Text: Michal Krechowski

Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz 

Cat. No. 82126 

The Spitfires Mk. Vb/Vc had their most glorious time during the battles for the small, but strategically important, island of Malta. One of the most successful Spitfires to fight there was the Mk.Vc serial number BR301. The aircraft came from a consignment of Spitfires taking off on May 9, 1942, from the carrier USS Wasp (CV-7) during Operation Bowery. Like most Spitfires from the Bowery delivery, BR301 had Dark Mediterranean Blue color applied to the upper surfaces while still on the aircraft carrier’s deck. But the original desert color scheme was slightly visible under this new paint. The lower surfaces were repainted in Sky Blue. This aircraft had also the national roundels overpainted with this color. The original four-cannon armament was reduced to two cannons, mounted in inner position in the armament bay and two inner machine guns. Codenamed UF-S, BR301 served first with No. 601 Sqn., but its pilots achieved most of their success with it in July 1942 after transferring to No. 249 Sqn. There it became the “aircraft of the aces”.

P/O John McElroy (10 victories plus three shared in total) claimed one MC.202 with BR301 on July 7, one Ju 88 shared on July 9 and one Bf 109 on July 13, damaging another one in the process. No. 249 Squadron Leader Richard Mitchell (5 + 3) shot down a Ju 88 on July 23, while F/Sgt John Rae (11 + 2) shot down a Bf 109 probably and a Ju 88, in addition to damaging a Re.2001 and a Ju 88 on July 27 and 28.

The greatest success with the BR301 was achieved by Canadian pilot in the ranks of the RAF Sgt. George Beurling, who destroyed four opponents during one mission (two MC.202 and two Bf 109) and added one Bf 109 on July 27 two days later.

For our boxart, created by Piotr Forkasiewicz, we chose to depict Beurling’s first kill. His victim, a Macchi MC.202, is very well documented both photographically (after the crash landing) and also by combat reports of the two combatants. Thanks to that, we know how it all went down: At 0855 hours on July 27, 1942, No. 249 Sqn. sent out six Spitfires to join other six patrolling Spitfires from Nos. 126 and 185 Sqn. A formation of seven Ju 88s, accompanied by more than forty fighters was approaching Malta, flying at 25,000 feet (7,600 m). Beurling was the first to spot the enemy and radioed to warn the others: “Enemy aircraft at four o’clock, slightly below us!” He immediately launched an attack. The enemy fighters noticed Beurling’s action and went into a left climbing turn. Beurling then got on the starboard side of one MC.202 and fired his characteristic short burst.

Beurling later recalled: “I saw four Macchis flying in a row and I focused on number 4. I fired a short burst that went into its engine and radiator.” The pilot of MC.202 Sergente Magg Falerio Gelli of 378-11 Squadriglia turned his aircraft towards home base, but immediately realized that the smoking engine would not last long enough. He therefore chose a place and belly-landed in a field outside Victoria on the island of Gozo. Later, when questioned, he said: “I saw a Spitfire firing at me, but I didn’t feel any impacts. I was performing evasive maneuvers and noticed that the engine temperature was rising rapidly. In an attempt to reach my base, I turned north, but soon realized I couldn’t make it as the oil tank and radiator had been hit. So, I turned back and landed at Gozo”.

Some pilots and ground staff went to see Gelli’s Macchi. The aircraft was relatively intact, and the battle damage was consistent with Beurling’s report. The rudder was removed and the emblem of the 51° Stormo unit was also cut out of the fuselage as a war trophy. Beurling later posed with the trophies for photographs.

During the five months of fighting in Malta, Sgt. George “Screwball” Beurling scored a total of 28 kills (including one shared) of Axis aircraft, becoming the most successful Allied pilot of the Battle of Malta. These achievements earned him another unofficial nickname: “Falcon of Malta”. It was meant to characterize his straightforward predatory instinct in combat.  

Spitfire BR301 was irreparably damaged on July 29 and decommissioned with 54 flying hours.