{"product_id":"1-48-hobbymaster-ha7864-supermarine-spitfire-mk-vb-trop-ep706-t-l-flown-by-r-c-a-f-ace-geoege-buzz-beurling","title":"1\/48 Hobbymaster (HA7864) Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop (EP706 \/ T+L) flown by R.C.A.F. Ace Geoege \"Buzz\" Beurling Malta 1942 No. 249 Sqn R.A.F. (Limited Edition)","description":"\u003cp\u003e1\/48 Hobbymaster (HA7864) Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop (EP706 \/ T+L) flown by R.C.A.F. Ace Geoege \"Buzz\" Beurling Malta 1942 No. 249 Sqn R.A.F. (Limited Edition)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"firstHeading mw-first-heading\" id=\"firstHeading\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mw-page-title-main\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGeorge Frederick\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\"\u003cb\u003eBuzz\u003c\/b\u003e\"\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBeurling\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGeorge Frederick\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\"\u003cb\u003eBuzz\u003c\/b\u003e\"\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBeurling\u003c\/b\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"nobold noexcerpt nowraplinks\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Distinguished_Service_Order\" title=\"Distinguished Service Order\"\u003eDSO\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_Kingdom)\" title=\"Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)\"\u003eDFC\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Distinguished_Flying_Medal\" title=\"Distinguished Flying Medal\"\u003eDFM\u003c\/a\u003e \u0026amp; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Medal_bar\" title=\"Medal bar\"\u003eBar\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(6 December 1921 – 20 May 1948) was the most successful Canadian\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fighter_pilot\" title=\"Fighter pilot\"\u003efighter pilot\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Flying_ace\" title=\"Flying ace\"\u003eflying ace\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eof the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Second_World_War\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Second World War\"\u003eSecond World War\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBurling was recognized as \"Canada's most famous hero of the Second World War\", as \"The Falcon of Malta\" and the \"Knight of Malta\",\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWorthington2013_1-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWorthington2013-1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e1\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehaving 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\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpick1999107_2-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpick1999107-2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e2\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor 31\u003cspan class=\"frac\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"num\"\u003e1\u003c\/span\u003e⁄\u003cspan class=\"den\"\u003e3\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTENolan1981185_3-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTENolan1981185-3\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e3\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeurling'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\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Israel\" title=\"Israel\"\u003eIsrael\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-4\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-4\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e4\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-heading mw-heading2\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"Early_life\"\u003eEarly life\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge Beurling was born in 1921 in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Verdun,_Quebec\" title=\"Verdun, Quebec\"\u003eVerdun\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(now part of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Montreal\" title=\"Montreal\"\u003eMontreal\u003c\/a\u003e),\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quebec\" title=\"Quebec\"\u003eQuebec\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003einto a religious family and was the third of five children in the family.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas2015_5-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThomas2015-5\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e5\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003csup class=\"noprint Inline-Template\"\u003e[\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citing_sources\" title=\"Wikipedia:Citing sources\"\u003e\u003cspan title=\"This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (September 2017)\"\u003epage needed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e]\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eHis father, Frederick Gustav Beurling, was\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sweden\" title=\"Sweden\"\u003eSwedish\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand a commercial artist working for the Claude Neon Company. His mother, Hetty Florence Gibbs, was of English descent and was born in the Montreal suburb of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pointe-Saint-Charles\" title=\"Pointe-Saint-Charles\"\u003ePointe-Saint-Charles\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas2015_5-1\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThomas2015-5\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e5\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003csup class=\"noprint Inline-Template\"\u003e[\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citing_sources\" title=\"Wikipedia:Citing sources\"\u003e\u003cspan title=\"This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (March 2019)\"\u003epage needed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e]\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge 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\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/McGill_University\" title=\"McGill University\"\u003eMcGill University\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand become a successful commercial artist like his father.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPigott199623_6-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPigott199623-6\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e6\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAt the age of 15, George quit school and took up a job to increase his income.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPigott199623_6-1\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPigott199623-6\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e6\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOne year later, he had logged 150 flying hours and passed all examinations for a commercial pilot licence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWanting to increase his flying experience, he set out for China, hoping to join the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chinese_Nationalist_Air_Force\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Chinese Nationalist Air Force\"\u003eChinese Nationalist Air Force\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eby crossing the US border.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPigott199624_7-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPigott199624-7\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e7\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eHe was intending to head to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/San_Francisco\" title=\"San Francisco\"\u003eSan Francisco\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand 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\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gravenhurst,_Ontario\" title=\"Gravenhurst, Ontario\"\u003eGravenhurst\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ontario\" title=\"Ontario\"\u003eOntario\u003c\/a\u003e, and soon gained a commercial licence. Beurling joined the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Royal_Air_Force\" title=\"Royal Air Force\"\u003eRoyal Air Force\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(RAF) in September 1940.