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Malta Spitfire:

The Diary of an Ace Fighter Pilot

Paperback (256 pages)
Canadian George Beurling truly had powers beyond those of mere mortals when he was in the cockpit of a Spitfire, going up against superior numbers of German and Italians fighters.

Malta Spitfire:

Twenty-five thousand feet above Malta - that is where the Spitfires intercepted the Messerschmitts, Macchis and Reggianes as they swept eastwards in their droves, screening the big Junkers with their bomb loads as they pummeled the island beneath - the most bombed patch of ground in the world.

One of those Spitfire pilots was George Beurling, nicknamed 'Screwball', who in fourteen flying days destroyed twenty-seven German and Italian aircraft and damaged many more. Hailing originally from Canada, after hard training and combat across the Channel, Beurling finally made it to Malta in the summer of 1942. Malta Spitfire tells his story and that of the gallant Spitfire squadron, 249, which day after day climbed to the 'top of the hill' to meet the enemy against overwhelming odds.

The reader has almost the sensation of being in the cockpit with him, climbing to meet the planes driving in from Sicily, diving down through the fighter screen at the bombers, dodging the bullets coming out of the sun, or whipping up under the belly of an Me for a deflection shot at the engine. This is war without sentiment or romance, told in terms of human courage, skill and heroism. A classic, first published in 1943.

George Beurling...

Related Scanning WWII links...

  • 01 May 42 - Beurling gets first of 31 kills in a sweep over Calais.
  • 20 May 48 - Beurling killed in accident en route to fly for Israeli Air Force.

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Malta...

Related Scanning WWII dates...

  • 06 Jan 41: Luftwaffe launches first attacks against convoys bound for Malta
  • 10 Jan 41: Luftwaffe begins heavy air attacks on Malta
  • 01 Apr 42: Luftwaffe informs Hitler that they simply cannot sink the island
  • 15 Apr 42: George Cross is awarded to the people of Malta
  • 10 May 42: Kesselring prematurely says Malta has been neutralized
  • 21 May 42: Hitler indefinitely postpones an invasion of Malta
  • 10 Oct 42: German, Italian bombers begin 8 day offensive against Malta
  • 18 Oct 42: Axis daylight bombing raids over Malta are finally suspended
  • 30 Jan 45: Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill meet in Malta

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    The Diary of an Ace Fighter Pilot

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