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

by Nick Thomas

  On this occasion, however, the Bf 109 was not seen to crash and was only allowed as damaged. Hetherington, meanwhile, was being engaged by four Bf 109s. Beurling sighted two Bf 109s 2 miles away and, having established that Hetherington didn’t need assistance, he headed in their direction. Before diving to make his attack, Beurling checked his tail and glanced below. Here he spotted a Spitfire under attack; it was Pilot Officer A.E. Budd. Having called out a warning, Beurling dived down to engage. Closing to 250 yards, he fired a one-and-a-half second burst, which entered the petrol tank. The Bf 109 caught fire, flicked over and span down to a watery grave. Beurling’s ‘kill’ was witnessed by Ernie Budd, whose neck he had just saved.

  Beurling’s combat report read:

  ‘As Tiger White 2, I attacked two Me 109s of a formation of twelve, from starboard quarter above. Fired one-and-a-half second burst from 300 yards. Enemy aircraft disintegrated. Attacked No. 2 aircraft from astern. Two-second burst, 350 yards. E/A emitted black smoke from engine with pieces coming off cowling, then glycol followed afterwards. Attacked third E/A five minutes later, six miles east of previous position, from port side, slightly above, 250-300 yards. Fired two-second burst. E/A enveloped in flames, dived vertically, striking the sea. Enemy pilot was seen going down by parachute, and was fired upon by Me 109 causing the parachute to stream.’

  Two of the aircraft hit belonged to I./JG 77. Oberfeldwebel Georg Ludwig and Oberfeldwebel Kurt Görbing (White 11/10551), both of which made it back to base, although the latter died a little later. The identity of the pilot (White 8/14260) who bailed out is not known.

  Meanwhile, Pilot Officer Moody’s7 Spitfire (EP136 T-P) was damaged in combat and crash-landed back at Takali, but he was unhurt. This was one of two aircraft claimed by I./JG 77, one by Oberleutnant Heinz-Edgar Berres (his 14th ‘kill’). Sergeant E.F. Croswell was admitted to 90 General Hospital, presumably as a result of combat.

  At 1530 hours, No. 249 Squadron despatched five Spitfires on a reconnaissance to the Sicilian coast. The Squadron was rested on the following day, when No. 1435 Squadron’s Flight Lieutenant H.W. McLeod (flying BR236 V-E) destroyed a Bf 109 and Sergeant W.R. Wilson probably destroyed another. Further uneventful reconnaissance operations were made over the Sicilian coast on the 27th and 28th.

  Five of No. 126 Squadron’s Spitfires engaged a force of a dozen Ju 88s and the same number of Bf 109s, during a scramble on 29 September. Flight Sergeant E.A. Crist was slightly wounded, claiming a Bf 109 probably destroyed:

  ‘Leading five Spits of 126 Squadron. Jumped 88’s close cover of 109s at 15,000 feet five miles south – east of Kalafrana. Had a two-second squirt at 109 though observed no results then started attack on 88s diving on Hal Far, broke off attack owing to two 109s on my tail. A 109 then attacked a Spit about 3,000ft below me and very obligingly popped up right in front of me. I gave him a three-second burst from below from 200 to 100 yards. Saw several strikes on port wing and fuselage, and two small bits of something fell off underneath. 109 then rolled very slowly on to his back, to the left. Had to break into two 109s who were attacking. I last saw my victim about 3,000ft on his back and seemingly out of control.

  (signed) Flight Sergeant Crist.’

  At 1600 hours, nine of No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires were scrambled on an interception, but the engagement proved inconclusive, with neither side able to gain the advantage.

  A reconnaissance sortie was flown over Sicily to Biscari and Comiso airfields at 1755 hours. No enemy aircraft were seen, but heavy flak was encountered. The patrol was repeated on the following day, after which the Squadron’s ORB recorded that Flight Lieutenant F.E. Jones8 was admitted to 90 General Hospital. His release from hospital on 6 October was followed by ten days sick leave.

  1. Roberts was killed at around 1530 hours on 15 November 1942, while still serving with the Squadron. Sergeant (656877) John Francis Roberts. RAFVR, was the son of Francis Hugh and May Roberts, of Ainsdale, Lancashire. Roberts was buried at Pord Said War Memorial Cemetery, Section V, Row C, Grave 16. He was 21-years-old.

  2. Sergeant Claude Weaver III was born in Oklahoma City, USA. He claimed ten-and-a-half enemy aircraft destroyed, and three probably destroyed while serving with No. 185 Squadron. He was taken POW on 9 September 1942, but later escaped and flew with No. 403 Squadron in later 1943. Weaver was killed-in-action on 28 January 1944, during a Ranger operation to Amiens, probably shot down by Feldwebel Gerhard Vogt of VI./JG 26.