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-heading mw-heading2\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"Second_World_War\"\u003eSecond World War\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the outbreak of war, Beurling tried to join the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force\" title=\"Royal Canadian Air Force\"\u003eRoyal Canadian Air Force\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(RCAF), but his lack of academic qualifications led to his rejection. He then tried to join the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Finnish_Air_Force\" title=\"Finnish Air Force\"\u003eFinnish Air Force\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(which was fighting the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Soviet_Union\" title=\"Soviet Union\"\u003eSoviets\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Winter_War\" title=\"Winter War\"\u003eWinter War\u003c\/a\u003e), but could not get his parents' permission. Instead, Beurling sailed across the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Atlantic\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Atlantic\"\u003eAtlantic\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eon a convoy, landing in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Glasgow\" title=\"Glasgow\"\u003eGlasgow\u003c\/a\u003e, intending to enlist in the RAF. Unfortunately, he had forgotten his\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Birth_certificate\" title=\"Birth certificate\"\u003ebirth certificate\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand had to return to Canada. In September 1940,\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpick1997119_8-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpick1997119-8\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e8\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eafter he had survived the return trip, the RAF accepted him as a pilot.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTENolan198124_9-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTENolan198124-9\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e9\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-heading mw-heading3\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"Joining_the_RAF\"\u003eJoining the RAF\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaving survived one or two aerial misdemeanours, Beurling reached\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/No._7_Operational_Training_Unit_RAF\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"No. 7 Operational Training Unit RAF\"\u003eNo. 7\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Operational_Training_Unit\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Operational Training Unit\"\u003eOperational Training Unit\u003c\/a\u003e, at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/RAF_Hawarden\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"RAF Hawarden\"\u003eRAF Hawarden\u003c\/a\u003e, in September 1941.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpick1997119_8-1\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpick1997119-8\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e8\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBeurling demonstrated considerable skill in training.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTENolan198125_10-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTENolan198125-10\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e10\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eIn Hawarden, he came under the influence of the great\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ginger_Lacey\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Ginger Lacey\"\u003eGinger Lacey\u003c\/a\u003e, 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.\"\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpick1997119_8-2\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpick1997119-8\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e8\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese 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\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gun\" title=\"Gun\"\u003egunnery\u003c\/a\u003e, estimation of range,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Deflection_(military)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Deflection (military)\"\u003edeflection\u003c\/a\u003e, bullet trail and bullet drop, until his application of these became automatic. For him, flying and shooting became one single action.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpick1997119_8-3\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpick1997119-8\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e8\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the middle of December, he was posted as a Sergeant Pilot to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/No._403_Squadron_RCAF\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"No. 403 Squadron RCAF\"\u003e403 Squadron\u003c\/a\u003e, a RCAF \"\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Article_XV_squadron\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Article XV squadron\"\u003eArticle XV squadron\u003c\/a\u003e\", which had just moved to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/North_Weald\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"North Weald\"\u003eNorth Weald\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Essex\" title=\"Essex\"\u003eEssex\u003c\/a\u003e. He flew his first (uneventful) combat mission in a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supermarine_Spitfire\" title=\"Supermarine Spitfire\"\u003eSupermarine Spitfire\u003c\/a\u003e, on the 25th of December, 1941. Beurling remained with 403 for nearly four months, escorting bombers and flying fighter sweeps across the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/English_Channel\" title=\"English Channel\"\u003eEnglish Channel\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn early 1942, a change of policy by the RCAF required its squadrons to be staffed by RCAF personnel.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGreenhousHarrisJohnstonRawling199470,_206_11-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGreenhousHarrisJohnstonRawling199470,_206-11\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e11\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBecause Beurling had remained technically a member of the RAF, he was posted to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/No._41_Squadron_RAF\" title=\"No. 41 Squadron RAF\"\u003e41 Squadron\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eRAF in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sussex\" title=\"Sussex\"\u003eSussex\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEShoresWilliams1994126_12-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEShoresWilliams1994126-12\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e12\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 1 May 1942 41 Squadron was placed at a state of 30 minutes readiness from dawn until 09.00 and from 12.30 to participate in a Rodeo 9. Tangmere Wing was airborne from Westhampnett and Merston between 13.05 and 13.10, led by S\/Ldr Thomas, and flew to Beachy Head where it rendezvoused with the 10 Group Wing at 10,000 feet at 13.30. Initially, 41 Squadron pilots saw nothing of interest on their patrol, but after they had left the French coast and after orbiting to port once off the coast just after turning home, approximately sixteen Fw 190s were seen. Sgt George Beurling later reported combat at 14,000 above Cap Gris-Nez : \"Squadron orbited left-handing towards the English coast. E\/A were reported by their vapour trails at 9 oʼclock. I as [...] blue 4 saw 2 FW diving on the blue 3, I pulled my nose up and fired at E\/A on the starboard side and blue 3 could see one on the port side. I was then hit by cannon and machine gun fire from 5 or 6 FW attacking from above and behind\". After landing, his machine was so severely damaged by enemy fire that it was delivered to Flying Training School Hucknall, but after inspection recategorized as E and Struck off Charge. Beurling was allegedly not claimed as a kill by the enemy. He continued his Combat Report: \"I turned into the[m], seen no evasive action and FW