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Great Value aviation art prints. Fw190, classic German
fighter of the Luftwaffe. Focke-Wulfe 190 shown in aviation art prints by
renowned aviation artist Ivan Berryman, Robert Tomlin, Philip West, Nicholas Trudgian and Robert
Taylor.
Focke-Wulf Fw190 by
Malcolm V Lowe. Arguably Germanys best piston-engined fighter of the
war, the Fw190 remained in the vanguard of the German war effort from late
1941 until VE-Day. With in excess of 20,000 examples being constructed in
dedicated factories and dispersed sites across Germany and eastern Europe,
the Fw190 proved its worth both as a fighter interceptor and a
fighter-bomber. This volume describes the production processes involved in
constructing the legendary Focke-Wulf fighter, tracing the airframe from
factory floor to the frontline on the Channel coast and the Crimean
plains. Chapters on the aircrafts powerplant, armament and late war
development into the superlative Fw190D and Ta152 are all included, as is
a detailed appendices listing the various production batches. Profusely
illustrated with a hand-picked selection of both official company
photographs and wartime archival imagery, this book is a must for
Luftwaffe enthusiasts, hobbyists and historians alike.
Cat Among the Pigeons (FW190) by Ivan Berryman
It was in 1941 that the remarkable Focke-Wulfe FW190 first appeared
in the skies of Europe, quickly establishing itself as a most formidable
adversary. It proved to be the supreme weapon against all allied bomber
forces. Here FW190A-8 of 1 Gruppe, Jagdgesschwader 1 is shown attacking
a B17G of 381st Bomb Group during a critical defence of the Reich in
1944.
Ramraiders by
Robert Tomlin FW 190 A-8/R-8 Sturmbock no 681382 of Hauptmann Wilhelm
Moritz stalks a formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses. Moritz led 4JG3,
the Luftaffes first dedicated Sturmgruppe for seven months from April to
November 44 before being relieved from exhaustion. He ended the war
with over 44 victories..
On the Prowl by Philip E West. Focke-Wulf FW 190. When this purposeful looking, squat,
angular aircraft first appeared in the skies over France in 1941 it came
as quite a shock and soon gained a reputation and the nickname Butcher
Bird. A superb fighting machine, it served the Luftwaffe in many
variants throughout the war. |
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Cat Among the Pigeons (FW190) by Ivan Berryman.
It was in 1941 that the remarkable Focke-Wulfe FW190 first appeared in the skies of Europe, quickly establishing itself as a most formidable adversary. It proved to be the supreme weapon against all allied bomber forces. Here FW190A-8 of 1 Gruppe, Jagdgesschwader 1 is shown attacking a B17G of 381st Bomb Group during a critical defence of the Reich in 1944.
Signed limited edition of 250 prints. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £60.00
Trautloft Presentation Edition of 10 Limited Edition Prints, supplied double matted. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £185.00 Features the mounted original signature of Hannes Trautloft.
Rudorffer Presentation Edition of 1 Limited Edition Print, supplied double matted. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £185.00 Features the mounted original signature of Major Erich Rudorffer.
Special signature edition of 50 signed limited edition prints from the edition of 250. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £110.00 Signed by Leutnant Hugo Broch.
ITEM CODE B0024
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Ramraiders by Richard Taylor.
