Джордж "Базз" Бёрлинг: Канадский ас Второй мировой войны.

Canadian fighter pilot and flying ace

George Frederick "Buzz" Beurling, (6 December 1921 – 20 May 1948) was the most successful Canadian fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. Beurling was recognised as "Canada's most famous hero of the Second World War", as "The Falcon of Malta" and the "Knight of Malta", having been credited with shooting down 27 Axis aircraft in just 14 days over the besieged Mediterranean island. Before the war ended his official total climbed to either 31 or 31. Beurling's wartime service was terminated prior to war's end, for repeated stunting and his lack of teamwork. Having found a way to potentially continue combat flying in the postwar era, Beurling was killed in a crash while attempting to deliver an aircraft to Israel.

George Beurling was born in 1921 in Verdun (now part of Montreal), Quebec into a religious family and was the third of five children in the family. His father, Frederick Gustav Beurling, was Swedish and a commercial artist working for the Claude Neon Company. His mother, Hetty Florence Gibbs, is of English descent and was born in the Montreal suburb of Pointe Saint Charles. George Beurling began to develop an interest in flying at the age of 6 when his father built him a model aircraft. His parents wanted him to study in McGill University and become a successful commercial artist like his father. At the age of 15, George quit school and took up a job to increase his income. One year later, he had logged 150 flying hours and passed all examinations for a commercial pilot licence. Wanting to increase his flying experience, he went to China, hoping to join the Chinese Nationalist Air Force by crossing the US border. He was intending to head to San Francisco and work for some while in China and later sign up for the job. Eventually, he was arrested as an immigrant at the border and was repatriated back home. He first took the controls of an aircraft in 1933, and was flying solo by 1938. He left school to work for an air freight company in Gravenhurst, Ontario, and soon gained a commercial licence. Beurling joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in September 1940.

With the outbreak of war, Beurling tried to join the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), but his lack of academic qualifications led to his rejection. He then tried to join the Finnish Air Force (which was fighting the Soviets in the Winter War), but 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. In September 1940, after he had survived the return trip, the RAF accepted him as a pilot.

Having survived one or two aerial misdemeanours, Beurling reached No. 7 Operational Training Unit, at RAF Hawarden, in September 1941. Beurling demonstrated considerable skill in training. In Hawarden, he came under the influence of the great Ginger Lacey, whose score at the time stood at 27. Lacey later commented about Beurling: "There are not two ways about it, he was a wonderful pilot and an even better shot." These two factors, coupled with exceptional eyesight, were the keys to Beurling's later success. But they did not come without effort. At Hawarden, he immersed himself in gunnery, estimation of range, deflection, bullet trail and bullet drop, until his application of these became automatic. For him, flying and shooting became one single action. In the middle of December, he was posted as a Sergeant Pilot to 403 Squadron, a RCAF "Article XV squadron", which had just moved to North Weald, Essex. He flew his first (uneventful) combat mission, in a Supermarine Spitfire, on Christmas Day 1941. Beurling remained with 403 for nearly four months, escorting bombers and flying fighter sweeps across the English Channel. Beurling did not get off an effective shot during his time with 403, despite being in formations "jumped" by German fighters. In early 1942, a change of policy by the RCAF required its squadrons to be staffed by RCAF personnel. Because Beurling had remained technically a member of the RAF, he was posted to 41 Squadron RAF in Sussex. Two days later, as usual for a newcomer, he was assigned again to the number four position. He spotted a lone Focke Wulf Fw 190, and broke from the flight to pursue it. He claimed the German fighter as probably destroyed off Cap Gris Nez at approximately 12:00. On this occasion, Beurling was reprimanded for attacking a target without permission, and became unpopular with his superiors and fellow pilots. As Red 4, finding himself alone in the sky, he made his way back across the Channel, joining up with Sgt Appleton mid way. Counting all claims together, after Group revision, 3 1 2 Fw 190s were credited to the RAF FC pilots. When another pilot was posted overseas, Beurling offered to take his place. Ordered to board a ship, he did not know his destination until the vessel reached Gibraltar. He was destined for No. 249 Squadron RAF, at Malta.