roared overhead heading into [...] also gradually opening out as they did so. I adjusted my sights on the middle one. E\/A appeared to jump momentarily and shudder, still nothing happened. My last burst of fire appeared to hit his petrol tank as his wings broke off heading up, also the fuselage breaking between the cockpit and the tail unit. I waited for signs of the pilot out but there was none. (The attack was made line astern very slightly off to the left 5o at the most). Ammo used 60 Rds Cannon, 1210 Rds .303 Browning\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe same repeated itself on 3rd May, when he spotted a lone\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Focke-Wulf_Fw_190\" title=\"Focke-Wulf Fw 190\"\u003eFocke-Wulf Fw 190\u003c\/a\u003e, and broke from the flight to pursue it. Beurling made a climbing turn to port, following S\/Ldr Feeʼs lead. Looking down, he saw an Fw 190 attacking a Spitfire below him, which he believed was 41 Squadronʼs Yellow Section. He half-rolled onto the FWʼs tail, being noticed by the target plane, which broke away and dove steeply for the French coast. Beurling went after it and closed to between 300 and 350 yards, where he opened fire with both cannons and machine guns using 120 cannon shells and 480 MG rounds. Pieces of the Fw 190 dislodged from the starboard side of the fuselage, which was followed by an explosion near the cockpit in a large orange flash. The aircraft then dove vertically in a crash toward the coast, while George remained at 17,000 feet and orbited the area. Beurling then regrouped with friendly aircraft, but as he did not witness its final fate claimed the Fw 190 probably destroyed 2–3 miles (3.2–4.8 km) off\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cap_Gris_Nez\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cap Gris Nez\"\u003eCap Gris Nez\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat approximately 12:00.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-13\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-13\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e13\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOn this occasion, Beurling was reprimanded for attacking a target without permission,\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMassimello1998_14-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMassimello1998-14\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e14\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003csup class=\"noprint Inline-Template\"\u003e[\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citing_sources\" title=\"Wikipedia:Citing sources\"\u003e\u003cspan title=\"This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (March 2019)\"\u003epage needed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e]\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand 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. These claims are disputed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen another pilot was posted overseas, Beurling offered to take his place.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEThomas201543_15-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThomas201543-15\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e15\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOrdered to board a ship, he did not know his destination until the vessel reached\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gibraltar\" title=\"Gibraltar\"\u003eGibraltar\u003c\/a\u003e. He was destined for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/No._249_Squadron_RAF\" title=\"No. 249 Squadron RAF\"\u003eNo. 249 Squadron RAF\u003c\/a\u003e, at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Malta\" title=\"Malta\"\u003eMalta\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTENolan198130_16-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTENolan198130-16\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e16\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-heading mw-heading3\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"Malta_(1942)\"\u003e\n\u003cspan id=\"Malta_.281942.29\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eMalta (1942)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"quotebox pullquote floatright\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"quotebox-title\"\u003eQuotes on Beurling in Malta\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"quotebox-quote left-aligned\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe fired only when he thought he could destroy. Two hundred and fifty yards was the distance from which he liked best to fire. A couple of short, hard burst from there and that was usually it. He picked his targets off cleanly and decisively, swinging his sight smoothly through them as a first-class shot strokes driven partridges out of the sky. It was a fluent and calculated exercise... For Beurling the confirmed kill was the thing.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTELucas1983182–183_17-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTELucas1983182%E2%80%93183-17\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e17\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNine of his kills on Malta were Italian pilots.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpick1999107_2-1\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTESpick1999107-2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e2\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAbout them he used to say: \"The Jerrie are probably better over-all pilots than the Italians, but they certainly let the Eyeties do their fighting for them when the going got tough. When we get around to adding the final score for this show I hope somebody thinks of that\".\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBeurlingRoberts1943140_18-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBeurlingRoberts1943140-18\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e18\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 6 July, he was flying one of eight Spitfires that were scrambled to intercept three Italian Cant bombers and 30\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Macchi_202\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Macchi 202\"\u003eMacchi 202s\u003c\/a\u003e, Italy's top-line fighter. The eight Spitfires dived straight into the Italians. In seconds, with one burst Beurling had damaged a bomber. Then, suddenly he was on the tail of a Macchi whose pilot (probably\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSergente Maggiore\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFrancesco Pecchiari from 51°\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eStormo\u003c\/i\u003e), spotting the Spitfire, plunged into a dive. The Canadian chased his prey for 15,000 feet (4,600 m) and, when the Italian pulled up at 5,000, Beurling let go a two-second burst from 300 yards away. It was a perfect hit. Although he wasn't aware that he had been fired on, when Beurling inspected his Spitfire back at Takali, he found it riddled with bullets. Undaunted, that evening, just before dusk, he was in the air again in a patrol of four Spitfires. Radar had shown two German\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Junkers_Ju_88\" title=\"Junkers Ju 88\"\u003eJunkers Ju 88s\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand 20\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Messerschmitt_Bf_109\" title=\"Messerschmitt Bf 109\"\u003eMesserschmitt Bf 109\u003c\/a\u003eFs, heading towards Malta. After the four Spitfires dived and split up the formation, Beurling followed a fighter trying to escape at low level over the sea. After he laid down a two-second burst the German crashed into the Mediterranean.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTENolan198158–59_19-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTENolan198158%E2%80%9359-19\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e19\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn his last combat mission over Malta, while engaging a third aircraft, another, taking him unawares, drilled his aircraft with cannon shells from behind. Screwball, injured quite severely by shrapnel, bailed out low down. He landed in the sea and got into his dinghy. Malta's air-sea rescue service quickly came to his aid. L.G. Head, a member of the crew of HSL 128 remembered that when they picked him out of the water he was most concerned that he was unable to locate a small bible that he had been given by his mother.