Scramble 08:55 on the 27th July 1942 in Malta put top local fighter ace George 'Screwball' Beurling in the sky searching for incoming raiders.

Beurling, flying Spitfire Vb UF S serial BR301, spotted two Macchis flying towards him. Beurling positioned himself on the starboard quarter and took a full deflection shot hitting the Italian in the engine and radiator.

The pilot Sargente Maggiore Falerio Gelli of 378' Sqadriglia crash landed his plane in Gozo, surviving the crash.

Flight Lieutenant George Frederick "Buzz" Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM & Bar went on to shoot down the other Macchi and another German plane with both pilots being killed in action, earning the title of Fighter Ace

Flight Lieutenant George Beurling landed safely to fight on another day.