After landing back in Britain, Beurling was then sent to Canada to join a Victory Loan Drive, selling war bonds, being the guest of honour at a parade in Verdun and meeting Prime Minister Mackenzie King. He was promoted to war substantive Flying Officer (on probation) on 30 January 1943. He did not enjoy the war bond campaign. Also, he often said things that embarrassed the RCAF, such as that he enjoyed killing people. 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 Britain, Beurling was posted as a gunnery instructor to 61 OTU. On 27 May 1943, he was posted to the Central Gunnery School at RAF Sutton Bridge. On 8 June, during a mock dogfight, Beurling was forced to bail out of Spitfire II P7913 when the engine caught fire after being accidentally hit. It is alleged that whilst stationed at RAF Sutton Bridge he actually flew under the Crosskeys Bridge that crosses the Nene, which still stands today having been built 1897.

On 1 September 1943, Beurling transferred to the RCAF, and was posted to an operational squadron, 403 (a return to his first squadron) at Kenley, flying the new Spitfire IX. Shooting down an Fw 190 of JG 2 in September, but unhappy with flying sweeps, Beurling requested command of a flight of North American P 51 Mustangs in order to carry out deep penetration, free roaming raids into Germany. His request was turned down. Disciplinary problems annoyed his commander, but Beurling was promoted to flight lieutenant. However, his stunting of a de Havilland Tiger Moth at zero feet over his airfield eventually led to his Wing Commander, Hugh Godefroy, threatening him with a court martial. Subsequently, Beurling was transferred to 126 Wing HQ and then to 412 Squadron. At 412 Squadron, Beurling again came into conflict with his commander for stunting and his lack of teamwork, leading to his eventual grounding. He claimed his last kill on 30 December, shooting down and wounding Uzz. Heinz Wyrich of 5 Staffel, JG 26 flying a Fw 190A 45 W. Nr. 1175, Weisse 16 2 km S. of Romaine, when the squadron was covering returning American bombers near Compiègne, France.

Beurling returned to Canada in April 1944. He was given an honourable discharge in October and, despite an attempt to join the United States Army Air Forces, his wartime flying was over. He ended his career as a squadron leader with 31 and one shared official kills, nine claimed damaged, along with a DSO, DFC and a DFM and Bar.

In 1948, Beurling was recruited to fly P 51 Mustangs for the Israeli Air Force. After a test flight, Beurling fatally crashed his Noorduyn Norseman transport aircraft while landing at Aeroporto dell'Urbe in Rome on 20 May 1948, just six days after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. It was his tenth crash. Suspicion at the time of the accident centred on possible sabotage, which was never proven. "The initial report, while it identified the crew as Beurling and Leonard Cohen (another Malta RAF pilot), acknowledged that the bodies were burned beyond recognition." Beurling's widow, family and personal friends were not in attendance at the funeral in Rome. On a small brass plate over the lid of the coffin were the words "Colonel Georgio Beurling". Beurling's coffin was kept for three months in a warehouse in the Verano Monumental Cemetery, as nobody had claimed the body. Then his widow, Diana Whittall Gardner, had him buried in the Cimitero Acattolico behind the Cestia Pyramid, between the graves of Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats. In November 1950, two and half years after his death, Beurling's casket arrived at Haifa Airport. His coffin, draped with the blue and white Israeli flag, was laid in a nearby air force base, where an honour guard of young airmen mounted a silent watch. During the long funeral in the streets of Haifa, Israeli Air Force aircraft paid homage to Beurling. At last, he was re interred in the military cemetery at the foot of Mount Carmel. The grave is marked, as are the others in Israel Defense Forces cemeteries, with only name, serial number and rank: for Beurling that of segen (lieutenant).

Malta Spitfire, an account of his time in Malta, co written by Leslie Roberts and Beurling, was first published in 1943. "In Verdun the only reminder of the famous son is the boulevard which carries Beurling's name." Beurling Academy, a high school in the Lester B. Pearson School Board in Verdun, is also named after him.