  Sergeant Claude Weaver was awarded the DFM and Bar before being commissioned and being awarded the DFC, having added two kills while flying with No. 403 Squadron.

  London Gazette, 18 August 1942:

  ‘Distinguished Flying Medal.

  ‘(Can/R.83374) Sergeant Claude WEAVER, Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 185 Squadron.

  ‘In combats over Malta this gallant airman destroyed five German fighters and assisted in the destruction of a bomber, all within one week. He has set a courageous and inspiring example.’

  London Gazette, 17 March 1944:

  ‘Distinguished Flying Cross.

  ‘Pilot Officer Claude WEAVER, DFM (Can/J. 18784), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 403 (RCAF) Squadron.

  ‘Within recent months this officer has taken part in numerous low-level attacks against a variety of targets such as airfields and gun emplacements, and throughout has displayed great determination. In air fighting he has destroyed a further seven enemy aircraft, bringing his victories to twelve. His successes are an excellent tribute to his great skill, courage and resolution.

  3. Flight Sergeant (1268639) Lawrence Harold Swain, RAFVR, was the son of Harold and Winifred Swain of Highams Park, Essex. Swain was 20-years-old and was buried in Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery, Protestant Section (Men’s), Plot F, Collective Grave 9. Swain had been practicing dogfighting with Captain K.L. Kuhlmann, when he span in.

  4. Flight Sergeant (1284019) Bernard Charles Peters, RAFVR, was the son of Charles and Hilda Peters of West Wickham, Kent. Peters was 22-years-old and is remembered on the Malta Memorial, Panel 3, Column 2. Peters had earned the nickname ‘Pedro’ as he had flown as a volunteer during the Spanish Civil War.

  5. Pilot Officer (J/15280) Richard John Scott, RCAF, son of Walter P. Scott and Beatrice L. Scott, of Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada. Scott was 20-years-old and is remembered on the Malta Memorial, Panel 4, Column 2.

  6. Pilot Officer (J/15388) Ian Fraser Preston, RCAF, was the son of James R. and Margaret F. Preston, of Illinois, America. Preston was 22-years-old and is remembered on the Malta Memorial, Panel 4, Column 2.

  7. Flying Officer Vincent Kenneth Moody was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 21 January 1944. ‘Distinguished Flying Cross.

  ‘Flying Officer Vincent Kenneth MOODY (Can/J.15362), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 610 Squadron.’

  8. Flight Lieutenant F.E. Jones was awarded the DFC which was announced in the London Gazette, 9 October 1942:

  ‘Distinguished Flying Cross.

  ‘Acting Flight Lieutenant Frank Everett JONES (Can/J.15327), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 249 Squadron.

  ‘Flight Lieutenant Jones is a vigorous fighter whose fearlessness in the face of odds has set a praiseworthy example. On one occasion in June 1942, during a convoy escort, when his formation attacked a large enemy force, Flight Lieutenant Jones destroyed a Junkers 88. On another occasion he led his section in an attack against twelve enemy planes heavily escorted by fighters. Diving down amongst the enemy formation he shot down a Messerschmitt 109. Although he was attacked from all sides by many fighters, he skilfully frustrated them and, in spite of the damage sustained to his aircraft, he succeeded in leading his section safely to base.’

  Chapter Nine

  Surviving the Final Blitz

  The Luftwaffe units stationed on Sicily were reinforced in readiness for a new offensive, in an attempt to neutralise Malta’s influence on the North Africa campaign. To this end, three Kampfgruppen of Ju 88s were transferred into the theatre, while I./JG 53 (Bf 109s), follow
ed by I./SchG2 (Bf 109 fighter-bombers) and I./JG 27 (Bf 109s) returned to the island.

  Having been stood down on the previous day, No. 249 Squadron was back in action at 0915 hours on 2 October, acting as return cover for No. 229 Squadron’s bomb-carrying Spitfires. This had been the first hit-and-run raid of its type over the Sicilian mainland. Two Mc 202s and four Bf 109s were engaged, with Squadron Leader E.N. Woods (flying AR466 T-R) and Flight Sergeant L.G.C. de l’Ara (flying BR565 T-T) each squirting at the Mc 202s as they flashed across their sights, claiming them as damaged.

  Beurling (flying EP706 T-L) was on a section strength scramble, flown at 1420 hours.

