Virgil Brennan Virgil Paul Brennan DFC , DFM ( 6 March 1920 – 13 June 1943 ) was an Australian flying ace of the Second World War . Enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force in November 1940 , he briefly served in the European Theatre before transferring to Malta . Over the next five months , Brennan was officially credited with the destruction of 10 Axis aircraft from a total of twenty - four operational sorties . Reposted to England , he was assigned as a flying instructor and collaborated in the writing of " Spitfires over Malta " , a book about his experiences on the island . Returning to Australia during 1943 , Brennan was killed in a flying accident at Garbutt , Queensland , in June that year . Early life . Brennan was born in Warwick , Queensland , on 6 March 1920 to Edgar James Brennan , a solicitor , and his wife Katherine ( née O ' Sullivan ) . He was educated at the Christian Brothers ' School in Warwick , before moving on to Downlands College at Toowoomba and later Brisbane State High School . After leaving school , Brennan studied part - time at the University of Queensland , while simultaneously being employed as a law clerk in Brisbane . Second World War . On 8 November 1940 , Brennan enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force for service during the Second World War . Accepted for pilot training , he received his initial flight instruction in Australia . He later embarked for Canada , where he completed his flight training before being posted to the United Kingdom in August 1941 , where he was appointed to an Operational Training Unit . On graduating from this course , he was allotted to No . 64 Squadron RAF . During this time , he was advanced to temporary flight sergeant on 4 January 1942 , prior to receiving a posting to the Mediterranean Theatre the following month . Malta . On arrival in the Mediterranean , Brennan was posted to No . 249 Squadron RAF . On 7 March 1942 , Brennan was one of fifteen pilots sent to the island of Malta . Flying Supermarine Spitfire s , the party took off from the aircraft carrier HMS " Eagle " ; they were to spend the next few months in the defence of the island . As the Axis forces commenced a major aerial assault on Malta later that month , the Allied fighter pilots on the island were forced to " contend with fatigue and inadequate rations while battling the enemy ' s superior forces " . On 17 March , Brennan claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Messerschmitt 109 . On 20 April 1942 , Brennan added a further two aircraft to his tally when he destroyed a Messerschmitt 109 , before bringing down a Junkers 88 later that day . Praised as " a most determined and courageous pilot " , Brennan was subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Flying Medal . The announcement and accompanying citation for the award was published in a supplement to the " London Gazette " on 22 May 1942 , reading : Brennan scored further aerial victories on 10 May . The following day , German " Luftwaffe " General Albert Kesselring ordered a contingent of 20 Stukas and 10 Junkers Ju 88 s with a small escort of fighter aircraft to bomb Grand Harbour , Malta . A formation of 50 Royal Air Force aircraft — 37 Spitfires and 13 Hawker Hurricane s — were dispatched to intercept the group ; Brennan was piloting one of the Spitfires . Attacking one of the Stukas , Brennan later recorded that the aircraft " disintegrated , with huge chunks flying off in every direction " . During the battle , a total of 14 German aircraft were shot down , for the loss of 2 Spitfires . In an engagement the next day , Brennan was wounded in his left arm . He was commissioned as a pilot officer later that month . By the conclusion of his combat tour in July 1942 , Brennan had flown a total of twenty - two operational sorties and was credited with destroying 10 Axis aircraft over Malta , with one probably destroyed and a further 6 damaged . For his efforts in the destruction of Axis aircraft during this period , Brennan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross . The notification of the decoration was published in a supplement to the " London Gazette " on 6 October 1942 . Later war service and death . Embarking from Malta during July 1942 , Brennan returned to the United Kingdom and was posted to No . 52 Operational Training Unit as an instructor with the rank of acting flight lieutenant . During this period , Brennan and fellow No . 249 Squadron pilot , Pilot Officer Ray Hesselyn , collaborated with journalist Henry Bateson on writing " Spitfires over Malta " , a novel relating the experiences of Brennan and Hesselyn during their time on Malta . On 17 April 1943 , Brennan was repatriated from the United Kingdom and returned to Australia . Arriving back in Australia , Brennan was posted to the newly raised No . 79 Squadron , based at Laverton , Victoria , on 1 May 1943 . Later that month , the squadron was ordered to deploy to Goodenough Island , near New Guinea . During this time , Brennan related his previous combat experiences to fellow pilots , however his commanding officer , Squadron Leader Alan Rawlinson , noted that Brennan appeared " strained and tired " . An advance party of the squadron was moved up to Goodenough Island that month , while the pilots followed during June . On 13 June 1943 , the pilots of No . 79 Squadron continued on their journey north , arriving at Garbutt airfield in Queensland . At approximately 14 : 00 , Brennan landed his Spitfire in the wake turbulence of the aircraft ahead of himself and touched down on the left side of the runway . Brennan was informed that he was cutting in on the path of the Spitfire following him , which was to land on the right side of the runway . Brennan landed his aircraft short , and at the conclusion of his landing run turned across the path of the second Spitfire . In the ensuing collision , Brennan sustained severe injuries and was rushed to hospital ; he died before arrival . Described as one with " an easy - going nature , an engaging sense of humour and . . . loyal to his friends " , Brennan was buried in Townsville War Cemetery .