george buzz buerling spitfire 9 ix mh833

George Frederick “Buzz” Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM & Bar (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 shot down 27 Axis aircraft in just 14 days over the Mediterranean island. Before the war ended his official total climbed to 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.