  At 0645 hours on 3 October, Beurling took off on an anti E-boat patrol, when he reported sighting a stationary submarine with a gaggle of four Mc 202s and four Bf 109s flying as cover. Orders, or a lack of fuel, must have prevented Beurling from hanging around to try to pick off one or two of the enemy aircraft, certainly the odds wouldn’t have troubled him in the least.

  Beurling (flying EP 706 T-L) was scrambled on a flight strength interception at 0905 hours. His luck seemed to be changing when he sighted a formation of twenty-one Bf 109s. However, this and the second wave of eight Bf 109s, refused to stay to fight and could not be overhauled.

  At 0820 hours on the following day, Nos. 185 and 249 Squadrons each scrambled eight Spitfires to make an interception of twenty Bf 109s of I./JG 77 approaching the island. Following the Controller’s vector, No. 249 Squadron’s Red Section sighted two Bf 109s and was preparing to attack, when they were jumped over Grand Harbour by a dozen Bf 109s.

  Sergeant M.I. Gass1 became separated and his Spitfire (EP700 T-Q) was targeted by a Bf 109. Hit by a short but fatal burst, Gass dived vertically into the sea three miles off Filfla. Although High Speed Launch 128 was quickly on the scene, there was no trace of Sergeant Gass, only his Mae West and aircraft wreckage.

  Meanwhile, Blue Section was attacked by Bf 109s and Flight Sergeant G.A. Hogarth’s2 Spitfire, BR379 T-V, was seen from the ground streaming glycol. Hogarth’s head had been badly grazed by a bullet and the young pilot was almost certainly suffering from concussion. Somehow, he nursed his Spitfire down and attempted a landing at Qrendi, a new landing strip south of Luqa. Unfortunately, Hogarth’s Spitfire undershot and crash-landed while making his approach. Extricated from the wreckage, he died from injuries at 90 General Hospital without regaining consciousness.

  Beurling was greatly saddened by the loss of the young flight sergeant, commenting that George Hogarth was, ‘one of the best guys Canada ever sent over to fly.’ This was praise indeed from Beurling, a pilot of outstanding abilities.

  Of the other No. 249 Squadron pilots, Beurling noted that Sergeant P. Carter had landed three-quarters of an hour after the rest of the Squadron. He had been so angered by the loss of two brave pilots that he had pursued the enemy as far as his fuel had allowed. He was heard to say, ‘I chased the bastards damn nearly back to Sicily, but damned if I could get at them.’

  Among the pilots engaged against the Squadron was Leutnant Hans-Joachim Gläss of III./JG 77, who claimed the destruction, presumably that of Flight Sergeant Gass.

  Between 0720 and 0835 hours on 5 October, Beurling (flying EP 706 T-L) made a flight strength reconnaissance over Comiso and Gela, led by Wing Commander A.H. Donaldson. There was no enemy activity to report as, despite knowledge of their approach, the enemy refused to put up any defence.

  Stood down on 6 October, No. 249 Squadron flew an uneventful reconnaissance. Meanwhile, during the mid-morning, a formation of eight Bf 109s approached the island, and Nos. 185 and 1435 Squadrons were scrambled. No. 1435 Squadron was able to close in for the attack, with Pilot Officer C.H. Lattimer (flying EN978 V-O) destroying a Bf 109.

  There was little trade for No. 249 Squadron, although they did make a flight strength scramble on the following day (7th).

  Meanwhile, acting-Squadron Leader M.M. Stephens, DSO, DFC and Bar, was attached from HQ Mediterranean. He was initially posted as supernumerary Squadron Leader, to assume command. However, events in the air would transpire to take him elsewhere.

  An uneventful flight strength scramble was made at 1000 hours on 8 October, while at 1245 hours, Beurling (flying EP488 T-F) made an air and cannon test. This was an authorised flight; there was no spare fuel for Beurling or any other pilot to take off under spurious pretences to wage a private war against the enemy.

  At 1110 hours on 9 October, Beurling (EP706 T-L) made a section strength reconnaissance. The enemy’s fighter aircraft once again remained elusive and, frustratingly, the Spitfires landed without having fired in anger.

  Squadron Leader M.M. Stephens took off at the head of a section strength reconnaissance at 0720 hours on 10 October. Not long after becoming airborne, the Spitfires, along with four from No. 229 Squadron, were vectored onto a dozen Bf 109s. No. 229 Squadron was engaged by the enemy, losing one Spitfire, before the Messerschmitts were driven off by No. 249 Squadron, with Squadron Leader M.M. Stephens (flying EP706 T-L) claiming a Bf 109 damaged.

