George Beurling--if looks could KILL!

[Martin Bull]

Sorry Graham - I did not mean to be off-the-cuff or indeed critical. I was referring more to the restless nature and troubled personal life of both men; also the way in which they showed no particular sign of 'greatness' in their peacetime youth and educational record, in fact both were 'outsiders' in their way.

But come the war and they flourished under particular circumstances and became deeply unhappy when 'rested' or removed from the scene of action.

And finally, both made one seemingly unnecessary flight too many.

Not unique, I know, among WWII fighting men but even so, reading the biography mentioned above and Richard Morris' 'Guy Gibson' one does note many similarities.

Can I just stress again that I find both men deeply interesting personalities and have the greatest respect for their wartime record.