Sniper of the Skies: The Story of George Frederick 'Screwball' Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM
Page 18
(signed) J.W. Johnson F/Lt.’
Pilot Officer B.C. Downs’ combat report read:
‘I was attacked by three 109s from above and behind – two were firing at long-range. I made a quick 180° turn and then the 109s started to break away (two one way, one the other). I got a two-second burst at the last of two 109s. I saw strikes and the 109 plunged into the sea from a height of 75ft – one wing hit first and the plane seemed to do a complete cartwheel before it disappeared. No. 3 of Red Section observed the crash from several thousand feet above.’
No. 126 Squadron’s claims included:
Flight Lieutenant W.J. Johnson, two Ju 88s, plus one shared
Flight Sergeant C.F. Bush, one Ju 88 shared
Sergeant K.W.S. Evans, one Ju 88 shared
Pilot Officer B.C. Downs, one Bf 109
Flight Sergeant A.W. Varey, two Ju 88s damaged
Sergeant N. Marshall, one Ju 88 damaged
Sergeant K.W.S. Evans, one Bf 109 destroyed, one probably destroyed
At 1940 hours, seven of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires were scrambled to join eight from No. 603 Squadron, with orders to engage a formation of three Ju 88s escorted by a number of Bf 109s together with Mc 202s of 51° Stormo. Flight Sergeant J. D. Rae, RNZAF (flying BR301 T-S), probably destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged an Mc 202.
At 0850 hours, No. 1435 Squadron was scrambled against a sweep by Bf 109s of II./JG 53 and I./JG 77 escorting a lone Ju 88 on a reconnaissance mission. Flight Sergeant R.H. Brown (flying BR303) suffered combat damage and made a forced-landing, while Sergeant D.F. Hubbard27 (flying EP189) was badly hit, and crash-landed during his approach on Luqa and was killed.
No. 249 Squadron scrambled eight Spitfires at 1115 hours on 28 July, with orders to intercept three Ju 88s escorted by eight Bf 109s and two Mc 202s, targeting Hal Far. These enemy aircraft formed one half of a raid approaching from north of the island. Also engaging the enemy were No. 185 Squadron.
Squadron Leader R.A. Mitchell (flying BR373 T-N), Flight Sergeant J.D. Rae (flying 323 T-S) and Sergeant M. Irving Gass (flying EP196 T-M) each probably destroyed a Ju 88. Flight Sergeant Rae and Pilot Officers M.I. Gass shared a damaged Ju 88. Pilot Officer A.S. Yates (flying BP975 T-T) damaged another. Meanwhile, Flight Sergeant T. Parks (flying BR131 T-O) probably destroyed a Bf 109, Sergeant V.H. Wynn (flying BP869 T-K) damaged a Bf 109 and Pilot Officer J.F. McElroy (flying EP135 T-Z) damaged a Bf 109 and an Re 2001. Squadron Leader R.A. Mitchell’s combat report read:
‘I sighted three Ju 88s, 5,000 – 6,000ft below us and dived sharply on them. I attacked first, full beam, closing to astern and observed strikes on both main-planes and fuselage. As I broke away I observed both engines pouring black smoke and the aircraft diving steeply. This was observed by Plt Off McElroy, No. 3 of my section.’
Flight Sergeant Rae probably destroyed a Ju 88, which he shared with Sergeant Irving Gass. Rae’s report read:
‘I carried straight in on the bombers, opening fire on the rear one from about 300 yards on the beam, closing to almost astern; strikes were observed on the fuselage. I broke down and underneath this e/a. The fire from the rear gunner ceased before breaking away. I then came up underneath the leading bomber, opening fire for about three seconds from almost dead astern. E/A commenced smoking from starboard engine and wing root. Sgt Gass also attacked this E/A, observing it smoking before attacking.’
Meanwhile, No. 185 Squadron’s Flight Sergeant A. Andrews (flying EP316) damaged a Bf 109. He was forced to break off his second attack due to ‘friendly fire’ from a Spitfire diving down out of the sun.
The next raid didn’t approach the island until the late afternoon, when Nos. 126, 185 and 1435 Squadrons were scrambled against three apparently unescorted Ju 88s of II./KG 77. All three were destroyed along with a Bf 109, which came down too late to defend the bombers.
