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

by Nick Thomas

  No. 126 Squadron’s P.A. Schade (flying MK-K) was bounced by two Bf 109s but managed to out-manoeuvre his opponents at low altitude, causing one to dive into the sea. He claimed the ‘kill’ without having fired his guns. Pilot Officer J.W. Yarra (flying BR305), of No. 185 Squadron, picked up their only success, with an Bf 109 destroyed.

  Between 2030 and 2110 hours, two Spitfires of No. 249 Squadron made a search for Warrant Officer C.B. Ramsay16, scouring the sea for any trace of man or machine, but nothing was seen.

  At 0950 hours on 12 July, seven of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires and eight drawn from No. 603 Squadron were scrambled; a formation of bombers had been plotted some 25 miles north of Gozo. The Spitfires were unable to find a way through the escort of eighteen Mc 202s and sixteen Re 2001s.

  During the ensuing combat, Sergeant Beurling (flying BR565 T-U) set one Re 2001 alight, firing a one-second burst at 300 yards. The accuracy of his fire left the enemy fighter diving away, leaving a stream of glycol. Closing in for the coup de grace, Beurling saw the canopy fly back as the pilot, Tenente Francesco Vichi of 358a Squadriglia, took to his parachute.

  Pilot Officer O.W.H. Berkley-Hill17 (flying BR324 T-R) was heard to call out ‘I saw it, Hether old boy!’ as Flying Officer E.L. Hetherington destroyed an Re 2001. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer Berkley-Hill singled out an Mc 202, but was targeted by the enemy. Beurling recalled just at that moment: ‘two Messerschmitts came out of the sun at him, one from each side,’ shooting the Spitfire down. Both Leutnant Wilhelm Scheib of I./JG 77 and Unteroffizier Simon Pohlein of 3 Staffel made claims, although the latter’s was unconfirmed.

  No. 603 Squadron’s ORB recorded:

  ‘Raided at 1000 hours by eight 88s on Takali. Eight of 603 airborne. Some bombs pretty wild again, and none on the aerodrome this time. High level bombing. More sheltering under billiard table at mess. 603 climbed up to 23,000ft but failed to intercept owing to haze although they chased 30 miles out to sea. As they were returning, they saw [a] gaggle of enemy aircraft coming in and thought they were fighters, but there were six 88s amongst them and they again bombed Takali, but did no damage, just after our aircraft had landed. Actually one aircraft was slightly damaged by an eight minute DA [delayed action bomb] dropped just in front of a pen.’

  The latter raid, including seven Ju 88 bombers, arrived overhead a little before 1100 hours. Two of No. 185 Squadron’s Spitfires were flying an escort at the time and were able to divert, with Flight Sergeant R.A. Sim, RNZAF, destroying a Bf 109.

  The news that Berkeley-Hill had been shot down came as a shock to Beurling and Hetherington, who gained permission to make a search:

  ‘We refuelled at once and took off to search for him, hoping against hope to find him floating in his dinghy.’

  The pair were airborne again at 1140 hours and headed out to Berkeley-Hill’s last reported location. Meanwhile, Tenete Colonnello Aldo Quarantotti, CO of No. 2° Gruppo, Tenente Carlo Seganti and Maresciallo Antonion Patriarca had taken off to search for Tenente Vichi. Patriarca was forced to turn back with engine trouble.

  The Spitfires had been airborne for about half-an-hour when Beurling (flying BR565 T-U) spotted the two Re 2001s in low cloud (mis-identifying them as Mc 202s). While Flying Officer E.L. Hetherington (flying BR379 T-V) climbed above cloud to check for unseen enemy fighters, thinking it might be a trap, Beurling dived in for the attack, destroying both enemy fighters:

  Beurling wrote:

  ‘I gave chase to the Italians, one of whom was lagging behind the other.’ Beurling dived down and fired a few cannon shells into Tenente Carlo Seganti’s aircraft at close range. ‘He burst into flames and went down.’ Beurling then drew in closer to the second Re 2001, ‘I came right underneath his tail. I closed up to 30 yards and I was on his port side coming in at about 15 [degrees] angle. I could see all the details in his face because he turned and looked at me just as I had a bead on him.’

  Beurling fired a short burst, which decapitated the pilot, Tenete Colonnello Aldo Quarantotti:

  ‘He dived in beside his mate. From the firing of the first shot until both Macchis [sic] went down, no more than six or seven seconds had elapsed.’

  At that moment Hetherington came down from above the cloud-cover:

  ‘I waggled my wings and beckoned, and he came along over the spot where the two Eyeties had gone in.’

