The Last of the First by Frank Wootton

Seen here, Flt Lt Hedley Everard engages with an ME 262 as his fellow Spitfire pilots with the Royal Canadian Airforce move in to assist with the kill. Hedley was born December 26th, 1919 in Timmins, Ontario. He joined the Militia in Montréal in 1937, served as an aircraftsman until 1940, then headed to Saskatchewan for basic aviation training. A remarkable war contribution followed. He flew Hurricanes and Spitfires in the Major Operational Theaters, including the countries of Burma, China, India, Tunisia, Egypt, Malta, Italy, England, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was awarded the DFC personally by King George VI. He also shared in the destruction of the world's first operational jet fighter, a German ME262, in 1944. Squadron Leader Everard was CO of 407 Squadron when he was shot down over Germany on Christmas day 1944. He was captured and remained a POW for the remaining six months of the war. Following the war, he returned to Canada and obtained his BA from the University of Toronto. His love for flying drew him back into the skies, this time as a jet test pilot with Canadair. Hedley logged hundreds of hours in various aircraft including the F-86 in Austria, Switzerland, Singapore and Malaysia. At the same time he flew Vampires in the RCAF Auxiliary from which he retired in 1964 as a Group Captain. During the 1960's Hedley transitioned to the sale of aircraft-principally the F-86-in Malaysia and Singapore. Thereafter, he was also involved in the DASH aircraft program through the Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce. Sadly he passed away on February 19th, 1999

Signed by:
Hedley Everard

Limited Edition of 850 Prints

Paper size 18 inches x 26 inches (45.7cm x 66cm)