The following claims were made:
No. 185 Squadron’s Pilot Officer J.W. Guthrie claimed one of the Ju 88s shared. His report may be taken as representative of this combat:
‘We climbed to 22,000ft south of Zonqor, and sighted three Ju 88s coming in at about 18,000ft. All Green Section dived towards these aircraft over Hal Fat, but by the time we got near them, two had already been shot down. I delivered a short head-on attack on the remaining Ju 88 closing to 50 yards, and then pulled left on a climbing turn. When I completed the turn, the Ju 88 was going down. The Ju 88 was already damaged when I attacked it.’
Two of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires took off at 1720 hours, flying as escort to a high speed launch, which picked up two Germans (Frick and Bauer) seen earlier parachuting from a Ju 88.
A number of awards to Malta’s Spitfire pilots were promulgated in the London Gazette: during the day:
‘The King has been most graciously pleased to approve the following awards:
‘The Distinguished Flying Cross
‘Pilot Officer Gray STENBORG (NZ. 402494), Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 185 Squadron.
‘Pilot Officer Stenborg has displayed great determination and keenness to engage the enemy. One day, in July 1942, he encountered a superior force of enemy fighters which were acting as escort to bombers. Pilot Officer Stenborg attacked the enemy fighters, destroying two of them, and dispersed the remainder, thus enabling other Royal Air Force fighters to attack the bombers. A few days later he completed a similar operation and again shot down two enemy fighters. Pilot Officer Stenborg has now destroyed eight enemy aircraft.’
‘Distinguished Flying Medal
‘Can. / R. 67906 Flight Sergeant Donald George REID, Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 185 Squadron.
‘This airman has displayed skill, courage and determination in the face of the enemy. On two occasions recently he has been detailed to attack enemy fighters escorting bombers, and, although greatly outnumbered, he destroyed one fighter on each occasion. In June 1942, he encountered a force of Italian bombers which were heavily escorted by fighter aircraft. Diving through the fighters, he attacked one of the bombers and set it on fire and then destroyed one of the fighters which had attacked him. Flight Sergeant Reid has destroyed at least five enemy aircraft in a period of seven weeks.’
Most significantly was the official announcement of the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal to Sergeant G. F. Beurling:
‘1267053 Sergeant George Frederick BEURLING, No. 249 Squadron.
‘Sergeant Beurling has displayed great skill and courage in the face of the enemy. One day, in July, 1942, he engaged a number of Junkers 88’s and destroyed one fighter. Later during the same day he engaged ten enemy fighters and shot two of them down into the sea, bringing his total to eight.’
Beurling (flying BP301 T-S) flew on a section strength patrol between 0820 and 0845 hours on 29 July. The Spitfires pancaked to conserve fuel, as radar reported that the raid appeared to have turned back. The danger returned, however, and at 0915 hours, Beurling’s was one of seven of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires scrambled to intercept sixteen Bf 109s and four Mc 202s, which were approaching Malta at 28,000ft.
Despite having the numerical advantage, the Bf 109s began peeling off, refusing combat until they had an overwhelming advantage.
Beurling separated himself from the remainder of the Spitfire formation, in the hope of luring the enemy down for a fight. Then a Bf 109, seeing the opportunity, dived down on Beurling’s Spitfire from out of the sun, firing a burst from the port quarter, which shot the Spitfire’s hood off. But the Bf 109 overshot, giving Beurling the chance he needed. He latched onto the tail of the Bf 109: ‘By the time I got my sights on him we must have been 450 yards apart, but I gave him a one-second burst, which got him in the engine, the gas tank, and the cockpit.’ The Bf 109, later identified as that flown by Unteroffizier Karl-Heinz Witschke, Yellow 2 (13060) of III./JG 77, was engulfed in flames and plunged straight into the Mediterranean, about 500 yards off Sliema Point.
Beurling’s combat report read:
‘As Tiger Blue 1, I attacked fifteen Me 109s over Grand
Harbour. Dogfighting ensued for fifteen to twenty minutes. Made an attack on one e/a from port quarter below; gave a three-second burst cannon and machine gun fire, large pieces of e/a came off, then e/a’s gas tank exploded and the aircraft burned. e/a struck the sea one mile north of Grand Harbour.’
The pilot was seen to bail out, but his parachute burned and he fell from several thousand feet.
Beurling nursed his damaged Spitfire as far as Takali, making a crash-landing without flaps.