  In an interview with a CBS reporter made on his return to Canada, Beurling described in detail the demise of Tenente Colonnello Aldo Quarantotti:

  ‘I came right up underneath his tail. I was going faster than he was: about fifty yards behind. I was tending to overshoot. I weaved off to the right, and he looked out to his left. I weaved to the left and he looked out to his right. So, he still didn’t know I was there.

  Of the moment his cannon shells hit the enemy aircraft, Beurling related:

  ‘One of my shells caught him right in the face and blew his head right off. The body slumped and the [slip] stream caught the neck, the stub of the neck, and the blood streamed down the side of the cockpit. It was a great sight anyway, the red blood down the white fuselage. I must say it gives you a feeling of satisfaction when you actually blow their brains out.’18

  At 1400 hours, No. 249 Squadron scrambled seven Spitfires, including Beurling (BR565 T-U). Avoiding the fighters, a dozen Ju 88s succeeded in raiding Takali, cratering the runway extension and hitting the dispersal points where several Spitfires were slightly damaged.

  Takalia was targeted again at 1515 hours, when a dozen Ju 88s and their escort of Mc 202s and Bf 109s were seen approaching the coastline. Nos. 126 and 185 Squadrons were scrambled to intercept. No. 185 Squadron’s Flight Lieutenant K.L. Charney (flying BR368) latched onto an Mc 202, which he destroyed. Meanwhile, No. 126 Squadron’s CO, Squadron Leader W.G. New (flying BR321 GL-J) and Pilot Officer R.F. Tilley each damaged an Mc 202. Pilot Officer J.A. Smith damaged a Bf 109.

  No. 603 Squadron’s ORB reported:

  ‘Another raid by Ju 88s about 1600 hours. 603 not scrambled in spite of repeated requests. Results: three of our aircraft damaged, and two damaged of 249. One bomb landed slap on western dispersal hut, completely destroying it and burying all flying kit etc; damn poor show by Ops, and everyone feels browned off that in two days 603 has been four times bombed on the ground.’

  At 0730 hours on 13 July, No. 603 Squadron scrambled eight Spitfires to intercept an approaching raid of eighteen Ju 88s with their escort of fighters, including Bf 109s, Re 2001s and Mc 202s. The Spitfires were soon joined by those of Nos. 126 and 185 Squadrons. Five miles east of Zonqor, No. 603 Squadron spotted the enemy bombers which were flying in two formations of ten and eight aircraft (representing Ju 88s from two Staffeln of II./KG 77). The Spitfires met the first formation as it reached the coast. For No. 603 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant G.W. Northcott destroyed one Ju 88, while Squadron Leader D. Douglas-Hamilton damaged two and Flight Lieutenant W.A. Douglas (flying BP871 UF-R) another. No. 126 Squadron’s Flight Sergeant K.W.S. Evans destroyed an Mc 202, while their CO, Squadron Leader J.P. Winfield, probably destroyed a second. Flight Sergeant A. W. Varey engaged and destroyed a Ju 88. The weight of the attack forced the Ju 88s to jettison their bombs. The combat was not one-sided and Sergeant Vernon Willie (flying BR242) was shot down, but managed to bail out 20 miles off the coast and was picked up safely by High Speed Launch 128. He received burns and was slightly wounded.

  The Italians lost two Mc 202s; those of 151a Squadriglia piloted by Sottoten Rosario Longo and Sottoten Pietro Menaldi.

  Meanwhile, eight of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires were scrambled at 0800 hours but were too late to get into a position to attack the bombers and were headed off by the Mc 202s of 20° Gruppo. Pilot Officer J.F. McElroy (BR301 UF-S) destroyed an Mc 202 and damaged a second. Flight Sergeant R.D. Rae (flying BR323 T-S) destroyed an Mc 202 and damaged two others. Squadron Leader P.B. Lucas attacked two Ju 88s but was bounced by four of the escorting Bf 109s, surviving the resulting crash-landing:

  ‘It
always used to be said that if you could actually recognise a 109 in the mirror, it was too late. Now I could identify not one but four of them in line astern, coming in from five o’clock and a little above in a fast curving arc.’

  Instinctively, Lucas put his Spitfire into a tight turn to get out of harm’s way and onto the tails of the enemy. But it was a forlorn hope. Immediately cannon shells struck the starboard wing of his aircraft, incendiary bullets spitting around the Merlin engine. The controls still gave some response and Lucas continued to dodge attacks with a series of tight turns as he rapidly lost height and tried to make for home. Lucas recalled how, ‘tiny flames started to lick the engine cowling along the top of the nose in front of me. I tugged at the black rubber toggle at the top of the cockpit to release the canopy. The toggle came away in my hand. Then, astonishingly, as I went on diving, the smoke in the cockpit began to thin and the heat perceptibly to lessen.’