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTELucas1983183_20-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTELucas1983183-20\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e20\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFighter pilots played a critical role in the defence of Malta during its\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siege_of_Malta_(World_War_II)\" title=\"Siege of Malta (World War II)\"\u003esiege\u003c\/a\u003e. Beurling landed on the island on 9 June, after having flown off the deck of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/HMS_Eagle_(1918)\" title=\"HMS Eagle (1918)\"\u003eHMS \u003ci\u003eEagle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eaboard his Spitfire, during Operation Salient.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMassimello199862_21-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMassimello199862-21\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e21\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eHis nickname on Malta was \"Screwball\", an expletive he had a habit of using.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeurling had a baptism by fire in the mid-morning of 12 June when, flying a Spitfire, with three other pilots from 249, the formation intercepted eight Bf 109s. Beurling claimed to have blown the tail off a Bf 109, but nobody saw it hit the ground, so he was credited with a \"damaged\".\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005162_22-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005162-22\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e22\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThis correction was right, because Jagdwaffe did not suffer any combat loss near Malta on that day, not even damaged fighter. After that, Beurling claimed a series of kills that had no equal. On 6 July 1942, with other pilots from 249, he attacked a formation of three\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/CANT_Z.1007\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"CANT Z.1007\"\u003eCant Z1007bis\u003c\/a\u003e, 14\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reggiane_Re.2001\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Reggiane Re.2001\"\u003eReggiane Re.2001s\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand more than two dozen Macchi C.202s. He almost certainly shot down\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSergente\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFrancesco Pecchiari from 352\u003csup\u003ea\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSquadriglia\u003c\/i\u003e. Then he claimed another Macchi that crashed near\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zejtun\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Zejtun\"\u003eZejtun\u003c\/a\u003e, likely the Reggiane of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSottotenente\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eRomano Pagliani, 152\u003csup\u003ea\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSquadriglia\u003c\/i\u003e. During this fight, the Italians claimed two Spitfires, one by Furio Niclot Doglio (whom Beurling killed three weeks later). RAF suffered no losses, but Beurling's aircraft was badly shot up. However he made a third claim that day, a Messerschmitt, hit from a distance of 800 yards.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005188–189,_191–192_23-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005188%E2%80%93189,_191%E2%80%93192-23\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e23\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eJagdwaffe suffered one fighter combat casualty on that day. Fw. Anton Engels of 1.\/JG 77 was allegedly hit by A.A. fire and lost with his Bf 109F-4, W.Nr. 13386, Weiss 4 in the sea near Malta.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 10 July, Beurling's Malta tally rose to five in just four days, making him  an\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Flying_ace\" title=\"Flying ace\"\u003eace\u003c\/a\u003e. That day, it seems likely that he shot down the C.202 of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSergente Maggiore\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFrancesco Visentini, from 378\u003csup\u003ea\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSquadriglia\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005203_24-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005203-24\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e24\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 12 July, Beurling, piloting a Spitfire and searching for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pilot_Officer\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Pilot Officer\"\u003ePilot Officer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBerkeley-Hill, who was missing, spotted, at a lower altitude,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lieutenant-Colonel\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Lieutenant-Colonel\"\u003eTenente Colonnello\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAldo Quarantotti and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tenente\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Tenente\"\u003eTenente\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eCarlo Seganti flying Reggiane Re.2001s, who in turn were looking for Lieutenant Francesco Vichi, who had disappeared while a Spitfire was chasing him. Beurling, with\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Flying_Officer\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Flying Officer\"\u003eFlying Officer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eErik Hetherington, dived on the tail of the second of the two Reggianes and downed Seganti. Then Beurling attacked the other Reggiane. He closed up to 100 feet (30 m) and just when Quarantotti spotted him, Beurling delivered a short burst that decapitated the Italian commander. This aircraft also fell into the sea.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2004207_25-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2004207-25\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e25\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEShoresCullMalizia1991405–409_26-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEShoresCullMalizia1991405%E2%80%93409-26\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e26\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBeurlingRoberts2002156_27-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBeurlingRoberts2002156-27\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e27\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eTwo days later it was the Reggianes who attacked him and badly shot up his Spitfire. Beurling's aircraft was \"riddled by better than 20 bullets through the fuselage and wings\". \"An explosive bullet nicked my right heel\", he recalled.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005211_28-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005211-28\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e28\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 22 July, Beurling lost his best friend in Malta, French-Canadian Pilot Jean Paradis. The following day, eight 249 Spitfires were scrambled. Beurling claimed to have badly damaged a bomber and, after a long dogfight with a Reggiane, to have \"blown his left wing off\". The 151\u003csup\u003ea\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSquadriglia\u003c\/i\u003e, in fact, lost\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSergente Maggiore\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBruno Di Pauli. The Macchi 202 pilot reported to have parachuted down after an AA shell had damaged his aircraft and realizing that he was followed by six Spitfires that, at the moment, had still not fired.