Within two days of the D-Day Normandy invasion, on 8 June 1944 Commander of US Air Forces in Europe, General Carl Spaatz, ordered a massive new offensive to halt the supply of oil to the enemy forces. As top priority his bombers would henceforth concentrate their attacks on Germanys oil refineries. Those in range of air bases in England would feel the full force of the Eighth Air Force, while the installations further south in Romania, Hungary, and southern Germany would be attacked by bombers of the Fifteenth Air Force based in Italy. To add to the pressure, RAF Bomber Command was coordinated to attack the refineries in the Ruhr by night. As the huge mass of American bombers streamed into the daylight skies, the Luftwaffe quickly changed tactics to counter the potentially devastating threat with a new specialist tactic - the Sturmgruppe. Flying their redesigned and heavily armoured Sturmbocke Fw190A-8 heavy fighters, pilots of the newly formed IV Sturm/JG3 Gruppe were urgently assigned the task of attacking the vast bomber streams in an effort to protect the refineries. Escorted into battle by Me 109s to hold off any escorting American fighters, the Fw190s tactic was to make en-masse lightning attacks on carefully selected targets. With the American bomber formations spread over miles of sky, the Sturmgruppe aimed for the less well defended centre of the stream, attacking from the rear with concentrated cannon fire. With the pilots of IV Sturm JG3 sworn on oath to press home their attacks at the closest possible range, even ramming their targets if necessary to ensure a kill, these desperate tactics were to inflict considerable damage to the allied bomber offensive during the final year of the war.
Signed limited edition of 400 prints. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm). Price £95.00 Signed by Oberfeldwebel Willi Reschke, Leutnant Helmut Ballewski and Leutnant Kurt Wuppermann.
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm). Price £135.00 Signed by Oberfeldwebel Willi Reschke, Leutnant Helmut Ballewski and Leutnant Kurt Wuppermann.
Limited edition of 25 remarques. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm). Price £265.00 Signed by Oberfeldwebel Willi Reschke, Leutnant Helmut Ballewski and Leutnant Kurt Wuppermann.
Limited edition of 10 double remarques. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm). Price £445.00 Signed by Oberfeldwebel Willi Reschke, Leutnant Helmut Ballewski and Leutnant Kurt Wuppermann.
ITEM CODE DHM2639
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Ramraiders by Robert Tomlin.
FW 190 A-8/R-8 Sturmbock no 681382 of Hauptmann Wilhelm Moritz stalks a formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses. Moritz led 4JG3, the Luftaffes first dedicated Sturmgruppe for seven months from April to November 44 before being relieved from exhaustion. He ended the war with over 44 victories..
Open edition print. Image size 10.5 inches x 15.5 inches (27cm x 40cm). Price £14.00
ITEM CODE DHM2509
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On the Prowl by Philip West.
Focke-Wulf FW 190. When this purposeful looking, squat, angular aircraft first appeared in the skies over France in 1941 it came as quite a shock and soon gained a reputation and the nickname Butcher Bird. A superb fighting machine, it served the Luftwaffe in many variants throughout the war.
Limited edition of 175 prints. Image size 28 inches x 14 inches (71cm x 36cm). Price £75.00
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Image size 28 inches x 14 inches (71cm x 36cm). Price £100.00
Limited edition of 25 remarques. Image size 28 inches x 14 inches (71cm x 36cm). Price £280.00
ITEM CODE DHM2271
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Long Nose Trouble by Stan Stokes.
The Focke-Wulf 190 development project began in 1937. Conceived as a hedge against total dependence on the Messerchmitt 109, the 190 was designed by Kurt Tank utilizing a radial engine. This was against generally accepted design criteria in Germany, and many historians believe that the decision to produce a radial engine fighter was largely due to the limited manufacturing capacity for in-line, water-cooled engines which were widely used on all other Luftwaffe aircraft. Despite these concerns, Tanks design was brilliant, and the 190 would become one of the top fighter aircraft of WW II. The first prototype flew in mid-1939. The aircraft had excellent flying characteristics, a wonderful rate of acceleration, and was heavily armed. By late 1940 the new fighter was ordered into production. Nicknamed the butcher bird, by Luftwaffe pilots, early 190s were quite successful in the bomber interceptor role, but at this stage of the War many Allied bombing raids lacked fighter escort. As the War dragged on, Allied bombers were increasingly accompanied by fighters, including the very effective P-51 Mustang. The Allies learned from experience that the 190s performance fell off sharply at altitudes above 20,000 feet. As a result, most Allied bombing missions were shifted to higher altitudes when fighter opposition was likely. Kurt Tank had recognized this shortcoming and began working on a high-altitude version of the 190 utilizing an in-line, water-cooled engine. Utilizing a Jumo 12-cylinder engine rated at 1770-HP, and capable of 2,240-HP for short bursts with its methanol injection system, the 190D, or Long Nose or Dora as it was called, had a top speed of 426-MPH at 22,000 feet. Armament was improved with two fuselage and two wing mounted 20mm cannon. To accommodate the changes in power plants the Dora had a longer, more streamlined fuselage, with 24 inches added to the nose, and an additional 19 inches added aft of the cockpit to compensate for the altered center of gravity. By mid 1944 the Dora began to reach fighter squadrons in quantity. Although the aircraft had all the right attributes to serve admirably in the high altitude interceptor role, it was not generally focused on such missions. Instead many 190Ds were assigned to protect airfields where Me-262 jet fighters were based. This was due to the latter aircrafts extreme vulnerability to Allied attack during takeoff and landing. The 190Ds also played a major role in Operation Bodenplatte, the New Years Day raid in 1945 which destroyed approximately 500 Allied aircraft on the ground. The High Command was impressed with the 190Ds record on this raid, and ordered most future production of the Doras to be equipped as fighter-bombers. In retrospect this was a strategic error, and this capable aircraft was not fully utilized in the role for which it was intended.
Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £37.00
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £124.00 Signed by General Gunther Rall.
Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00
ITEM CODE STK0120
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Timber Wolf by Nicolas Trudgian.
Leutnant Klaus Bretschneider, Staffelkapitan of 5./JG300 kicks up the dust as he taxies his Fw190 A-8 Red One from its forest hiding place into the sunlight in preparation for take-off. The scene is northern Germany, November 1944. The Staffelkapitan will lead his 190s in a massed sturm intercept upon incoming American bombers. With Allied fighters dominating the skies, Luftwaffe fighter units took desperate measures to conceal their whereabouts. Commonplace were these hurriedly prepared strips, often near dense forests.
Signed limited edition of 450 prints. Paper size 19 inches x 25 inches (48cm x 64cm). Price £95.00 Signed by Oberst Hajo Hermann and Oberfeldwebel Willi Reschke, in addition to the artist.
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 19 inches x 25 inches (48cm x 64cm). Price £150.00 Signed by Oberst Hajo Hermann and Oberfeldwebel Willi Reschke, in addition to the artist.
ITEM CODE DHM2432
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Mountain Wolf by Nicolas Trudgian
Set in a spectacular mountain scene, Nicolas Trudgians print records the last days of air combat as World War II drew to a close. The most feared of the Luftwaffes remaining units were those equipped with the remarkable Me262 fighter jet, but they were vulnerable to attack during take-off and landing. Commanding JV-44, General Galland countered the threat by employing Fw190 Dora 9s to fly top cover. Nicolas Trudgians painting depicts the colourful Fw190 of Hptm Waldermar Wubke of JV-44 as he prepared to scramble Red Three at Ainring airfield in may 1945.
Signed limited edition of 450 prints. Paper size 19 inches x 25 inches (48cm x 64cm). Price £95.00 Signed by Major Heinz Lange and Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob.
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 19 inches x 25 inches (48cm x 64cm). Price £150.00 Signed by Major Heinz Lange and Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob.
Limited edition of 25 publishers proofs. Paper size 19 inches x 25 inches (48cm x 64cm) . Price £160.00 Signed by Major Heinz Lange and Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob.
ITEM CODE DHM2431
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Operation Bodenplatte by Nicolas Trudgian.
The success of Operation Bodenplatte, on January 1, 1945, was to be achieved by mass surprise attacks on British and American bases in France, Belgium and Holland. It was a battle fought at great cost to the Luftwaffe. During the battles some 300 Luftwaffe aircraft were lost. Though 200 Allied aircraft were destroyed, most on the ground, pilot losses were light. Nicolas Trudgians brilliant painting takes us right into the action above the Allied air base at Eindhoven. Me262 jets join a concentration of Me109s and Fw190s of JG-3 fighter wing, as they hurtle across the airfield in an assault that lasted 23 minutes, while Spitfires from 414 Sqn RCAF do their best to repel the attack. On the ground Typhoon fighters of 439 Sqn take a hammering.