  The fire had either burnt itself out or been blown out by the air-speed.

  Lucas headed for the nearest airfield, which was Hal Far, landing downwind and without flaps. Two Swordfish pilots who were in the process of taking off had the frights of their life as the damaged Spitfire bared down on them, but somehow they managed to avoid a collision.

  The exertions of escaping from a near-fatal combat and nursing his damaged Spitfire back to base were too much, and Lucas passed out almost as soon as he had touched down. As his Spitfire came to rest, it was pounced on by the ground-staff and the next thing Lucas remembered was the welcome sight of two fitters forcing the canopy back, helping to extricate their CO.

  Meanwhile, ten of the Ju 88s, with their close escort of eight fighters, had penetrated the Spitfires’ cover and raided Luqa and Gudja, damaging one Beaufighter on the ground.

  Nos. 249 and 603 Squadrons were scrambled again at 1125 hours and vectored onto a formation of nine Ju 88s, closely escorted by eight fighters.

  The Spitfires dived onto the Junkers Ju 88s as they raided Luqa airfield. Flight Sergeant W.R. Irwin, RAAF, destroyed one Ju 88, and Pilot Officer G.W. Northcott damaged another. Irwin’s Spitfire was hit by return fire. The bombers succeeded in destroying a Hurricane and Beaufighter, damaging three Beaufighters, two Beauforts and a Wellington.

  At 1705 hours, No. 249 Squadron scrambled seven Spitfires, joining ten drawn from No. 603 Squadron. The Controller vectored the fighters onto nineteen Ju 88s which were being screened by their fighter escort of twenty Bf 109s flying as high cover. The Ju 88s got through to bomb Takali, while the defending fighters successfully kept the Spitfires at bay. Pilot Officer Frank E. Jones (868 UF-K) was bounced and had his elevator controls shot away, but made a perfect landing. He pulled the toggle to release his canopy, but it came away in his hand – evidently there had been no time to learn from the lessons of their CO’s earlier experience. With his Spitfire in what appeared to be a terminal descent, somehow Jones managed to regain control using trim alone. With only 100ft to spare, he pulled out of the dive and regained base, which was under strafing attack, putting his Spitfire down between three bomb craters. He passed out almost immediately, after being helped from his crippled aircraft. It had been a miraculous escape; one of hundreds experienced by the island’s defenders.

  While the enemy fighters were busy fending off No. 249’s Squadron’s Spitfires, No. 603 Squadron engaged the bombers out over Sliema. Flight Lieutenant R.A. Mitchell damaged two Ju 88s, with Pilot Officer E.S. Dick-Sherwood and Flight Sergeant J.H. Ballantyne each damaging one. As the enemy fighters came in to defend their charge, Flight Sergeant C.H. Parkinson (flying GL-T) probably destroyed one Bf 109, Flight Sergeant R.H. ‘Bob’ Brown damaged another. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer W.H. McLeod engaged an Mc 202, which he damaged. His oil system was hit by return fire, but McLeod successfully landed his aircraft.

  At 0945 on 14 July, seven of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires were scrambled along with eight of No. 603 Squadron’s Spitfires. This force, combined with Spitfires from Nos. 126 and 185 Squadrons, totalling thirty aircraft, intercepted the fighters escorting seven Ju 88s of KüFlGr 606 targeting Luqa.

  Beurling was conscious of the fact that height was everything. Often he would sit it out in his cockpit while at Readiness, despite the almost unbearable heat. Consequently Beurling (flying BR130 H-2) was one of the first into the air. Beurling later explained his tactics and how he would watch the flying of an enemy Squadron and pick out the really good ones and go for them: ‘After a pilot has made one or two turns, you can tell if he is really good and worthy of a fight.’ Beurling always tried to attack the best pilots in an enemy formation, they were the real challenge: ‘they will wait outside and at the right moment come in, whish, and knock you out.’

  Sure enough, Beurling sighted a formation of Mc 202s. They were only 500ft below and flying within easy striking distance. As he went down to break their tight formation and to pick off any stragglers, the tables were turned and Beurling was bounced by three Bf 109s with two Re 2001s in close support. The enemy fighters dived down at Beurling’s Spitfire from opposite angles, using the glaring sun as cover. In an instant, Beurling made the choice that ultimately saved his life. He had to break one way or the other and decided to let the less well armed Re 2001s get the shot. Beurling recalled: ‘the bastards riddled the old Spit!’; over twenty bullets ripped through Beurling’s wings and fuselage, while an explosive bullet entered the cockpit and slightly wounded him in the right heel.