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005221–222_29-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005221%E2%80%93222-29\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e29\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"mw-default-size mw-halign-right\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:NiclotDoglio_11.gif\" class=\"mw-file-description\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/f\/fa\/NiclotDoglio_11.gif\/250px-NiclotDoglio_11.gif\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" class=\"mw-file-element\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/f\/fa\/NiclotDoglio_11.gif\/500px-NiclotDoglio_11.gif 1.5x\" data-file-width=\"1730\" data-file-height=\"1082\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption\u003eItalian ace and recordman\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Furio_Niclot_Doglio\" title=\"Furio Niclot Doglio\"\u003eFurio Niclot Doglio\u003c\/a\u003e; he was Beurling's 14th kill.\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e27 July was Beurling's \"biggest day on Malta\".\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBeurlingRoberts1943165_30-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBeurlingRoberts1943165-30\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e30\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThat day, he shot down\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sergente\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sergente\"\u003eSergente\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFaliero Gelli,\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTERogers2000192_31-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTERogers2000192-31\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e31\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand immediately afterwards, Captain\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Furio_Niclot_Doglio\" title=\"Furio Niclot Doglio\"\u003eFurio Niclot Doglio\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Regia_Aeronautica\" title=\"Regia Aeronautica\"\u003eRegia Aeronautica\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan class=\"nowrap\"\u003e'\u003c\/span\u003es best fighter ace,\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-33\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-33\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003eN 1\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eboth flying Macchi MC. 202s. Doglio, who was diving to counterattack the head-on Spitfires of 126 Squadron and had misunderstood the warning waggling of wings of his wingman,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMaresciallo\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEnnio Tarantola (who had seen the oncoming 249 Squadron fighters from left, high above), was Beurling's 14th \"kill\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the same day, Beurling also claimed two Bf 109s, one of which was piloted by the ace\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeutnant\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eKarl-Heinz Preu of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/JG_53\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"JG 53\"\u003eJG 53\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ealthough other sources attribute this to flak.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPrien1998472_34-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPrien1998472-34\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e33\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOn 24 July 1942, Beurling was awarded the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Distinguished_Flying_Medal\" title=\"Distinguished Flying Medal\"\u003eDistinguished Flying Medal\u003c\/a\u003e, the citation read:\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGazette35646_35-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGazette35646-35\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e34\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"templatequote\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSergeant Beurling has displayed great skill and courage in the face of the enemy. One day in July 1942, he engaged a number of enemy  fighters which were escorting a formation of Junkers 88s and destroyed one fighter. Later during the same day he engaged 10 enemy fighters and shot two of them down into the sea, bringing his total victories to eight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 30 July, he was commissioned as a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pilot_officer\" title=\"Pilot officer\"\u003epilot officer\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGazette35712_36-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGazette35712-36\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e35\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand on 4 September won a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Medal_bar\" title=\"Medal bar\"\u003ebar\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto his DFM, largely for his exploits on 27 July. The citation read:\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGazette35691_37-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGazette35691-37\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e36\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"templatequote\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in July 1942, Sergeant Beurling has destroyed a further 9 enemy aircraft, bringing his victories to 17. One of his exploits was the destruction of 4 enemy fighters in one day; during these brief combats he also damaged a further 2 hostile aircraft. His courage and determination are a source of inspiration to all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe enervation of daily combat combined with the effects of the poor rations and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dysentery\" title=\"Dysentery\"\u003edysentery\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewere telling. Beurling was bedridden for much of August and September, gaining only 1½ victories in August. On 8 August, while he was shooting at a Bf 109, he was jumped by two more. He hit one and it went straight into the sea: this was confirmed by his section leader. But his aircraft was then hit in the engine and he belly-landed in a stone-walled field. \"I climbed out\", he recalled, \"unhurt except for a superficial cut in one arm.\"\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005241_38-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005241-38\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e37\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBeurling was shot down either by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Herbert_Rollwage\" title=\"Herbert Rollwage\"\u003eHerbert Rollwage\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siegfried_Freytag\" title=\"Siegfried Freytag\"\u003eSiegfried Freytag\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFw\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ePohl of I.\/\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagdgeschwader_77\" title=\"Jagdgeschwader 77\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eJagdgeschwader\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e77\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(JG 77—77th Fighter Wing),\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTERogers2000199_39-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTERogers2000199-39\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e38\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewho all claimed a Spitfire shot down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeurling hitched back to Ta' Qali Field.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTENolan198170_40-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTENolan198170-40\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e39\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOn 25 September, he had another successful day, claiming to have downed three German fighters, but on this occasion his victories seem to be \"overclaimed\". That day, flying with 11 other Spitfires, he met a dozen Bf 109s 30 miles northeast of Zonqor Point. He claimed to have \"disintegrated\" a first Bf 109, to have damaged a second and set a third on fire, that \"enveloped in flames, dived vertically striking the sea\", the pilot bailing out. Two of these victims were two German fighters that came back to base, even if badly damaged and the third could be the one piloted by Kurt Gorbing, who made a forced-landing and died shortly afterwards.