Beurling was provisionally credited with 31 air victories destroyed (and one third shared destroyed), and 9 damaged. Chronicle of aerial victoriesClaim No. DateFlyingKillsNotes11 May 1942Spitfire VB W3383 (41 Sqn)1 x Fw 190 Rodeo 9 to Hardelot; 13.05–14.45 hours. Surviving Luftwaffe records indicate no obvious matching losses. (Possibly Adolf Glunz of JG 26; hits on plane but Glunz returned safely)23 May 1942 Spitfire VB W3636 (41 Sqn)1 x Fw 190Shot down 2–3 miles off Cap Gris Nez. Originally recorded as a "probable" and updated later to a confirmed. Surviving Luftwaffe records indicate no obvious matching losses.12 June 1942Spitfire VC BR176 (249 Sqn)1 x Bf 109 damaged 249 Squadron scrambled a dozen Spitfires against eight Bf 109s. Beurling claimed to have shot the tail off a BF 109 but was only awarded a "damaged". 249 claimed two 109s damaged in total.3–4–5.6 July 1942Spitfire VC BR3232 x Macchi C.202s and 1x Bf 109 destroyed. 1 x CANT Z.1007 damaged. Combat between 8–15 to 8 45am versus three Cant Z1007s bombers from 9 Stormo, escorted by 14 Re 2001s of 2 Gruppo CT and 12 Macchi C. 202s of 20 Gruppo CT. 249 Squadron claimed three fighters in total. Beurling’s kills were a C. 202 from 352 Squadriglia, 20 Gruppo CT; (Serg. Magg Francesco Pecchiari was rescued from the sea) and a Re 2001 of 152 Squadriglia 2 Gruppo CT; (Sotto Ten Romano Pagliari was killed). The Bf 109 claimed was a I./JG 77 Bf 109F 4 (Werknummer 13386—factory number) "White 4" flown by Fw. Toni Engels (3 claims, Killed), during a late evening interception of three Ju 88s of II/KG77 escorted by 15 Bf 109s of II./JG 53 and I./JG 77. Spitfires claimed three Bf 109s in total, but Beurling's victim was the sole loss. The RAF fighter force claimed sixteen enemy planes destroyed and nineteen damaged during the day.6–78 July 1942Spitfire VC BR1281 x Bf 109 destroyed. 1 x Bf 109 and 1 x Ju 88 damaged Scrambled at 7–30 am versus 7 Ju 88s, escorted by Bf 109s of I./JG 77 and 21 MC202s of 20 Gruppo. Beurling’s Bf 109 was claimed downed into the sea 2 miles South of Gozo. The 24 intercepting Spitfires claimed 3 Ju 88s damaged, 3 Bf 109s destroyed and four other fighters damaged. One C.202 pilot was wounded and his aircraft damaged. Beurling claimed his two aircraft damaged later at 12 30pm.8–9.10 July 1942Spitfire VC BR3231 x Bf 109 and 1 x MC 202 destroyedCombat versus 14 Ju 88s escorted by C.202s of 20 Gruppo and Bf 109s of JG 53. Seven Spitfires of 249 claimed two fighters shot down and one damaged, and 603 Squadron a Ju 88 damaged and a Bf 109 probable. Beurling claimed a Bf 109 of Stab/. JG 53, Lt Hans Jurgen Frodien who was killed in Bf 109F 4 (Werknummer 7366) "Black<2+ ". In mid morning Beurling was part of a 249 Squadron 'bounce' of 20 C.202s and Bf 109s. He shot down the C.202 of Serg Magg. Francesco Visentini (wounded, rescued from sea) of 378 Squadriglia, 155 Gruppo CT.10–12.12 July 1942Spitfire VC BR5653 x MC202s Destroyed Scrambled at 9–45 am to intercept 11 Ju 88s, and entered combat with the escort. Beurling shot down a Re 2001 of 358 Squadriglia, 2 Gruppo CT North of Gozo; Ten. Fransesco Vichi was killed ( this aircraft was also attacked by F/O Hetherington). During the later air search by two 2 Gruppo aircraft for the missing Vichi, North of Malta around noon Beurling surprised and shot down both Ten Carlo Seganti, 358 Squadriglia, Ten Col. Aldo Quarantotti (2 Gruppo CO) who were both killed.13.23 July 1942Spitfire VC BR1351 x Re 2001 destroyed. 1 x Ju 88 damagedScrambled at 10 21am and engaged a raid consisting of three Ju 88s and five Re2001 and seven Bf 109s as escort. One Ju 88 was claimed destroyed and two more damaged by the intercepting Spitfires, with a Bf 109 'probable'. Beurling reported then blowing off a Re2001’s wing, the wreck crashing into the sea.14–15–16–17.27 July 1942Spitfire VC BR3012 x C 202s and 2 x Bf 109s destroyed. 