FALCON OF MALTA - ANOTHER GREAT RUE STORY OF A HERO PILOT

[Gil Boyd]

Having lived on the Island for 3 years I know only too well the stories of aerial heroism that took place there during WW2.
This is just one...................Canadian Fighter Ace George Beurling: The Falcon of Malta

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Yup, he sure had a spotty service record. No one could touch him in the air though, he used to sit in the cockpit for hours just thinking about deflection shots. He'd use a short burst to down an aircraft where others would use a belt. Guess that'll all be in there though...

[Sarge1998]

Battle for Malta another chapter in British steadfast perseverance.

[CINDERS]

One story I remember from one of my books about Beurling or the air war for Malta is that he had to fly some considerable distance in his damaged aircraft cannot remember if it was a Hurri or a Spit but safe to say in his words he was happy every time that merlin turned over one more revolution.
And as he looked at the cockpit floor it was awash with fuel from a damaged tank he brought the fighter home and landed it but it was a very dicey spot to be in from either being bounced or an inadvertent spark turning him into a BBQ very quickly indeed. Also I think he accumulated more flying hours in fighters than any other Allied pilot in WWII.

Another good read is "The Greatest Air Battle" about the British fighters covering the ill fated Dieppe raid it is not one that is readily read or spoken about but it was a very furious affair though they did learn not to fly too near the Navy as they were apt to just blaize away at friend or foe alike without waiting for recognition.

[#1oilman]

i read where Beurling made the longest distance recorded kill with machine guns at 800 yards. an incredible pilot and shot!

[browningautorifle]

an incredible pilot and shot!

His eyesight was the major factor, others wouldn't even see the enemy when he would. All their eyesight was at least perfect if not above and he was further ahead yet. Yes, 800 is a bit far to engage but since he'd practised, he just knew where to lead...

[Sunray]

Beurling was nuts(didn't like authority figures who did not fly), but he was also an expert at deflection shooting. That'd be aiming where the target will be. He shot down a German bomber, as I recall, with 5 rounds. Mind you, those were 20mm rounds.

[browningautorifle]

He shot down a German bomber, as I recall, with 5 rounds.

Yes, shooting like that...

didn't like authority figures

Had more pig tracks on his file than you could count...

[Surpmil]

Beurling was a "worker" in a field where many according to the studies done, were content to be passengers. After being rejected by the RCAF he got himself across the Atlantic and enlisted in the RAF - only he had to make the trip three times on merchant ships as a crewman because he forgot to get parental authority IIRC. That showed some motivation.

He definitely had a bit of a chip on his shoulder, but the RCAF to its discredit, handled him poorly and did not put him where he could do the most damage to the enemy. My impression was a good deal of what passed for "discipline"was probably as much professional jealousy. He was perhaps a bit odd and that would account for the nickname "screwball", but in war what does that matter?

I recall being told by a WWII Canadian fighter pilot who later volunteered for the infantry in Korea what he thought of the to him silly vanities of the "Air Force Officer's Association", which kept its distance from the non-commissioned pilots fifty years after the war ended, when all of them were going to be dead soon enough!

Beaurling definitely suffered from what we call PTSD, and was so damn young and from a very strict family; it's no wonder he had a few peculiarities.

Done in at Rome? Quite possibly.

R.I.P.