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005206–207_41-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005206%E2%80%93207-41\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e40\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 10 October, Beurling was testing his newly serviced Spitfire when he was vectored to intercept two Bf 109s, flying line abreast at 1,000 feet (300 m) over\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Filfla\" title=\"Filfla\"\u003eFilfla\u003c\/a\u003e. He reported to have hit \"the starboard fellow\" in the engine: \"He pancaked right smack down on his belly and flipped over onto his back.\" The second BF 109 tried to fly away but he hit the fuel tank: \"The ship blow up, complete with pilot.\" Those kills brought Beurling's Malta tally to 21, plus another shared with two others. But there is no record of a Messerschmitt crashing on the island on 10 October 1942, nor any German losses.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005282–389_42-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005282%E2%80%93389-42\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e41\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOn the morning of 13 October, 3 miles (4.8 km) north of St Paul's Bay, Beurling, attacked a formation of Junkers Ju 88s, escorted by 30 Bf 109s. He claimed to have at first hit a bomber, then an oncoming Bf 109 that burst into flames. Seconds later, he shot at a second Bf 109, without observing strikes, \"but pilot bailed out\".\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005297_43-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005297-43\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e42\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOn 16 October he was awarded the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_Kingdom)\" title=\"Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)\"\u003eDistinguished Flying Cross\u003c\/a\u003e, the citation read:\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGazette35747_44-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGazette35747-44\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e43\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"templatequote\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePilot Officer George Frederick BEURLING, D.F.M. (128707) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 249 Squadron. Since being awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Medal, this officer has shot down a further 3 hostile aircraft, bringing his total victories to 20. One day in September 1942, he and another pilot engaged 4 enemy fighters. In the ensuing combat, Pilot Officer Beurling destroyed 2 of them. As a relentless fighter, whose determination and will to win has won the admiration of his colleagues, this officer has set an example in keeping with the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"mw-halign-left\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:BeurlingSpitVc.jpg\" class=\"mw-file-description\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/9\/98\/BeurlingSpitVc.jpg\/330px-BeurlingSpitVc.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"88\" class=\"mw-file-element\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/9\/98\/BeurlingSpitVc.jpg 1.5x\" data-file-width=\"400\" data-file-height=\"117\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption\u003eBeurling's Spitfire VC in which he scored most of his victories in Malta\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeurling was a committed Christian and non-smoker. He dedicated himself totally to the art of aerial combat. Tending to be a loner on the ground and in the air, Beurling angered his commanders with his disdain for teamwork. His relentless concentration on aerial fighting led Beurling to develop a marked skill at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Deflection_shooting\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Deflection shooting\"\u003edeflection shooting\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand together with his\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Situational_awareness\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Situational awareness\"\u003esituational awareness\u003c\/a\u003e, he was soon recognised as a deadly fighter pilot. Like many successful Spitfire pilots, Beurling developed the habit of only engaging enemy aircraft at 250 yards (230 m) or less – a range at which many other pilots would be breaking away. Beurling owed his success to remarkably good eyesight and the ability to \"toss his Spitfire\" into violent combat manoeuvres. If jumped from behind, he would pull back on the stick of his Mk Vc Spitfire so hard that the aircraft would enter a violent stall, flick over and spin. This was a hard, sudden and very dangerous act for the enemy fighter on his tail to follow. Beurling would also ram both ailerons and rudder into a sudden and violent turn, causing his Spitfire to flip over and drop. This manoeuvre was notably difficulty and risky, although Beurling used it habitually.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGlancey2006104_45-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGlancey2006104-45\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e44\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"mw-halign-right\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:George_Beurling_injured_in_bed_1943.jpg\" class=\"mw-file-description\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/0\/07\/George_Beurling_injured_in_bed_1943.jpg\/250px-George_Beurling_injured_in_bed_1943.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"190\" height=\"162\" class=\"mw-file-element\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/0\/07\/George_Beurling_injured_in_bed_1943.jpg\/328px-George_Beurling_injured_in_bed_1943.jpg 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/0\/07\/George_Beurling_injured_in_bed_1943.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"328\" data-file-height=\"280\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption\u003eBeurling in hospital after his transport aircraft crashed\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeurling was shot down four times over Malta. On 14 October 1942 (his last flight over Malta), Beurling scrambled with six other pilots from his squadron to intercept a raid of Ju 88s escorted by 60 Bf 109s, Macchi 202s and Reggiane 2001s just south of Zonqor Point. He strafed a bomber that he claimed to have shot down, but was, in turn, hit by return fire from the Ju 88: \"I picked up about 30 bullet holes.\" Then he claimed to have damaged a Messerschmitt and to have blown the left wing of another Bf 109 off at the root. Seconds later, another German fighter hit him from below. He was wounded in the heel, elbow and ribs, and his Spitfire was set on fire. He managed to bail out into the sea. During this action, no Messerschmitt was in fact destroyed. Only 2.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eStaffel\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(Black 1\/7619) of I\/JG53, flown by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eObfw\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eJosef Edere who was wounded, was damaged in the action, and Edere crash-landed at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/San_Pietro_Clarenza\" title=\"San Pietro Clarenza\"\u003eSan Pietro\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sicily\" title=\"Sicily\"\u003eSicily\u003c\/a\u003e. Beurling was probably shot down by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eObfw\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eRiker of 4\/JG53 or Ltn Karl von Lieres of 2\/\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/JG_27\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"JG 27\"\u003eJG27\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(who was credited with his 26th). Of the seven Ju 88s claimed to have been shot down by the RAF, only one did not return.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005304–305_46-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECullGalea2005304%E2%80%93305-46\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e45\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAfter his rescue, Beurling was hospitalised.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeurling was then sent back to Britain on 31 October 1942.