by Nick Thomas
And a Bar to the DFC, London Gazette, 30 October 1942:
‘Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross
‘Acting Flight Lieutenant Henry Wallace McLEOD, DFC (Can./J.4912), Royal Canadian Air Force. ‘One day in October 1942, this officer took part in an attack on a formation of six Junkers 88’s and shot two of them down. Although his aircraft was damaged in the combat, he led his section in an attack on another formation of nine enemy bombers. Afterwards, he skilfully flew his damaged aircraft to base. During a period of five days Flight Lieutenant McLeod destroyed five enemy aircraft in the defence of Malta. A gallant fighter, this officer has destroyed twelve and damaged many more enemy aircraft.’
23. Flight Sergeant (403087) William Bedlington Knox-Williams, RAAF, was the son of Robert James and Margaret Keatley Knox-Williams of Burntwood, New South Wales, Australia. Knox-Williams is remembered on the Malta Memorial, Panel 5, Column 2.
24. Sergeant (412270) Ronald Joe Roe, Royal New Zealand Air Force. Roe is remembered on the Malta Memorial on Panel 5, Column 2.
25. Flight Lieutenant E.H. Glazebrook was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 30 October 1942:
‘Distinguished Flying Cross
‘Acting Flight Lieutenant Edwin Herbert GLAZEBROOK (Can/J.5329), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 229 Squadron.
‘This officer has participated in many sorties over Sicily. In the heavy air fighting over Malta, he has taken part in many interceptions and his flight has destroyed twelve enemy aircraft. By his skilful and courageous leadership, Flight Lieutenant Glazebrook played a large part in the successes obtained. He has destroyed three enemy aircraft.’
26. Wing Commander J.M. Thompson, DFC, was awarded a Bar to the DFC, London Gazette, 4 December 1942:
‘Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross
‘Wing Commander John Marlow THOMPSON, DFC (34183), Reserve of Air Force Officers.’
27. Pilot Officer L.S. Reid was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 1 December 1942:
‘Distinguished Flying Cross
‘Pilot Officer Leonard Stanley REID (Aus.400735), Royal Australian Air Force, No. 185 Squadron.’
28. Flight Lieutenant C.H. Parkinson was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 30 October 1942:
‘Acting Flight Lieutenant Colin Henry PARKINSON (Aus.402877), Royal Australian Air Force, No. 229 Squadron.
‘This officer is a determined fighter who has led his formation with exceptional skill. On 17th October, 1942, he shot down a Messerschmitt 109. Shortly afterwards he saw, in the sea, one of his fellow pilots who had bailed out. Whilst guiding a rescue launch to the spot, his aircraft was attacked by three enemy fighters but he drove them off. Although running short of petrol he did not return to base until he observed that the pilot had been picked up. This officer, whose courageous leadership has been most inspiring, has destroyed nine enemy aircraft.’
29. Flight Lieutenant E.L. Hetherington was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 30 October 1942:
‘Distinguished Flying Cross.
‘Acting Flight Lieutenant Erik Lawson HETHERINGTON (102091), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 249 Squadron.
‘During the recent intense air activity over Malta, this officer has led his flight with great skill. Many attacks on the island have been frustrated and sixteen enemy aircraft destroyed. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Hetherington’s brilliant leadership has contributed materially to the success achieved. One day in October 1942, he led his flight in a head-on attack against a force of seven Junkers 88s escorted by a large number of fighters. A Junkers 88 was shot down by Flight Lieutenant Hetherington and two Messerschmitt 109s were destroyed. None of the bombers reached its target. This officer, who has destroyed two enemy aircraft, has displayed fine leadership, courage and determination.’
30. Squadron Leader M.M. Stephens, DSO (20 January 1942), DFC and Bar (31 May 1940), was awarded a Second Bar to the DFC (30 October 1942). The London Gazette entry for Stephens’ Second Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross read:
‘Acting Squadron Leader Maurice Michael STEPHENS, DSO, DFC (33522) No. 229 Squadron.
