Description
THE GREEN HEART EDITION – 10 Signature edition
B-24 Liberators from the USAAF 2nd Air Division come under attack from Fw190D-9s of III./JG54 Green Hearts over Koblenz, 31 December, 1944
The weather on the morning of December 31 1944 was already unpleasant. In the Ardennes, hard pressed German troops were battling Allied ground forces advancing through several inches of snow. Above, darkening skies heralded the arrival of more snow
At 10:45am, in deteriorating weather, a battle formation of 30 Fw190D fighters climbed out of Varrelbusch and headed south over the snow covered landscape. Under the command of 12/JG54 Staffelkapitan Oblt. Hans Dortenmann, and initially tasked to provide air cover to their beleaguered comrades below, the group was re-assigned to intercept enemy aircraft in the region of Limburg almost immediately the pilots were airbourne. Flying south they ran directly into the oncoming weather, and with visibility dangerously reduced , Dortenmnn elected to climb through the solid cloud into the clear air.
As the Fw190s broke cloud above the area of Koblenz they sighted a formation of nine 2nd Air Division B-24 Liberators and formed up for an attack. Some 6000 feet above, top-cover P-51 Mustangs had watched the Fw190s climbing through the banks of clouds, and turned 180 degrees to position behind the Luftwaffe fighters. Diving in from their height advantage, the Mustang pilots entered the fray and within seconds the sky was filled with swirling dogfights.
Robert Taylor’s new painting recreates this well-documented aerial conflict with unsurpassed artistry, conveying in his painting all the urgency and mortal danger of aerial combat. In the forefront, a menacing yet beautiful long-nose Fw190D-9 rips through the B-24 formation with massive closing speed, yet the 453rd and 735th Liberators plough stoically onwards, unwavering in the face of such peril. Set in a truly magnificent cloudscape, Robert portrays the majesty of the sky in all its glory using his unique talent and inimitable style. A wonderful aviation picture recalling a remarkable era in history, and with prints signed by JG54 and 453rd Bomb Group pilots who contested the hostile skies of Europe so long ago, these collector prints will be greatly sought after by discerning enthusiasts.
THE GREEN HEART EDITION
The Green Heart Edition has been signed by four JG54 Aces, three top pilots of JG54, and three pilots from the 453rd Bomb Group USAAF, to give a total of TEN signatures in this edition
First Lieutenant ALBERT ‘BERT’ BIEL
Leutnant HUGO BROCH
Colonel WILBUR LEE ‘WEB’ CLINGAN
Major HANS-EKKEHARD BOB
Leutnant NORBERT HANNIG
Major ERIC RUDORFFER
Unteroffizzier GUSTAV DREES
Lieutenant Colonel G W FORD
Feldwebel HERIBERT KOLLER
Leutnant HERMANN SCHLEINHEGE
350 Green Heart Proofs with TEN signatures