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEVernon199284_47-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEVernon199284-47\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e46\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOn the way, the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/C-87_Liberator_Express\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"C-87 Liberator Express\"\u003eB-24 transport aircraft\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehe was aboard crashed into the sea off Gibraltar. Beurling was one of only three survivors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 4 November he received the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Distinguished_Service_Order\" title=\"Distinguished Service Order\"\u003eDistinguished Service Order\u003c\/a\u003e, the citation read:\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGazette35768_48-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGazette35768-48\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e47\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"templatequote\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePilot Officer George Frederick BEURLING, D.F.C., D.F.M. (128707), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 249 Squadron. Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Pilot Officer Beurling has destroyed a further six enemy aircraft, bringing his total victories to 28. During one sortie on 13 October 1942, he shot down a Junkers 88 and two Messerschmitt 109s. The following day, in a head-on attack on enemy bombers, he destroyed one of them before he observed his leader being attacked by an enemy fighter. Although wounded, Pilot Officer Beurling destroyed the fighter. Then climbing again, although his aircraft was hit by enemy fire, he shot down another fighter before his own aircraft was so damaged that he was forced to abandon it. He descended safely on to the sea and was rescued. This officer's skill and daring are unexcelled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver Malta, he had claimed over 27 kills, by far the highest total by an RAF pilot during the campaign.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-heading mw-heading3\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"War_bond_drive\"\u003eWar bond drive\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"mw-halign-left\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:George_Beurling_signing_autograph_1943.jpg\" class=\"mw-file-description\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/0\/01\/George_Beurling_signing_autograph_1943.jpg\/250px-George_Beurling_signing_autograph_1943.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"239\" class=\"mw-file-element\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/0\/01\/George_Beurling_signing_autograph_1943.jpg\/452px-George_Beurling_signing_autograph_1943.jpg 1.5x\" data-file-width=\"452\" data-file-height=\"480\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption\u003eBeurling signing autographs at a war production plant, January 1943\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter landing back in Britain, Beurling was then sent to Canada to join a Victory Loan Drive, selling\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/War_bond\" title=\"War bond\"\u003ewar bonds\u003c\/a\u003e, being the guest of honour at a parade in Verdun and meeting\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/William_Lyon_Mackenzie_King\" title=\"William Lyon Mackenzie King\"\u003ePrime Minister Mackenzie King\u003c\/a\u003e. He was promoted to war substantive Flying Officer (on probation) on 30 January 1943.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGazette35919_49-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGazette35919-49\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e48\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eHe did not enjoy the war bond campaign. Also, he often said things that embarrassed the RCAF, such as that he enjoyed killing people.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-McCall_2009,_p._52_50-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-McCall_2009,_p._52-50\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e49\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe 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\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vancouver\" title=\"Vancouver\"\u003eVancouver\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-heading mw-heading4\"\u003e\n\u003ch4 id=\"Instructor\"\u003eInstructor\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReturning 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\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/RAF_Sutton_Bridge\" title=\"RAF Sutton Bridge\"\u003eRAF Sutton Bridge\u003c\/a\u003e. 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\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Crosskeys_Bridge\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Crosskeys Bridge\"\u003eCrosskeys Bridge\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethat crosses the Nene, which still stands today having been built in 1897.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEShoresWilliams1994_51-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEShoresWilliams1994-51\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e50\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003csup class=\"noprint Inline-Template\"\u003e[\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citing_sources\" title=\"Wikipedia:Citing sources\"\u003e\u003cspan title=\"This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (March 2019)\"\u003epage needed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e]\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-heading mw-heading3\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"Royal_Canadian_Air_Force\"\u003eRoyal Canadian Air Force\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 1 September 1943, Beurling transferred to the RCAF,\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGazette36196_52-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGazette36196-52\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e51\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand was posted to an operational squadron,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/403_Helicopter_Operational_Training_Squadron\" title=\"403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron\"\u003e403\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(a return to his first squadron) at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kenley\" title=\"Kenley\"\u003eKenley\u003c\/a\u003e, flying the new Spitfire IX. Shooting down an Fw 190 of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/JG_2\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"JG 2\"\u003eJG 2\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein September, but unhappy with flying sweeps, Beurling requested command of a flight of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/North_American_P-51_Mustang\" title=\"North American P-51 Mustang\"\u003eNorth American P-51 Mustangs\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein order to carry out deep penetration, free-roaming raids into Germany. His request was turned down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDisciplinary problems annoyed his commander, but Beurling was promoted to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Flight_lieutenant\" title=\"Flight lieutenant\"\u003eflight lieutenant\u003c\/a\u003e. However, his stunting of a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_Havilland_Tiger_Moth\" title=\"De Havilland Tiger Moth\"\u003ede Havilland Tiger Moth\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat zero feet over his airfield eventually led to his\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wing_Commander\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Wing Commander\"\u003eWing Commander\u003c\/a\u003e, Hugh Godefroy, threatening him with a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Court_martial\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Court martial\"\u003ecourt martial\u003c\/a\u003e. Subsequently, Beurling was transferred to 126 Wing HQ and then to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/412_Squadron\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"412 Squadron\"\u003e412 Squadron\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 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\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e5 Staffel\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/JG_26\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"JG 26\"\u003eJG 26\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eflying a Fw 190A-45 W.Nr. 1175, Weisse 16 2 km S. of Romaine,\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaldwell1998194_53-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaldwell1998194-53\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e52\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhen the squadron was covering returning American bombers near\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Compi%C3%A8gne\" title=\"Compiègne\"\u003eCompiègne\u003c\/a\u003e, France.