'GIL'S DOWN'

This commissioned scene features 184 Squadron Hawker Typhoons during a mission that took place on 25th April 1945 near Schwarzenbek, Germany. Eight Typhoons in total were attacking what was initially identified as a German Flak train. It wasnt until after the engagement and subsequent witness reports that this was revealed as actually being a passenger train being defended by mobile Flak units. These misjudgements were a sad reality of war and referred to as the 'fog of war'. In a situation where pilots are facing flak fire whilst in a rapid descent of 400 mph plus, it is understandable how target judgement can be clouded. During the strike Red Leader F/O Gil Gilham from the first wave was hit by flak and crashed into a farm field which you can see in the scene with a trail of black smoke. The paintings title is reference to the realisation that Gil had been hit.