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Depart in Peace by Geoff Lea. - Cranston Military Prints

Depart in Peace by Geoff Lea.


Depart in Peace by Geoff Lea.

On 15th September 1965, the late Jeffrey Quill flew the old Spitfire VB AB910 into RAF Station Coltishall to be handed over to the Royal Air Force Memorial Flight and preserved in perpetuity. Significantly, this was to be virtually the final moment of a thirty-year association and devotion by Jeffrey Quill to his beloved Spitfire. After Mutt Summers initial flight, it was largely left to Jeffrey to help turn Reginald Mitchells inspired design into the most famous fighter aircraft of all time. Jeffrey Quill writes in his book, Spitfire, A Test Pilots Story : It had been my business to criticise it and identify its faults; I had no illusions about it and knew its problems only too well. Indeed, they had caused me sleepless nights all too often... As I climbed out of the cockpit of AB910 I had that feeling of sadness, of bidding farewell to an old an trusted friend. The title of the print comes most appropriately from the words of Nunc Dimittis, - Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, as AB910 goes into the loving care of the Memorial Flight. AB910 had a long, historic career since being built in 1942 at Castle Bromwich. It was delivered to 92 Squadron whose letters QJ-J it bore at the time of presentation. Ninety-two Squadron flew Spitfires throughout the entire war and was also one of the Royal Air Forces top-scoring squadrons. AB910 was also the aircraft on which a ground crew WAAF, now Miss Horton, made an unscheduled flight crouched across the tail. After the war, it was bought by the late Air Cmdre A. H. Wheeler, CBE, and later by Vickers-Armstrong Aircraft limited, who completely restored it. This work was carried out almost as a solo job by Arthur Luscombe at Chilbolton and later the aircraft was based at South Marston. As shown in this painting, AB910 was fitted with a Merlin 55M engine from a Seafire III to improve low-level performance, and a four-bladed propeller, untypical of a Spitfire V, both of which have now been changed by the Memorial Flight. After a life of more than forty years, AB910 continues to give pleasure to thousands as it participates in displays during the summer months. AB910 serves as a permanent reminder of those days of the 1940s when the flashing, eliptical wings skimmed high and proudly to bring freedom to the skies. Now, as then, to be a Spitfire pilot is the dream of small boys of all ages. Indeed, even as one sees and hears this remarkable machine, inevitably its magic draws us all into its heart to become part of a legend.
Item Code : DHM2514Depart in Peace by Geoff Lea. - Editions AvailableExtra....


A photo of an edition of the print.

DESCRIPTIONSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSPRICEPURCHASINGPACKS
Signed limited edition of 750 prints. Image size 22.5 inches x 14.5 inches (55cm x 37cm)
Quill, Jeffrey

Died : 1996
Jeffrey Quill, OBE, AFC, FRAeS (deceased)
Jeffrey Quill was born at Littlehampton in Sussex in 1913, the youngest of five children. He was educated at Lancing College, overlooking Shoreham aerodrome (then a small grass field with old hangars and a wooden hut for the flying club). The frequent sight of aircraft at close quarters increased Quill's already burning interest in aviation, and after leaving Lancing in 1931 he was accepted into the Royal Air Force at the age of 18, as an acting Pilot Officer. He learned to fly on Avro Tut
Signature Value : £80
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+ Artist : Geoff Lea

Signature(s) value alone : £80		£30 Off!Now : £130.00

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Some other related items available from this site.

A Spitfire of 610 Squadron narrowly misses colliding with an Me109 while in close combat, low over the south of England, during the late summer of 1940.

Close Call by Robert Taylor.		 The Battle of Britan - 13th August 1940. Fresh from a successful action over a marauding group of Me110s and Me109s attempting to raid port facilities at Portland during the Battle of Britain, Spitfires of 152 Squadron return to their base at Warmwell to refuel and rearm. As the distinctive sound of their Merlin engines echoes around Lulworth Cove, one of the Spitfires - hit during the engagement - is starting to smoke. Thankfully all will land safely, ready to continue the bitter struggle while Goerings Luftwaffe begin to intensify their attacks as they try to gain air superiority during one of the most decisive battles ever fought.