‘From the 8th to 15th October 1942 this officer has destroyed five enemy aircraft in air combats over Malta. On one occasion he followed an enemy bomber down to sea level and, after pursuing it out to sea for some 20 miles, shot it down into the water. He was afterwards attacked by six enemy fighters, but he destroyed one of them and fought the others off. Although his aircraft was badly damaged he flew it to base and made a crash-landing.
‘This officer has greatly enhanced the gallant reputation he so worthily holds.’
31. Flight Sergeant J.H. Ballatyne was awarded the DFC London Gazette, 1 December 1942:
‘Distinguished Flying Cross
‘Can/R.85860 Flight Sergeant James Hamilton BALLANTYNE, Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 229 Squadron.’
Flight Lieutenant J.H. Ballatyne, DFC, was killed-in-action on 4 March 1944
32. Beurling’s unrealistic assessment of his injuries, and the unfeasibility of his idea to return to combat by day and recuperate in hospital by night, has been seen as a symptom of combat fatigue.
33. Flight Lieutenant A.F. Roscoe was awarded the DFC, London Gazette, 30 October 1942:
‘Acting Flight Lieutenant Arthur Ford ROSCOE (100530), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 229 Squadron.
‘On 12th October 1942, this officer participated in an engagement against a force of enemy fighters. During the combat, one of his comrades was being attacked by a Messerschmitt 109, but a burst from Flight Lieutenant Roscoe’s guns caused it to break away with pieces falling from it. His own aircraft was then attacked by six Messerschmitt 109s. Although he was wounded in the shoulder and his aircraft was damaged he fought his way through, and, in so doing, destroyed one of the attacking aircraft. Whilst heading for base he was again attacked. His engine caught fire and it was only by skilful airmanship that he was able to land his aircraft. This courageous officer, who has completed a large number of sorties and destroyed four enemy aircraft, has always displayed great skill and determination.’
34. The citation is, perhaps, reminiscent of that for Flight Lieutenant James Brindley Nicholson’s Victoria Cross. His Hurricane was shot down, but he remained at the controls in order to shoot down a Bf 110 that crossed his sights. Nicholson was severely burnt on the hands and (to a lesser extent) face in the process.
35. A number of tour expired and wounded pilots died as a result of the Liberator crash, including the following:
Warrant Officer II (R/68649) Rupert Henry Davey, RCAF, had served with No. 126 Squadron. He is remembered on the Gibraltar Memorial.
Flight Lieutenant (J/5329) Edwin Herbert Glazebrook, DFC, RCAF, was the son of Herbert William and Ethel May Glazebrook, of Valois, Province of Quebec, Canada. Glazebrook was 24-years-old and is remembered on the Gibraltar Memorial.
The remainder of the casualties had flown in No. 249 Squadron:
Flight Lieutenant (102091) Erik Lawson Hetherington, DFC, RCAF, was the son of Thomas L. Hetherington and Hilda M. Hetherington, of Haltwhistle, Northumberland. Hetherington was 24-years-old and is remembered on the Gibraltar Memorial.
Pilot Officer (J/15604) John William Williams, DFC, RCAF, was the son of Herbert and Frances Williams, of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. Williams was 20-years-old and is remembered on the Gibraltar Memorial.
Warrant Officer II (R/78682) Charles Edward Mutch, RCAF, was the son of Frederick and Sarah Mutch, of Clinton, Ontario, Canada. Mutch was 23-years-old and is remembered on the Gibraltar Memorial.
36. Squadron Leader Robert Wendell McNAiR was awarded a Bar to the DFC, London Gazette, 27 July 1943:
‘Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross.
‘Acting Squadron Leader Robert Wendell McNair, D.F.C. (Can/J.4745), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 421 (RCAF) Squadron.
‘This officer is a skilful and determined fighter, whose record of achievement and personal example are worthy of high praise. Squadron Leader McNair has destroyed ten hos
tile aircraft (five of them whilst serving in the Middle East) and damaged a number of others.’
McNair was awarded a Second Bar, London Gazette, 22 October 1943:
‘Second Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross.
‘Squadron Leader Robert Wendell MCNAIR, DFC (Can/J-4745), Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 421 (RCAF) Squadron.
‘Squadron Leader McNair is a tenacious and confident fighter, whose outstanding ability has proved an inspiration to the Squadron he commands.
