Paul Nash - Encounter in the Afternoon
Chalk and watercolour, 1940
Image courtesy Manchester City Art Gallery.
This work is based on a Me109, flown by Unterofficer Leo Zaunbrecher from 5./JG52, which came down at Mays Farm, Selmeston, Sussex on Monday 12th August 1940. It had been shot down by P/O JAP McClintock of 615 Squadron. Nash has used a certain artistic licence in the painting, as it shows
Mount Caburn in the near distance, it is not actually visible from this location.
Zaunbrecher is seen below with one of his groundcrew.
The Me109 was taken around the country on a publicity/fundraising tour, here in Leeds. The wings are reversed.
The aircraft was then taken to a salvage dump where publicity photos were taken showing the emblem of 2/JG52 (in German 'Rabatz' - troublemaker) being cut from the fuselage.
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