Description
Rare Print
“From the Battle of Britain onwards, the Luftwaffe became increasingly over-extended as theatres of operations grew and new Fronts were opened, often covering vast areas of territory as in the Desert and Russia. Spread over so many Fronts, so much was asked of its pilots…..”.Adolf Galland
Of the many outstanding Luftwaffe fighter Wings of World War II, JG52 became the most successful. Many of the most famous Aces flew with this legendary wing, including one-time Squadron Commander Adolf Galland. JG-52 was home to the only fighter Aces in history to destroy more than 300 enemy aircraft -Erich Hartmann and Gerhard Barkhorn. The wing’s top ten scoring Aces amassed a staggering 2286 aerial victories and, by the end of the war, JG-52’s pilots had recorded over 10,000 aerial victories; sixty-seven of their number were awarded the coveted Knights Cross or higher decorations, but the cost to the Wing was high: 678 of its aircrew perished in combat, while many others were taken prisoner following combat.
Appropriately, Robert Taylor has chosen the Me l 09s of JG52 as his subject to represent the fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe in his new tribute to these courageous flyers, with his breathtaking painting Horrido! With the traditional battle cry ringing in their ears Squadron Commander Hptm Wolfgang Ewald leads pilots of I./JG52 into combat. Based at Coquelles/Calais in September 1940, the JG-52 Me l09s hurtle down in a high-speed dive to engage the enemy during the ferociously fought Battle of Britain. Robert eloquently depicts these sleek and deadly fighters high over the Channel, glinting and menacing against an ominous backdrop of heavy cumulous clouds -the world’s foremost aviation artist’s skill bringing to life the Luftwaffe’s most successful fighter aircraft in action.
Securing its position in the annals of aviation art, each print in this fine Luftwaffe Aces edition has been signed by some of the most famous Luftwaffe fighter pilots of World War II. With an astounding 1225 aerial victories between them, these distinguished veterans of air combat proudly represent the famous Luftwaffe fighter wings and the pilots who fought – many of them throughout the entire duration of World War I I. The Military Gallery is honoured to issue yet another highly significant and important collectors edition.
Overall Print Size: 30½” wide x 26¾ high
THE LUFTWAFFE ACES EDITION
Rarely have the signatures of so many leading Luftwaffe Aces been issued at one time on a Robert Taylor limited edition print. Now however, each print in this dramatic new edition of Horrido! has been individually hand signed in pencil by TEN of the Luftwaffe’s top fighter Aces of World War II, holding a total of 1225 victories between them.
Leutnant HUGO BROCH
Major HANS-EKKEHARD BOB
Leutnant NORBET HANNIG
Feldwebel HERBERT KOLLER
Generalleutnant GÜNTHER RALL
Major ERIC RUDORFFER
Oberleutnant WALTER SCHUCK
Leutnant HERMANN SCHLEINHEGE
Oberleutnant GÜNTHER SEEGER
Oberleutnant WALTER WOLFRUM