‘He has completed a large number of sorties and has destroyed fifteen and damaged many other enemy aircraft. His keenness has been outstanding.’
Wing Commander R.W. McNair was awarded the DSO, London Gazette, 14 April 1944:
‘Distinguished Service Order
‘Acting Wing Commander Robert Wendell McNair, DFC (Can/J.4745).’
Chapter Ten
The Wounded Hero Returns
George briefly convalesced in Gibraltar’s hospital before being put onboard another Liberator to Preswick, Scotland, on 3 November 1942. From there, he was flown to the Ferry Command base at Gander, Newfoundland, and then on to Montreal’s Dorval Airport. Here, Beurling’s parents, brothers and sister Gladys were waiting to greet him. Waiting too was Prime Minister MacKenzie King, but he was a further gruelling 120 miles away in Ottawa. Temporarily re-united, the Beurling family boarded a plane for the three-hour journey to the capital, by which time, Beurling had been in the air for over twenty-four hours, almost non-stop.
As he stepped out onto the Tarmac, Beurling was mobbed by photographers and members of the press. Tired and suffering from the effects of his wounds, combat fatigue and months of near-starvation, the young war hero had to be supported during the impromptu press conference that followed. There was no opportunity to take a break or compose himself, as he was immediately ushered through to meet the Prime Minister, who congratulated him on his achievements. The staged exchange took several ‘takes’ before PR officials were satisfied that the ‘spin’ was right and that the representative from CBS and the photographers had everything they needed for their stories.
The following day, Beurling was back in his hometown, though not at his parent’s house at 315 Rielle Avenue. Instead, there was a reception laid on at the Windsor Hotel, Montreal. That evening, Beurling was driven at the head of a parade which made its way to the Verdun Auditorium. Despite heavy rain, the streets were packed, while an estimated 10,000 people filled the ice rink.
Beurling was perched on a high seat, a throne-like affair, while twenty-nine Girl Guides filed by, each presenting the town’s hero with a red rose, representing each of his combat victories. They processed one by one up to Beurling and made their gift, receiving a smile and a polite ‘thank you’ in return before Beurling duly passed on each bloom to his mother.
The proceedings were broadcast across the country by CBS. The Mayor of Verdun began the speeches, followed by Air Commodore A. de Niverville, Air Officer Commanding No. 3 Training Command. The latter acknowledged the grave error that the RCAF had made in missing the opportunity of making Beurling one of their own:
‘This is one of the mistakes the RCAF has made, and let us hope we will not make many more like that. We owe the Royal Air Force a debt for being wiser than we were and readily accepting him.’
Beurling responded to the official speeches with due modesty:
‘This is no place for me, I’m a fighter pilot and not a speech-maker.
‘First of all you’ll get a kick out of hearing that Canadian pilots in Malta are all doing a swell job. They are really great fellows and great fighters.’
Of the Victory Bonds loan drive, the reason for his removal from the European theatre of the war, Beurling commented on the local fundraising exceeding its targets:
‘it was great news to hear that it had gone over the top. That will be a real thrill to the Canadians overseas, making them feel that everybody at home is backing them up.’
A cutting from one of the Verdun Arena newspapers was preserved in a family album and included extracts from Beurling’s, ‘well received speech to his hometown crowd’:
‘I could see all the details in his face because he turned and looked at me just as I had a bead on him. One of my cannon shells caught him in the face and blew his head right off. The body slumped and the slipstream caught the neck, the stub of the neck, and the blood streamed down the side of the cockpit. I must say it gives you a feeling of satisfaction when you actually blow their brains out.’
Beurling had been reliving the gory events of 12 July when he had shot down Tenente Colonnello Aldo Quarantotti; an account he would later often regale to gaggles of female admirers – to mixed reviews.
With the official reception dispensed with, Beurling was at last able to spend a little time with his family before being admitted into the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, his wounds not yet having properly healed. Rather than being placed on a general ward, Beurling was given his own room, which at times became a make-shift press-room. Having been interviewed by Reader’s Digest, Beurling was persuaded to sign a deal with Maclean’s Magazine which netted him $1,200.