  At 1015 hours, eight Spitfires were scrambled to take on a plot estimated at a dozen Bf 109s, which was approaching the island. A general dogfight ensued with Flying Officer J.F. McElroy (flying EP708 T-U) destroying a Bf 109, damaging a second. Squadron Leader Stephens (flying EP338 T-A) claimed one Bf 109 probably destroyed, observing strikes on the starboard wing during a, ‘two-second burst with everything I had.’ Meanwhile, Sergeant A.B. Stead (flying EP199 T-K) claimed one Bf 109 probably destroyed, with Wing Commander (Flying) P.P. Hanks (flying BR498 PP-H), Squadron Leader E.N. Woods (flying AR466 T-R) and Pilot Officer J.G. Sanderson (flying BR373 T-N) each damaging a Bf 109. The air battle was one-sided, with the only reported damage to No. 249 Squadron’s Spitfires being a holed wing.

  Flying Officer McElroy’s combat report read:

  ‘Attacked head-on; E/A dived to right so turned on their tails. Caught another 109 climbing with two others in line astern. I attacked head-on from above quarter, fired a half-second burst, and observed cannon shells hit leading edge of E/A’s wing. A large piece of wing blew off. I fired at other 109s, closing from 100 yards to 20 yards, but observed no strikes. I broke right onto another 109, 250 yards line astern, and fired a three-second cannon and machine gun burst, observing hits on engine and wing roots. With heavy black smoke and pieces coming off the E/A half-rolled, so I followed it down and gained on him in the dive; the aircraft tried to pull out at 5,000ft, so I closed to 200 yards and finished my cannon, observing strikes and glycol. I continued to attack with machine guns down to 50ft from sea level, 15 to 20 miles south of the Sicilian coast; E/A still diving towards sea, streaming glycol and black smoke.’

  Beurling missed the earlier action, but was given permission to take a newly serviced Spitfire (EP706 T-L) up on ‘local flying’ at 1710 hours. Beurling’s luck was in and, no sooner had he climbed into the air, than he was vectored onto two Bf 109s flying line abreast at 1,000ft over Filfla. Beurling was quickly on the scene and flew a wide arc out to sea to make his attack. His flight-path took him out south of Filfla, while his approach brought him back in just under the enemy on the starboard side. He now had a clear shot and so Beurling:

  ‘rolled up under him, giving him a quick burst into the engine. He pancaked right smack down on his belly and flipped over onto his back.’

  The second Bf 109 immediately turned to flee, but Beurling had anticipated this move and was already cutting the corner. He soon had the Bf 109 in his sights, firing a short burst:

  ‘I moved onto his starboard quarter and let him have it. The burst caught the gas tank and the “ship” blew up, complete with pilot.’3

  A raid estimated at half-a-dozen Ju 88s, along with their escort of twenty-five Bf 109s and Mc 202s, was identified by radar at 1600 hours. The Controller scrambled eight of No. 229 Squadron’s Spitfires in response, with Wing Commander A.H. Donaldson leading. During the ensuing dogfight Wing Commander Donaldson (flying BR529 AD) destroyed one Messerschmitt Bf 109
, as did Flight Lieutenant A.F. Roscoe and Sergeant R. Miller.

  Flight Lieutenant Roscoe’s combat report read:

  ‘I attacked No. 4 of a section of four Me 109s in line astern. After breaking off, I was attacked by the leader and he followed me down to 12,000ft, about 20 miles north of St Paul’s Bay. After levelling out, he overshot, which placed me in line astern at 30-75 yards. I gave a three-second burst and observed white and black smoke, strikes, and pieces fly off. He flopped over and dived down. I saw him hit the sea.’

  In his semi autobiography, Beurling recalled how at around dusk on the 9th [sic] Louis De l’Ara, ‘pulled off one of the best shows in Malta aerial history.’, whilst leading a section patrol. According to Beurling’s memory of the action, De l’Ara had followed the Controller’s vector and intercepted a sweep of eighteen unescorted Ju 88 bombers, shooting one down and forcing the remainder to jettison their bombs harmlessly into the sea, before opening up the throttle and making for home. ‘De l’Ara whipped in and out among them to his heart’s content.’ Beurling observed that De l’Ara’s DFM citation referred to this combat.4

  In light of the recent offensive raids flown against Italian targets in Sicily, Wing Commander A.H. Donaldson (flying 254 T-S) took off at 1240 hours on 11 October for bombing practice. While only a few minutes into the flight, Donaldson joined No. 229 Squadron’s Spitfires when they were vectored onto an enemy formation. Donaldson destroyed a Ju 88, and damaged a Bf 109: