The Forgotten Front Military history archive
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Spitfires of No. 249 Squadron RAF at readiness at Ta Kali, Malta, 1942 File 040Article Malta · 1942 Screwball: The Falcon of Malta Rejected by the Royal Canadian Air Force for lack of schooling, George “Buzz” Beurling crossed the Atlantic on a convoy to join the RAF. Over besieged Malta in the summer of 1942 he became the deadliest Allied fighter pilot of the campaign. He could not fit into the war’s end, or the peace. Soldiers of the Polish 22nd Company watch a comrade wrestle with Wojtek the bear in the Middle East File 029Article Persia, Italy and Scotland · 1942–1947 Corporal Wojtek of the 22nd Company Polish soldiers freed from Soviet camps bought an orphaned bear cub on a road in Persia in 1942. He grew up drinking beer and wrestling with the men, was enlisted as a private so he could sail to Italy, and, his company said, carried shells at Monte Cassino. He ended his days in Edinburgh Zoo, listening for Polish voices. A heavily armed SAS jeep patrol in the North African desert, January 1943 File 027Article Libya and Egypt; later Sicily, France and Germany · 1941–1945 The Lion of the Desert Raids An Irish rugby international and Lions forward, Blair “Paddy” Mayne helped found the SAS and led its raids on German airfields in the desert. He finished the war with four Distinguished Service Orders. The Victoria Cross he was recommended for in 1945 was never given, and people are still arguing about why. Charles Upham in battledress after the campaigns in Greece and Crete File 026Article Crete and the Western Desert · 1941–1942 Twice the Victoria Cross A shy New Zealand sheep farmer who did not want a medal won the Victoria Cross twice: on Crete in 1941 and on Ruweisat Ridge in 1942. No other fighting soldier has done it. Then he spent three years trying to escape from German prison camps. The Arizona Kid ▸ Film North Africa & Mediterranean The Arizona Kid Wounded and alone, he charged into 200 Germans with flamethrowers and broke them Buzz Beurling ▸ Film North Africa & Mediterranean Buzz Beurling He shot down 27 planes in 14 days — then couldn't survive peace Paddy Mayne ▸ Film North Africa & Mediterranean Paddy Mayne He commanded the SAS and destroyed 100 planes. Still no VC Bill Crawford ▸ Film North Africa & Mediterranean Bill Crawford They gave his Medal of Honor to his father — they thought he was dead Charles Upham ▸ Film North Africa & Mediterranean Charles Upham He won the Victoria Cross twice — the only combat soldier in history Commando Kelly ▸ Film North Africa & Mediterranean Commando Kelly His guns jammed — so he threw mortar shells at the Germans like hand grenades Wojtek ▸ Film North Africa & Mediterranean Wojtek The Polish Army enlisted a bear — he carried artillery shells at Monte Cassino