George Beurling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| George Frederick Beurling | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 6 December 1921 Verdun, Quebec |
| Died | 20 May 1948 Rome,Italy |
| Occupation | Aviator |
| Spouse | Diana Whittall |
George Frederick "Buzz" Beurling DSO, DFC, DFM and Bar (6 December 1921 – 20 May 1948), was the most successful Canadian fighter pilot of the Second World War.
Contents |
Born in Verdun (now part of Montreal), Quebec, he first took the controls of an aircraft in 1933 and was flying solo by 1938. Beurling left school to work for an air freight company out of Gravenhurst, Ontario and soon gained a commercial license. He had intended to go to China, but was imprisoned for a few months for illegally crossing the border into the USA in an attempt to join the Flying Tigers.
With the outbreak of war, Beurling tried to join the RCAF, but his lack of academic qualifications led to his rejection. He then tried to join the Finnish Air Force (who were fighting the Soviets in the Winter War) but was thwarted when he could not get his parents' permission. Instead, Beurling sailed across the Atlantic on a convoy, landing in Glasgow, intending to enlist in the RAF. Unfortunately, he had forgotten his birth certificate and had to return to Canada to get it, but after surviving the return trip, the RAF accepted him as a pilot.
Beurling demonstrated considerable skill in training but turned down a commission and was posted as an NCO, a Sergeant Pilot, to 403 Squadron and, in 1942, to 41 Squadron where he had his first certain combat success. On several occasions, Beurling was reprimanded for attacking targets without permission, and thus was unpopular with his superiors. He then volunteered for a posting to Malta and 249 Squadron.
By 6 July 1942, Beurling had three confirmed victories, shortly after, raising his total to five to make him an official ace. A teetotaler and non-smoker, Beurling dedicated himself totally to the art of aerial combat. Through relentless concentration he developed a marked skill at deflection shooting and together with his "situational awareness," was soon recognized as a deadly combat pilot. Like many successful Spitfire pilots, Beurling developed the habit of only engaging enemy aircraft at 250 yards or less — a range at which many other pilots would be breaking away. His nickname on Malta was 'Screwball', a curse he had a habit of using. Beurling tended to be a loner on the ground and in the air - angering his commanders with his disdain for teamwork.
On 11 July, Beurling shot down the recognized Italian ace Furio Niclot over Malta along with Niclot's wingman and two German fighters. For this day's work he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal — having reached eight victories. At the end of July, he was promoted to Pilot Officer and won a bar to his DFM with 17 confirmed kills. The enervation of daily combat and the effects of the poor rations and dysentery were telling. Beurling was bed-ridden for much of August and September, gaining only 1½ victories in August. He was shot down and crashed, uninjured, in a field.
In September, Beurling had another of his successful days, downing three German fighters, a feat he repeated in October. He was awarded the DFC for these exploits. On his last flight over Malta he led a flight of eight Spitfire Vs against over sixty German aircraft. He shot down a bomber and a fighter, but was wounded twice. While engaging a third aircraft, Beurling's Spitfire was badly damaged and he spun down out of control, only just managing to bailout. He was rescued from the sea and hospitalised. He received a DSO and was sent back to Britain. On the way, his transport aircraft crashed into the sea off Gibraltar and only Beurling and two others survived. Over Malta, he had claimed over 27 kills, by far the highest total by an RAF pilot during the island's battle.
After landing back in England, he was then sent to Canada to join a Victory Loan Drive, selling War bonds, becoming the guest of honour at a parade in Verdun and meeting the Prime Minister. He did not enjoy the war bond campaign. The leg wound Beurling had received over Malta, combined with his poor general health, returned him to hospital for several weeks. He completed his promotional work in mid-1943 and also met his future wife, Diana Whittall, in Vancouver.
Returning to England, Beurling was posted as a gunnery instructor to 61 OTU; in September 1943, he transferred to the RCAF and was posted to an operational squadron, 403 at Kenley, flying the new Spitfire IX. Unhappy with flying sweeps, Beurling requested command of a flight of Mustangs in order to carry out deep penetration free-roaming raids into Germany. His request was turned down. Disciplinary problems annoyed his commander but he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. However, his stunting of a Tiger Moth at zero feet over his airfield eventually led to his wing commander, W/C Hugh Godefroy DFC, threatening him with a court martial, subsequently, Beurling was transferred to 126 Wing HQ and then to 412 Squadron RCAF.
At 412, he again came into conflict with his commander for stunting and his lack of teamwork, leading to his eventually grounding.
Beurling returned to Canada in April 1944 where he was given an honourable discharge in October. Despite an attempt to join the USAAF, his wartime flying was over; he ended his career with 32 confirmed kills, a DSO, a DFC and a DFM and bar.
Beurling's marriage ended in 1944 and in 1948 he was invited to fly P-51s for the Israeli air force. En route, while landing at Urbe Airport in Rome,Italy, Beurling died when his Norseman transport aircraft crashed. Suspicion at the time of the accident centred on possible sabotage which never was proven. George Beurling was buried in Rome but in 1950 reinterred at Mount Carmel with full military honor.
Malta Spitfire, an account of his time in Malta, was co-written by Leslie Roberts and Beurling but not published until after his death.
A street is named after George Beurling in his hometown of Verdun, Quebec, Canada. Beurling Academy, a high school in the Lester B. Pearson School Board in Dorval, Quebec, is named after him.
- Beurling, George and Roberts, Leslie. Malta Sptfire: The Buzz Beurling Story. London: Penquin Books, 2002. ISBN 0-14-301237-1.
- Nolan, Brian. Hero: The Buzz Beurling Story. London: Penquin Books, 1981. ISBN 0-14-006266-1.