Maclean’s Magazine’s 15 January edition carried the following article compiled by Webb Waldron, which recalled a fairly typical encounter:
‘“We went up to intercept a mixed raid of bombers and fighters,’ said Beurling. “We got over them, went through the fighters to get at the bombers. Then the bombers turned and beat it for Sicily. So we were left with just the fighters. The odds were about eight to one against us.”
‘“Eight to one!” I exclaimed.
“Oh, that’s not uncommon.”’
The article quoted ‘Buzz’s’ description of his first “kill”, made during a fighter sweep over the French coast near Calais. Beurling set the scene, going on to explain how they were bounced by Focke-Wulf 190s, which outnumbered them by five or six to one:
‘“I got it from both sides, cannon shells and machine gun bullets. The plane bucked and shuddered with the impact. I thought it was going out of control. Shrapnel pierced the cockpit and got me in the ribs. My port cannon and machine guns were knocked out of action.”’
Beurling’s starboard cannon was damaged too, hanging loose and ineffective, another shell having burst inside the wing. His only defence against six enemy aircraft lining him up for the coup-de-grace were his two starboard machine guns:
‘“I was out over the middle of the Channel. I thought for a minute I’d have to bail out. I pulled my plane around and flew into the sun.
‘“The Jerries who were on my tail turned and flew after me, but the sun must have blinded them as I thought it would. They flew right over me without seeing me. I gave the middle one a burst with my two machine guns. He was only fifty yards ahead of me. I couldn’t hear the guns, as only two were firing, and thought I’d run out of ammunition, but he blew up, and the other Jerries beat it for France.”’
Beurling then went on to relate his time while flying with No. 41 Squadron, and how, when once again acting as ‘Tail-end-Charlie’, he nearly suffered a similar fate:
‘“I called up and reported Huns. The Squadron leader gave me hell and told me to stop trying to cause trouble in the air and to stop reporting Huns that were not there. Ten minutes later we were bounced and I got shot.”
During his long recuperation he was promoted to the rank of flying officer (on probation) on 1 January 1943, well ahead of the usual eighteen months.
While in Ottowa, not long after arriving in Canada, Beurling gave another interview in which he revealed what went through his mind while in the thick of combat:
‘I wonder if he [the enemy] is going to blow or fry. There is no time for any other kind of thought. There is always someone on your tail and [you] have to be pretty sharp. There is not time to loiter around. You have to be hardhearted, too. You must blaze away whenever you are in a position to get his oxygen bottles or gas tanks.’
These were not hollow words as Beurling, a
crack-shot, had proved time and time again, by destroying enemy aircraft with short well-aimed bursts, often at very close range. This had often allowed him to damage or destroy multiple targets in the same sortie.
It wasn’t until about 18 February that Beurling was deemed fit enough to embark on a month-long Victory Bond promotional programme, during which he covered some 6,000 miles.
Less than a week into the tour, Beurling was in Toronto. Naturally the local press was well primed, printing every chance word or comment:
‘BEURLING PAYS WARM TRIBUTE TO NEW PLANE
‘Mosquitos, the world’s speediest bombers being built here in Toronto, “will be an important factor in deciding the war” was the heartening tribute paid to this part of the city’s war effort by Canada’s greatest air fighter, F/O George F. ‘Buzz’ Beurling, who received deafening and prolonged acclaim at the Canadian Club lunch at the Royal York yesterday [22 February]. Beurling spoke briefly, obviously ill at ease and, as he has said, “much more at home in a cockpit than at a microphone.”
‘Beurling leaves today [23 February] for Winnipeg to continue his tour of RCAF stations.’
Beurling was characteristically modest when he said:
“My job is to fly and to fight. I happen to be one of many thousands of fellows, all of them like myself, who take particular pleasure in making things as tough as possible for the Jerries and the Eyties. I don’t think we will have come off second best in any respect.”
When Beurling wasn’t available for the press to interview, they sought out stories from anyone with something to say about the all-Canadian hero and there was no shortage of people who wanted to claim fame through association. The following was printed on 29 February:
‘Beurling’s ‘Piece of Cake’ Shared With Flying Mate
