, now spending a short leave at Vancouver, said in an interview here Saturday that, “fellows who drink liquor crack up more often that the ones who don’t.” “You can’t fight as well.”

  Initially the RCAF didn’t quite know where to send Beurling. He took the remarkable step of requested a meeting with the Minister of Air in order to discuss his thoughts on flying in the Pacific Theatre of the War, but retracted on being advised of his posting.

  Beurling was sent to No. 13 Release Centre on 16 May, before being posted as a ferry pilot, to No. 3 Training Command at Saint-Hubert, Quebec, outside Montreal on about 13 June. The news must have been a devastating blow.

  The camp commander, Squadron Leader G.S.B. Fuller, insisted that before being permitted to fly solo, Beurling should undergo a brief refresher course. One of Beurling’s assessments involved instrument flying in a Harvard, which he did under the tutelage of Jack Scofield.

  While at Saint-Hubert, Beurling is recorded as making only a small number of ferry flights, and always in the co-pilot’s seat – Service life must have been as boring as the RCAF could have possibly made it for Beurling.

  In mid-July he was summoned to a meeting with Air Vice-Marshal Raymond, Commanding Officer of No. 3 Training Command. Five days later, Beurling did what only a few months earlier would have seemed unthinkable; He handed in a letter of resignation to the Air Vice-Marshal. In it Beurling summed up his thoughts when he said: ‘I feel that my services are no longer required.’

  A Board of Officers was convened on 29 June at Dow’s Lake in Ottawa to discuss Beurling’s request. The result was a foregone conclusion:

  ‘While this officer’s release will be a loss to the RCAF, in view of his outstanding war record, every opportunity should be allowed to him to now rehabilitate himself and obtain permanent employment in civil life.’

  The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Robert Keckie, wrote to Beurling:

  ‘I wish to express my deep appreciation of your outstanding record of service for your country. Your gallant exploits and your unparallel fighting record have been a source of inspiration to all. It is only right that now having made such a splendid contribution to winning the war, approval be given to your request that you be permitted to resign your commission in order to rehabilitate yourself in civilian life.’

  And so, unable to fulfill their promise to find him a combat role, the RCAF allowed one of their greatest assets to slip through their fingers – again.

  News of Beurling’s resignation was announced through the press on 23 July:

  ‘Beurling Resigns RCAF To Take Civil Air Post

  ‘Flt Lt. George (Buzz) Beurling will be a civilian and a war veteran at 22 in three weeks. That’s how long it will take to complete the formalities launched Saturday when the RCAF announced approval of the Maltese Falcon’s request that he be permitted to resign his commission.’

  ‘There was no immediate statement from Buzz himself on his future, but the official air force statement indicated a civilian aviation post was in prospect.’

  The story went on to report Beurling’s reluctance to fill the instructor role, although this was not the role in which he was employed when he made his decision to resign his commission:

  ‘Dislikes Instructional work

  ‘However, there was a report from Montreal that Buzz was considering offering his services to the Chinese Air Force. It is known he didn’t like instructional work in Canada.

  The next part of the article seemed to buck against the RCAF’s official line:

  ‘He has emphatically told a Canadian Press reporter on many occasions that he did not relish the idea of some day piloting a commercial transport on peaceful air routes and he described this as, “truck driving.”’

  The reporter added:

  ‘He also once said that when this war was over perhaps he’d, “have to go and find another war” because the excitement of aerial combat was in his blood and he didn’t like the idea of having no fighting to do.’

  The reporter summarised Beurling’s flying career as it had appeared in the press over the previous two years, listing his awards and achievements, adding:

  ‘The cool-eyed blond was an unorthodox type from the start, and was described by those who didn’t know him too well as a “show off.” But they probably didn’t understand the boy’s temperament.

  ‘When he did get into the air he had confidence in the knowledge of his perfection as pilot and marksman, and his enthusiasm could not be contained. He didn’t like “brass hats” too well either.’

  The following day saw a further twist to the George Beurling story when the following appeared:

  ‘Craving More Excitement, Buzz Would Fly for China

  ‘July 24, 1944 – By George (Buzz) Beurling

  ‘I’m offering my services as a fighter pilot to the Chinese Government. China is desperately in need of experienced pilots. I can be of great service to her. If I can’t get my services excepted by the Chinese consul-general in Canada, I’ll go directly to China. I can be in India in 48 hours.’

  In the interview Beurling revealed a little of what made him ‘tick’:

  ‘Without the element of danger in life, I can’t be anything but restless. That’s how I have always felt. The war didn’t instill the craving for excitement in me – it was always there.

  ‘When the Chinese pilots start to bomb Japan, I want to be right up there, helping them. Diving and rolling and acrobatics is what I want to do so, commercial flying is out.

  Unable to get a direct quote from George Beurling, the press contacted his father; the following appeared in the press on 26 July:

  ‘Beurling Keeps Father Guessing

  ‘Montreal, July 26 1944 (CP) – Fred Beurling, father of Canada’s topflight ace, Buzz Beurling, revealed today that he had accepted a position in Vancouver and would be moving to the west coast on Friday.

  ‘Mr. Beurling was commenting on a Vancouver dispatch saying that a family conference would be held in Vancouver to discuss the reported intention of the air ace to join the Chinese Air Force now that he has been granted permission to resign his commission.

  “That’s only a rumour, as far as I’m concerned,” said Mr. Beurling in reference to possibilities of his son joining the Chinese Air Force. “We never know what he’s going to do until he’s done it.�
��

  ‘“I’m not going to Vancouver to discuss his future. I’m going there to work as a bulletin painter. I’ll be seeing my brother, Arvid Beurling, there, and my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Beurling, of Marysville, Wash., will come up to visit, us. I haven’t seen them for ten years.

  ‘“We no doubt will discuss Buzz’s plans, but he’ll be making up his own mind. I haven’t seen him since it was announced on Saturday that he was leaving the RCAF”’

  Further speculation appeared in the press a few days later:

  ‘BEURLING SEEKS U.S. CITIZENSHIP TO FIGHT JAPS

  ‘Montreal, Aug. 30 1944 (Special) – With the signed and sealed official preliminary papers for United States citizenship in his pocket, Flt. Lt. “Buzz” Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM and Bar, left here by Colonial Airways plane tonight to change his nationality because, “I always wanted to be an American citizen, and now is my chance.”

  ‘Interviewed as he prepared to leave for the airport, the Verdun fighter ace said his prime objective in going to New York was to see if he could speed up his entry into the Chinese Air Force to, “settle a score with the Nips,” but he planned to live with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Syvertsen of Montana Ave., Port Monmouth, N. J., until he could complete negotiations for American citizenship.