2 x Bf 109s damaged. At 9–15 five 249 Squadron scrambled to engage the departing eight Ju 88 raiding Ta' Qali; In combat with 13 C.202s Beurling downed Serg Falerio Gelli (3 claimed victories) of 378 Squadriglia, 155 Gruppo CT (wounded, he crash landed near Ta'Kuljat on Gozo and was made POW) and ace Capt. Furio Doglio Niclot (6 claims), C. O. of 151 Squadriglia, 20 Gruppo CT (killed). After lunch Beurling and 249 tangled with Bf 109 escorts. One Bf 109 Beurling downed may have been of Stab./JG 53, Leutnant Karl Heinz Preu who was reported as shot down by anti aircraft artillery near Valletta in his Bf 109 F 4 (Werknummer 7525) "<3 + ". That day, JG 53 also reported the loss of Unteroffizier Heinrich Freckmann from 6. Staffel, flying Bf 109 F 4 (Werknummer 7447). Freckmann went missing in action following aerial combat near Cape Scaramia. Eleven Axis fighters ( 8 Bf 109s and 3 C.202) were claimed during the day; actual losses were three Bf 109s and two C202s.18.29 July 1942Spitfire VC BR3011 x BF 109 destroyed. Seven 249 Squadron scrambled to intercept 20 Bf 109s and C.202s. Attacked by a Bf 109 Beurling's canopy was shot off but he managed to evade, and then shoot down a Bf 109 some 3 miles North of Grand Harbour. Bf 109F 4 WNo.13060 "Yellow 2" of 3./JG 77, Uzz. Karl Heinz Witschke was killed.198 August 1942 Spitfire VB EN9731 x BF 109 destroyedFive 249 Sqn. Spitfires engaged eight Bf 109s at 8–30 some 8 miles from Zonkor Point. Beurling's engine was hit but he belly landed safely, although his Spitfire was a write off. Ofw. Rollwage (II/ JG 53), Oblt. Freytag & Fw. Pohl (both I./JG 77) claimed fighters shot down.19.3313 August 1942Spitfire VB EP135 Third share x Ju 88 destroyed Intercepted at 17–40 NE of Linosa. F/L F. Jones, P/O Beurling and Sgt Wynn collectively downed a recon. Ju 88D 1 (Werknummer 430274) "F6+KK" of 2(F)/122 ; Uzz Schmiedgen, Observer Lt Albert Weiblen and one other unnamed crew MIA.20.33–21.33.25 September 1942Spitfire VB EP7062 x Bf 109s destroyed. 1 x Bf 109 damaged. Ten 249 Sqn Spitfires scrambled at 11 20am, and tangled with a dozen Bf 109s. Beurling made the only claims. One I./JG 77 Bf 109G 2 reported to have crash landed on Sicily.22.33–23.33.10 October 1942Spitfire VB EP7062 x Bf 109s destroyed Beurling was flying an air test when vectored onto two low level Bf 109s and entered combat over Filfla. At least one Bf 109 of JG 77 reportedly crash landed on Sicily.24–25–26.3313 October 1942Spitfire VC BR173 2 x Bf 109s and 1 x Ju 88 destroyed. 1 x Ju 88 damaged. Eight 249 Sqn fighters intercepted 7 Ju 88s and 30 BF 109s over St Paul’s Bay; Beurling claimed the Ju 88 of I/LG 1; Fw Anton Wilfner and crew were killed. 249 Squadron claimed one Ju 88 destroyed, one probable and three damaged.27–28–29.3314 October 1942Spitfire VC BR173 2 x Bf 109s and 1 x Ju 88 destroyed Seven 249 Sqn. fighters entered combat at approx. 1 10pm SE of Zonkor against seven Ju 88s with an escort of Bf 109s from JG 53. One Bf 109 victim was possibly from II./JG 53; (Obfw. Josef Ederer −7 claims was wounded and crash landed Bf109F 4 (Werknummer 7619) "Black 1", 40% damaged.) 249 claimed one Ju 88 destroyed, a Ju 88 probable, 2 damaged and 3 Bf 109 destroyed, one probable and two damaged.30.3324 September 1943Spitfire F Mk IX MA585 (403 Sqn)1 x Fw 190 destroyed Ramrod No. 243 to the Beauvais/Poix area. Probably of JG 2 who lost 4 Fw 190s shot down and 3 pilots killed. RAF fighters claimed 12 destroyed.31.3330 December 1943Spitfire LF Mk IX MH8831 x Fw 190 destroyed. Lone fighter spotted and shot down 7 miles W Compeigne. Fw 190A 5 (Werknummer 1175) "White 16" of 5./JG 26 (Uzz. Heinz Wyrich (2v) wounded. )TOTALS31 kills (plus 1/3 sh)9 damaged