  Beurling turned out of the bullet stream and proceeded to throw his damaged Spitfire about, avoiding further fire from the first pair of Re 2001s and the rest of their formation, which dived after him, looking for an easy ‘kill’. Using every trick he knew, and pushing his damaged Spitfire to its limits, Beurling managed to keep the Italian fighters at bay. Twisting and turning he finally forced them to give up the pursuit. Having shaken off the enemy, Beurling nursed his Spitfire back to Takali, where he made a perfect landing, only to be, ‘kidded to death by the rest of the guys for getting myself shot up.’ Meanwhile, Beurling had to see the medical officer who removed several bullet fragments from his heel. He was taken off flying duties until the following day.

  During the same engagement No. 249 Squadron’s Pilot Officer J.W. Williams (BR301 UF-S) damaged a Bf 109. Pilot Officer E.L. Hetherington’s Spitfire (BR379 TV), suffered from engine trouble and he was forced to execute an emergency landing at Hal Far, his aircraft sustaining considerable damage in the process. Meanwhile, Flight Sergeant A. Parkinson, RAAF, of No. 603 Squadron destroyed one Bf 109. Two of the Squadron’s Spitfires, however, were damaged in combat, with Pilot Officer R.G. Smith and Flight Sergeant J.H. Ballatyne both executing safe landings.

  No. 185 Squadron’s claims included:

  Flight Sergeant J.E. MacNamara (flying BR460), one Ju 88 destroyed

  Pilot Officer C. King (flying BR321 GL-J), one Ju 88 shared

  Sergeant Ken R. Mitchell (flying BR109), one Ju 88 shared

  No. 126 Squadron’s claims included:

  Flying Officer D.H. Smith, RAAF (flying BP992), one Ju 88

  Flying Officer R.O. Jones, one Ju 88

  Pilot Officer R.F. Tilley, RCAF, one Bf 109

  No. 126 Squadron’s Flying Officer J.R. Stoop was shot down by Bf 109s, receiving facial burns before being able to bail out. He was rescued by High Speed Launch 128.

  A total of three Spitfires were claimed by the pilots of II./JG 53 viz.: Leutnant Franz Schiess of Stab/JG 53, Oberfeldwebel Herbert Rollwage of 5 Staffel, Oberfeldwebel Ehrenberger of 6 Staffel. Feldwebel Otto Pohl of I./JG 77 claimed a fourth.

  Six Bf 109s patrolled over the island at 20,000ft at 1230 hours, but could not be engaged as they posed a minimal threat on their own.

  During the day, Air Vice-Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park, MC, DFC, (Air Officer Commanding Egypt since January 1942), arrived to take up the appointment of Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Royal Air Force Malta. He replaced Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Pughe Lloyd, who had seen his command through a critical phase of the sie
ge and was posted to the Middle East.

  Keith Park, Fighter Command’s No. 11 Group Commander during the Battle of Britain, was quick to make his mark, issuing his Special Order of the Day, which read:

  ‘The magnificent fighting by our fighter pilots at Malta in April and May has very rightly been generously acknowledged. The courage, endurance and fine work of the Officers, NCOs and men on the ground has not, however, received full acknowledgement. During the blitz in the spring, the enemy was so vastly superior in strength that our day fighters were practically forced on to the defensive. Under these conditions it was inevitable that Royal Air Force personnel on the ground, and civilians, should undergo severe bombing daily, and I now pay tribute to the courageous manner in which they kept our airfields going in spite of the lack of protection from our fighters.

  ‘Our day fighter strength has, during June and July, been greatly increased, and the enemy’s superiority in numbers has long since dwindled. The time has now arrived for our Spitfire Squadrons to put an end to the bombing of our airfields by daylight. We have the best fighter aircraft in the world, and our Spitfire pilots will again show their comrades on the ground that they are the best fighter pilots in the world.’

  Of the ‘erks’ who serviced No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires, Beurling freely acknowledged their courage and commitment. He rightly described them as:

  ‘the real unsung hero of the show’ adding, ‘they deserved as much credit as I did. They always kept my plane in perfect shape. Sometimes when I came down riddled full of holes, they spent half the night patching up my ship.’

  Park was throwing down the gauntlet; his Spitfires would command the skies over Malta and to the Sicilian coast.

  Under Park’s ‘Fighter Interception Plan’ the fighters were ordered to go onto the offensive and attack enemy formations before they reached the island, targeting the bombers as their priority: