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Malta Spitfire: The Diary of a Fighter Pilot (Greenhill Military Paperbacks)

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George Frederick Beurling... Top-scoring Canadian ace of World War II... A guy bound only to fly, to fly at all costs, with almost total disregard for authority and RAF hierarchy. But not a "madman" by any standards. Instead, a precise, dedicated and cunning fighter pilot, a lethal weapon around the skies of Malta in the summer of 1942.

Sent back to Canada while convalescing after being shot down in October 14th, 1942, Beurling assignment was to help selling war bonds. During 17 days, he was interviewed by journalist Leslie Roberts and, in 1943, the result was published in this exciting book, which describes his flying career up to that point.

It's a fast reading, full of action, desperate struggle and death, but not a fictious one or an exaggerated one.

Unfortunately, after going back do England in 1943 Beurling never adjusted to the precise operational flying at Western Europe. Insubordination grew to a point that a fighter pilot with 31 1/3 confirmed victories to his credit was dismissed from the Service in October, 1944, with the war still going strong!

Flying was his only desire and Beurling enlisted to fly for Israeli Air Force in 1948. While flying a Norseman aircraft, he crashed during take-off from Rome. He died instantly at age 27.