page_title: George Beurling
section_title: War bond drive
hierarchical_section_title: George Beurling / Second World War / RAF service / War bond drive
caption_attribution_description: "Buzz" Beurling, famous flying ace during World War II, signs an autograph for Helen Fowler, while other female employees of the Aluminum Co. look on. Kingston, Ontario.
context_page_description: George Frederick "Buzz" Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM & Bar was the most successful Canadian fighter pilot of the Second World War.
  Beurling was recognised as "Canada's most famous hero of Second World War", as "The Falcon of Malta" and the "Knight of Malta", having been credited with shooting down 27 Axis aircraft in just 14 days over the besieged Mediterranean island. Before the war ended his official total climbed to either 31 or 31​¹⁄₃. Beurling's wartime service was terminated prior to war's end. In an attempt to continue combat flying in the postwar era, Beurling lost his life in a crash while attempting to deliver an aircraft to Israel.
context_section_description: After landing back in Britain, Beurling was then sent to Canada to join a Victory Loan Drive, selling war bonds, being the guest of honour at a parade in Verdun and meeting Prime Minister Mackenzie King. He was promoted to war substantive Flying Officer (on probation) on 30 January 1943. He did not enjoy the war bond campaign. Also, he often said things that embarrassed the RCAF, such as that he enjoyed killing people.  The leg wound Beurling had received over Malta, combined with his poor general health, returned him to hospital for several weeks. He completed his promotional work in mid-1943 and also met his future wife, Diana Whittall in Vancouver.
caption: Beurling signing autographs at a war production plant, January 1943
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