Meanwhile, Pilot Officer E.L. Hetherington and Sergeant A.E. Budd (flying BR131 T-O) had engaged five Messerschmitts. Budd’s Spitfire sustained severe damage from machine gun fire and made a crash-landing at Takali. However, he had shot the fin and rudder off the Mc 202 of 378a Squadriglia flown by Sergente Domenico Manini, which he claimed as destroyed. Manini bailed out and was picked up by a British minesweeper.
In reply for their loss, Oberleutnant Geisshardt of III./JG 77 (86 kills) and Oberfeldwebel Rollwage of V./JG 53 made claims. No. 1435 Squadron’s Flight Sergeant R.H. ‘Bob’ Brown was shot down off Malta by Bf 109s at about 0900 hours and was later pulled out of the water by the crew of High Speed Launch 107.
No. 249 Squadron flew two further patrols that day, the second over an Italian float plane, which they did not engage.
By now, Beurling had seventeen confirmed ‘kills’ for Malta and was the island’s top scorer. No. 126 Squadron’s Flight Sergeant P.A. ‘Paddy’ Schade was a close second with fourteen, including one shared, but had recently completed his tour and was about to return to the UK.
Between 9 April and 11 July, Flight Sergeant Patrick Alfred Schade destroyed fourteen enemy aircraft, with two more probably destroyed and two damaged. Schade was awarded the DFM, London Gazette, 31 July 194228. He was commissioned and later flew with No. 91 Squadron, but was killed in a collision with a Tempest while both were attacking a V1.
At 0745 hours on 30 July, No. 249 Squadron scrambled eight Spitfires, joining Nos. 249, 603 and 1435 Squadron’s Spitfires who were already taking on an enemy fighter sweep of twenty Bf 109s and six Mc 202s, with a further fifteen Bf 109s and Mc 202s lurking high above. During the engagement, No. 1435 Squadron’s Sergeant C.L. Wood’s29 Spitfire, EP209, was shot down into St Paul’s Bay. No. 126 Squadron flew an extensive search but no trace could be found.
Meanwhile, No. 603 Squadron was vectored onto a formation of a dozen enemy fighters, made up of Bf 109s and Mc 202s. Flight Sergeant C.H. Parkinson, RAAF (flying BP989 4-N), engaged a formation of six Bf 109s, destroying one which he hit in the engine:
‘Scrambled about 8 am. Flew to about 20,000ft. intercepted six 109s. I shot one down, hit him in the engine with my first burst, followed him down to about 500ft and gave a burst from astern at about 50 yards. His port wing fell off and he fell in the sea.’
Nos. 126, 249 and 603 Squadrons were scrambled at 1100 hours. No. 249 Squadron was bounced by Bf 109s, the resulting combats proving inconclusive on either side. No. 126 Squadron’s Sergeant D.F. Ritchie was bounced by a brace of Bf 109s and was forced to bail out of his stricken Spitfire, claimed by Staffelkapitan Oberleutnant Freytag and Feldwebel Pohl, the former’s 64th ‘kill’.
Beurling (flying 168 GLA) and two other No. 249 Squadron pilots were scrambled at 1500 hours, when six enemy fighters crossed the coast at great altitude. No contact was made. The Spitfires ended their patrol by escorting a captured Cant seaplane from Zonqor to Kalafrana. The aircraft had been seized in mid-air by the crew of a downed RAF bomber, who had been picked up out of their dinghy. It was later given RAF colours and used as a rescue aircraft.
Having three times turned down a commission, Beurling was informed that he had been commissioned as a pilot officer on 30 July. The events were later retold by both Beurling and Middlemiss, who received news of his commission at the same time.
Sergeants Beurling and Middlemiss had been summoned to Wing Commander ‘Jumbo’ Gracie’s office at the same time to receive their commissions. Middlemiss overheard Beurling’s interview. According to Middlemiss, he said that he didn’t want to be an officer and that the men would not look up to him. Furthermore, he was unhappy that the ‘erks’ would have to salute him. Despite these objections, Beurling had no choice in the matter.
Like many of the NCO pilots who fought in the defence of Malta, Beurling’s promotion was in recognition of his gallantry and effectiveness as a fighter pilot while under extreme conditions.