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-54\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-54\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e53\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-heading mw-heading4\"\u003e\n\u003ch4 id=\"Discharge\"\u003eDischarge\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeurling returned to Canada in April 1944. He was given an honourable discharge in October and, despite an attempt to join the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States_Army_Air_Forces\" title=\"United States Army Air Forces\"\u003eUnited States Army Air Forces\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-55\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-55\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e54\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehis wartime flying was over. He ended his career as a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Squadron_leader\" title=\"Squadron leader\"\u003esquadron leader\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith 31 and one shared official kills, nine claimed damaged, along with a DSO, DFC and a DFM and Bar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-heading mw-heading2\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"Death\"\u003eDeath\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1948, Beurling\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahal_(Israel)\" title=\"Mahal (Israel)\"\u003ewas recruited\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto fly P-51 Mustangs for the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Israeli_Air_Force\" title=\"Israeli Air Force\"\u003eIsraeli Air Force\u003c\/a\u003e. After a test flight, Beurling fatally crashed his\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Noorduyn_Norseman\" title=\"Noorduyn Norseman\"\u003eNoorduyn Norseman\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etransport aircraft while landing at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rome_Urbe_Airport\" title=\"Rome Urbe Airport\"\u003eAeroporto dell'Urbe\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rome\" title=\"Rome\"\u003eRome\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eon 20 May 1948, just six days after the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Israeli_Declaration_of_Independence\" title=\"Israeli Declaration of Independence\"\u003eIsraeli Declaration of Independence\u003c\/a\u003e. Also killed was British volunteer Leonard Cohen, another Malta RAF pilot.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-56\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-56\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e55\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"mw-default-size mw-halign-left\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:UC-46A_Norseman_3rd_ACG_c1945.jpg\" class=\"mw-file-description\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4e\/UC-46A_Norseman_3rd_ACG_c1945.jpg\/250px-UC-46A_Norseman_3rd_ACG_c1945.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"201\" class=\"mw-file-element\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4e\/UC-46A_Norseman_3rd_ACG_c1945.jpg\/500px-UC-46A_Norseman_3rd_ACG_c1945.jpg 1.5x\" data-file-width=\"1788\" data-file-height=\"1440\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption\u003eA USAAF 3rd Air Commando Group UC-64A (Norseman) in the Philippines, 1945\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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 Cohen, acknowledged that the bodies were burned beyond recognition.\"\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTENolan1981_57-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTENolan1981-57\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e56\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003csup class=\"noprint Inline-Template\"\u003e[\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citing_sources\" title=\"Wikipedia:Citing sources\"\u003e\u003cspan title=\"This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (March 2019)\"\u003epage needed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e]\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBeurling'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\".\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-58\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-58\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003eN 2\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"mw-default-size\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:George_Beurling%27s_grave_in_Haifa.jpg\" class=\"mw-file-description\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/cb\/George_Beurling%27s_grave_in_Haifa.jpg\/250px-George_Beurling%27s_grave_in_Haifa.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"167\" class=\"mw-file-element\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/cb\/George_Beurling%27s_grave_in_Haifa.jpg\/500px-George_Beurling%27s_grave_in_Haifa.jpg 1.5x\" data-file-width=\"5184\" data-file-height=\"3456\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption\u003eGeorge Beurling's grave in the military cemetery in Haifa, Israel\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeurling'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\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cimitero_Acattolico\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cimitero Acattolico\"\u003eCimitero Acattolico\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebehind the Cestia Pyramid, between the graves of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Percy_Bysshe_Shelley\" title=\"Percy Bysshe Shelley\"\u003ePercy Bysshe Shelley\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Keats\" title=\"John Keats\"\u003eJohn Keats\u003c\/a\u003e. In November 1950, two and half years after his death, Beurling's casket arrived at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Haifa_Airport\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Haifa Airport\"\u003eHaifa Airport\u003c\/a\u003e. 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\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Haifa\" title=\"Haifa\"\u003eHaifa\u003c\/a\u003e, Israeli Air Force aircraft paid homage to Beurling. At last, he was re-interred in the military cemetery at the foot of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mount_Carmel\" title=\"Mount Carmel\"\u003eMount Carmel\u003c\/a\u003e. The grave is marked, as are the others in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Israel_Defense_Forces\" title=\"Israel Defense Forces\"\u003eIsrael Defense Forces\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecemeteries, with only name, serial number and rank: for Beurling that of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003esegen\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(lieutenant).\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-FOOTNOTENolan1981173–174_59-0\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Beurling#cite_note-FOOTNOTENolan1981173%E2%80%93174-59\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e57\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"airdrop militaria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47562279387395,"sku":"HA7864)","price":250.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/1031\/8595\/files\/9DBA9E4D-971E-4F83-93B9-B1E3BE069A91_1_105_c.jpg?v=1766091710","url":"https:\/\/airdropmilitaria.com\/products\/1-48-hobbymaster-ha7864-supermarine-spitfire-mk-vb-trop-ep706-t-l-flown-by-r-c-a-f-ace-geoege-buzz-beurling","provider":"airdrop militaria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}