Merlin Chorus by Anthony Saunders. 		On the 11th August 1942, Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Wellum DFC, having just taken off from the deck of HMS Furious, leads his section of gathering Spitfires on the long journey to Malta. They are much-needed reinforcements for the beleaguered island, now in the twenty-sixth month of its siege. To enable each of the 38 Spitfires dispatched from Furious to reach Malta, over three hours flying time away, they carry maximum fuel together with a centre-line over-load tank. Even their ammunition is removed to save weight. Escorting Furious to her aft is the Cruiser HMS Manchester together with Destroyers Brave and Lithe. To their port side is the Ohio tanker laden with fuel during what became an epic voyage. In the distance HMS Eagle succumbs to an Axis torpedo attack. The success of Operation Pedestal was absolutely critical for the survival of Malta, bringing desperately needed fuel, food and ammunition to the Island. Losses were heavy but the courage and determination by all involved prevailed: five of the fourteen merchant ships, including the Ohio, made it through and the island was saved.
Spitfires - Malta Bound by Philip West. 		A New Zealander, he joined No.234 Sqn RAF flying Spitfires throughout the Battle of Britain, scoring two victories. He joined No.603 Sqn then No.91 Sqn, where his Spitfire was shot down by Me109s and he baled out into the sea. He returned and joined No.185 Sqn in Malta flying Hurricanes the Spitfires. He became an instructor, returning in 1945 to No.124 Sqn flying late marque Spitfires then Meteor jets then leaving the RAF in 1946. He died in 2016.

Clipped Signature - Keith Lawrence.
Signatures on these products
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature and is for the unmatted version where available. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
NameInfo




Jeffrey Quill, OBE, AFC, FRAeS (deceased)
Died : 1996
*Signature Value : £80

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 750 prints.


Quill, Jeffrey
(Jeffrey Quill, OBE, AFC, FRAeS (deceased))

Jeffrey Quill was born at Littlehampton in Sussex in 1913, the youngest of five children. He was educated at Lancing College, overlooking Shoreham aerodrome (then a small grass field with old hangars and a wooden hut for the flying club). The frequent sight of aircraft at close quarters increased Quill's already burning interest in aviation, and after leaving Lancing in 1931 he was accepted into the Royal Air Force at the age of 18, as an acting Pilot Officer. He learned to fly on Avro Tutor biplanes, and went solo after only 5 hours 20 minutes - well below the usual 9 hours. In September 1932 he joined No.17 (Fighter) Squadron at Upavon, where he flew Bristol Bulldogs. He was then posted to Duxford, to the RAF Meteorological Flight, where they flew open-cockpit Siskins to heights of up to 25,000 feet to collect weather data. In November 1934 Quill became Flight Commander, and set out with his team to achieve 100 per cent regularity in the scheduled climbs (twice every day, except Sundays, at 0700 and 1300 hrs) without missing a single flight, even in 'unflyable' weather. For this outstanding achievement he was awarded the Air Force Cross. In January 1936 Jeffrey Quill became assistant to Mutt Summers, the chief test pilot at Vickers (Aviation) Ltd., and his initial task was the testing of the Wellesley bomber. On 26 March 1936 Quill made his first flight in the prototype Spitfire K5054. Much work was needed on the Spitfire before it was eventually cleared for squadron service in July 1938. Jeffrey Quill spent the entire war in charge of development and production flying, but insisted on having first-hand combat experience, and in August 1940 he was assigned to 65 (Spitfire) Squadron at RAF Hornchurch. During that month he shot down a Me109, and shared in a Heinkel He111 before being recalled to Supermarine to test the Spitfire Mk III. The Seafire, the naval version of the Spitfire used by the Fleet Air Arm, was suffering enormous losses in deck landing accidents. During 1944 Quill spent five months with the Royal Navy, and made more than 75 deck landings. By the end of the war, he had personally test-flown all 50-odd variants of Spitfire and Seafire. His personal favourite was the Spitfire Mk VIII. Jeffrey Quill continued as chief test pilot after the war, when Vickers - ever on the cutting edge of development - produced Britain's third jet aircraft, the Attacker. On 27 July 1946 Quill made the first flight from Boscombe Down, and continued to undertake the testing, until one day the following June he passed out at about 40,000 feet. Fortunately he recovered at about 10,000 ft, in time to land safely. Quill had been flying continuously for 16 years, often at high altitude and without oxygen. He had logged over 5000 hours and flown more than 95 aircraft types. Jeffrey Quill died at Andreas, Isle of Man, on 20 February 1996.
Squadrons Related to This Print
No.92 Sqn
Aircraft Related to This Print
Spitfire

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