Limited edition of 800 prints. Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm). Price £120.00 Signed by Leutnant Helmut Ballewski, Oberstleutnant Helmut Bennemann, Oberfeldwebel Werner Hohenberg, General Walter Krupinski.
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm). Price £170.00 Signed by Leutnant Helmut Ballewski, Oberstleutnant Helmut Bennemann, Oberfeldwebel Werner Hohenberg, General Walter Krupinski.
Limited edition of 50 publishers proofs. Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm). Price £180.00 Signed by Leutnant Helmut Ballewski, Oberstleutnant Helmut Bennemann, Oberfeldwebel Werner Hohenberg, General Walter Krupinski.
ITEM CODE DHM2028
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No Turning Back by Robert Taylor.
A Lancaster of No. 61 Squadron, RAF, piloted by Flt. Lt. Bill Reid, under attack from a German Fw190 en route to Dusseldorf on the night of November 3rd, 1943. Already injured in a previous attack, Bill Reid was again wounded but pressed on for another 50 minutes to bomb the target, then fly his badly damaged aircraft on the long journey home. The courage and devotion to duty that earned Bill Reid the Victoria Cross, was a hallmark of RAF bomber crews throughout their long six year campaign.
Aircrew edition. Signed limited edition of 600 prints. Paper size 32 inches x 24 inches (81cm x 61cm). Price £200.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid VC, Air Commodore Wilf Burnett DSO OBE DFC AFC, Air Marshal Sir Ivor Broom KCB CBE DSO DFC AFC and Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC.
Aircrew edition artist proofs. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 32 inches x 24 inches (81cm x 61cm). Price £325.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid VC, Air Commodore Wilf Burnett DSO OBE DFC AFC, Air Marshal Sir Ivor Broom KCB CBE DSO DFC AFC and Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC.
Bomber Command Edition. Signed limited edition of 200 prints. Paper size 32 inches x 24 inches (81cm x 61cm). Price £295.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid VC, Air Commodore Wilf Burnett DSO OBE DFC AFC, Air Marshal Sir Ivor Broom KCB CBE DSO DFC AFC, Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC, Flt Sergeant Stan Bradford DFM, Group Captain Dudley Burnside DSO OBE DFC*, Squadron Leader Lawrence Curtis DFC*, Group Captain William Farquharson DFC, Flt Lieutenant Bob Knights DSO, DFC, Flight Lieutenant Douglas Newham LVO DFC, Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Wolstenholme DFC* and Flight Lieutenant Dennis Woolley DFC DFM.
ITEM CODE RT0304
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Winter Combat by Nicolas Trudgian.
Hannes Trautloft in his FW190 leading his famous JG54 bring down a Russian Petlyakov Pe-2 on the Eastern Front in 1943. This dramatic painting is set in a superb winter landscape.
Signed limited edition of 250 prints, supplied double matted. Paper size 18 inches x 12 inches (46cm x 31cm). Price £190.00 Features mounted original signature of Hannes Trautloft.
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs, supplied double matted. Paper size 18 inches x 12 inches (46cm x 31cm). Price £320.00 Features mounted original signature of Hannes Trauloft.
Limited edition of 50 publishers proofs, supplied double matted. Paper size 18 inches x 12 inches (46cm x 31cm). Price £260.00 Features mounted original signature of Hannes Trautloft.
ITEM CODE DHM2456
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Twilight Conquest by Nicolas Trudgian.