One of the benefits of being commissioned was the move away from the airfield. The officer’s mess, the twenty-three room Xara Palace, lay in the hilltop town of Mdina. The Palace overlooked Takali airfield, and was a short RAF bus-ride away from the dispersal hut. However, Beurling chose to remain with the NCOs for as long as he could, sharing in their hardships and the added danger of sleeping near the airfield, one of the enemy’s prime targets. Middlemiss maintained that Beurling: ‘didn’t want the commission refused to wear officer’s uniform and didn’t want the men saluting him.’
He was always at home with the other ranks and appreciated the sterling work carried out by the Squadron’s ground crews, many of whom worked on Spitfires that he flew: ‘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.’
Canadian Press Staff Writer, Louis Hunter, was able to quote Beurling’s own response to the promotion; the article was not published, however, until 21 October 1942:
‘The news service told a new story of Beurling’s objections to taking a commission some weeks ago, and they were unorthodox.
‘“If I were an officer,” he said, “I would either have to polish my own buttons and boots, if the batman didn’t do it, and I don’t like cleaning boots and buttons, and I don’t want a batman.”
‘“I should also probably have to answer the telephone and I hate the telephone. These slacks too could never do for an officer and they are the only pair I have.”
‘But higherups insisted that he graduate to more dignified rank.’
On 31 July, at about 1000 hours, No. 185 Squadron’s Pilot Officer G. Stenborg was flying an air test when the Controller vectored him onto three Bf 109s:
‘I heard Gondar [the Controller] inform the Squadron which was airborne that the enemy was at 20,000ft. I then lost height to 20,000ft and while flying west saw three Me 109s below, flying in a northerly direction. It was a perfect jump, so I attacked. I opened fire at the 109 on the right who was lagging farthest behind at 400 yards closing to 50 yards – bits flew off the aircraft and it burst into flames. The remaining two half-rolled and disappeared.’
Around twenty Bf 109s from II./JG 53 and I./JG 77 approached the island in the early afternoon. Nos. 185 and 603 Squadrons responded but were bounced, with No. 185 Squadron’s Spitfires faring worst, with four damaged. Sergeant J. Livingstone was forced to bail out of his burning aircraft, EP255, but was saved by High Speed Launch 128.
Flying Officer E.A.C.G. Bruce (flying EP137) was also shot down. The Squadron’s senior intelligence officer compiled a report which demonstrated the difficulties faced by any pilot who was forced to bail out over the Mediterranean:
‘Flying Officer Bruce was flying Green 4 at 15,000ft west of Dingli when his Section was jumped by four Me 109s. Green Section broke up, taking evasive action. They joined up again 15 miles west of the island gaining height when they were told by ‘Gondar’ that bandits were receding north. Shortly afterwards they were jumped by four Me 109s flying in line astern and Flying Officer Bruce’s aircraft was hit. He bailed out, after having difficulty in jettisoning his hood, and came down in the sea about 15 miles west of the island.
‘Flying Officer Bruce saw the searching Spitfires, but as he had no florescence was not seen himself. The nearest Spitfire came within 500 yards of him. He recommends that it is essential that pilots carry full equipment such as torch, whistle, florescence, without which they have very little chance of being seen or heard by searchin
g aircraft or HSL. He found the hand paddles very exhausting and thinks that any sort of small paddle with a shaft would be preferable.’
Bruce had had to inflate his dinghy manually due to a faulty CO2 bottle (a common problem experienced by the island’s defenders), while his hands had been stung by jellyfish while paddling the 15 miles to the island. In the end he had made his own way to Fommir-Rih Bay, where he was helped ashore.
At about 1840 hours, No. 185 Squadron’s Flight Lieutenant W.J. Johnson took on three Bf 109s, fifteen miles north of St Paul’s Bay:
‘we were vectored north and fifteen miles out to sea and intercepted a formation of about twelve enemy fighters. Despite the fact that we had been put in an excellent position up sun and above the enemy we were seen, and three Me 109s detached themselves and attempted climb above and behind us. I turned slightly right and closed in on the middle one firing a three-second burst from 200 yards closing to fifty, from beam to quarter. I saw strikes on [the] fuselage and engine, and enemy aircraft emitted black smoke and fell away from formation. I fired another two-second burst from astern following it down and saw the aircraft go into the sea, fifteen to twenty miles north-west of St Paul’s Bay. This was all seen by Red 2, Sgt Park.