THE LAST OF THE FIRST

"In the 'Last of the First,' I depict the first time a jet-propelled aircraft was shot down by British forces. The action took place over Nijmegen, Holland, on October 5, 1944. A combined force of Spitfires from the RAF and the Royal Canadian Air Force did the job. In order to gain enough speed to compete with a jet aircraft, the attackers had to dive from great heights. Hedley Everard, who countersigned this print, dove from far above the ME 262. He had to retire his Spitfire after the encounter because the stress of such speed almost tore it apart." Countersigned by Hedley Everard.