The Black Widow is a formidable creature. It lurks in the dark, carefully chooses its moment of attack and strikes unseen, cutting down its prey with deadly certainty. Northrop could not have chosen a more apt name with which to christen their new night fighter when the P61 Black Widow entered service in the spring of 1944. The first aircraft designed from the start as a night fighter, the P61 had the distinction of pioneering airborne radar interception during World War II, and this remarkable twin engined fighter saw service in the ETO, in China, the Marianas and the South West Pacific. Under the command of Lt Col O B Johnson, one of the P61s greatest exponents, the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron was the leading P61 outfit in the ETO, destroying 43 enemy aircraft in the air, 5 buzz bombs and hundreds of ground based vehicles, becoming the most successful night fighter squadron of the war. Flying a twilight mission in his P-61 Black Widow on October 24, 1944, Colonel Johnson and his radar operator have picked up a formation of three Fw190s, stealthily closing on their quarry in the gathering dusk, O.B. makes one quick and decisive strike, bringing down the enemy leader with two short bursts of fire. Banking hard, as the Fw190 pilot prepares to bale out, he brings his blazing guns to bear on a second Fw190, the tracer lighting up the fuselage of his P-61.
Limited edition of 600 prints. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £130.00 Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Herman Ernst, Major Robert Graham, Major General Oris B Johnson and First Lieutenant Bob Tierney, in addition to the artist.
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £180.00 Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Herman Ernst, Major Robert Graham, Major General Oris B Johnson and First Lieutenant Bob Tierney, in addition to the artist.
ITEM CODE DHM2036
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Focke-Wulf Fw190 by Malcolm V Lowe.
Arguably Germanys best piston-engined fighter of the war, the Fw190 remained in the vanguard of the German war effort from late 1941 until VE-Day. With in excess of 20,000 examples being constructed in dedicated factories and dispersed sites across Germany and eastern Europe, the Fw190 proved its worth both as a fighter interceptor and a fighter-bomber. This volume describes the production processes involved in constructing the legendary Focke-Wulf fighter, tracing the airframe from factory floor to the frontline on the Channel coast and the Crimean plains. Chapters on the aircrafts powerplant, armament and late war development into the superlative Fw190D and Ta152 are all included, as is a detailed appendices listing the various production batches. Profusely illustrated with a hand-picked selection of both official company photographs and wartime archival imagery, this book is a must for Luftwaffe enthusiasts, hobbyists and historians alike.
Paperback book with 144 pages. . Price £12.99
ITEM CODE NMP8731
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Savage Skies by Robert Taylor.
The weather on the morning of 31 December, 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 snowcovered 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 airborne. Flying south they ran directly into the oncoming weather, and with visibility dangerously reduced, Dortenmann elected to climb through the solid cloud into 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.
Fighter Pilots Edition : Signed limited edition of 400 prints. Print paper size 35 inches x 23.5 inches (89cm x 60cm). Price £200.00 Signatories: Maj Hans Ekkehard Bob; Lt Norbert Hannig; Maj Eric Rudorffer.
Signed limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Print paper size 35 inches x 23.5 inches (89cm x 60cm). Price £395.00 Signatories: Maj Hans Ekkehard Bob; Lt Norbert Hannig; Maj Eric Rudorffer; Ft Lt Albert Bert Biel; Lt Hugo Brooch; Col Wilbur Lee Wib Clingan; Unteroffizier Gustav Drees; Lt Col G W Ford; Fw Heribert Koller; Lt Hermann Schleinhege.
Green Hearts Proof Edition : Signed limited edition of 350 prints. Print paper size 35 inches x 23.5 inches (89cm x 60cm). Price £260.00 Signatories: Maj Hans Ekkehard Bob; Lt Norbert Hannig; Maj Eric Rudorffer; Ft Lt Albert Bert Biel; Lt Hugo Brooch; Col Wilbur Lee Wib Clingan; Unteroffizier Gustav Drees; Lt Col G W Ford; Fw Heribert Koller; Lt Hermann Schleinhege.
ITEM CODE DHM2590
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| Long Nose Trouble by Stan Stokes.
The
Focke-Wulf 190 development project began in 1937. Conceived as a hedge
against total dependence on the Messerchmitt 109, the 190 was designed
by Kurt Tank utilizing a radial engine. This was against generally
accepted design criteria in Germany, and many historians believe that
the decision to produce a radial engine fighter was largely due to the
limited manufacturing capacity for in-line, water-cooled engines which
were widely used on all other Luftwaffe aircraft. Despite these
concerns, Tanks design was brilliant, and the 190 would become one of
the top fighter aircraft of WW II. The first prototype flew in mid-1939.
The aircraft had excellent flying characteristics, a wonderful rate of
acceleration, and was heavily armed. By late 1940 the new fighter was
ordered into production. Nicknamed the butcher bird, by Luftwaffe
pilots, early 190s were quite successful in the bomber interceptor role,
but at this stage of the War many Allied bombing raids lacked fighter
escort. As the War dragged on, Allied bombers were increasingly
accompanied by fighters, including the very effective P-51 Mustang. The
Allies learned from experience that the 190s performance fell off
sharply at altitudes above 20,000 feet. As a result, most Allied bombing
missions were shifted to higher altitudes when fighter opposition was
likely. Kurt Tank had recognized this shortcoming and began working on a
high-altitude version of the 190 utilizing an in-line, water-cooled
engine. Utilizing a Jumo 12-cylinder engine rated at 1770-HP, and
capable of 2,240-HP for short bursts with its methanol injection system,
the 190D, or Long Nose or Dora as it was called, had a top speed of
426-MPH at 22,000 feet. Armament was improved with two fuselage and two
wing mounted 20mm cannon. To accommodate the changes in power plants the
Dora had a longer, more streamlined fuselage, with 24 inches added to
the nose, and an additional 19 inches added aft of the cockpit to
compensate for the altered center of gravity. By mid 1944 the Dora began
to reach fighter squadrons in quantity. Although the aircraft had all
the right attributes to serve admirably in the high altitude interceptor
role, it was not generally focused on such missions. Instead many 190Ds
were assigned to protect airfields where Me-262 jet fighters were based.
This was due to the latter aircrafts extreme vulnerability to Allied
attack during takeoff and landing. The 190Ds also played a major role in
Operation Bodenplatte, the New Years Day raid in 1945 which destroyed
approximately 500 Allied aircraft on the ground. The High Command was
impressed with the 190Ds record on this raid, and ordered most future
production of the Doras to be equipped as fighter-bombers. In retrospect
this was a strategic error, and this capable aircraft was not fully
utilized in the role for which it was intended.
Timber Wolf by Nicholas Trudgian Emerging form its forest hiding, an Fw190 of 5./JG300 prepares to
scramble for yet another intercept mission.
Leutnant Klaus Bretschneider,
Staffelkapitan of 5./JG300, kicks up the dust as he taxis hif Fw190 A-8
"Red One" from its forest hiding place into the sunlight in
preparation for take-off. The scene is northern Germany, November 1944.
The Staffelkapitan will lead his 190s in a massed "sturm"
intercept upon incoming American bombers. Already with 14 night victories,
Bretschneider added 17 further victories in just 26 daylight missions,
claiming three heavy bombers in a single day. Flying his appropriately
named aircraft "Rauhbautz" (Tough guy VII) he was not adverse to
ramming an opponent, and clearly got through a number of aircraft in the
process - Bretschneider earned a reputation as a fearless fighter pilot
before himself being shot down, losing his life to P-51 pilots in
December, 1944.
With Allied fighters dominating the skies, their
incessant attacks on Luftwaffe airfields forced the German fighter units
to take desparate measures to conceal their whereabouts. Commonplace were
the hurriedly prepared strips, often near dense forests where parked
aircraft were difficult to detect from the air, typical of the setting
chosen for Nicholas Trudgian's new painting Timber Wolf. Its colourful
spinner glinting in the sunlight, the formidable Fw190 makes an awesome
sight as it prepares to go to war. Prints are signed by two of the
Luftwaffe's outstanding exponents of this great WWII fighter creating a
highly desirable collector's piece. |
| Mountain Wolf by Nicholas Trudgian
Focke-Wulf "Red Three" prepares to scramble from the Alpine
region airfield at Ainring, 1945 With the inexorable advance
of the Allied forces through Germany, many of the fighter units moved into
Alpine regions in their effort to stay operational. Among the most feared
of the Luftwaffe's remaining combat units were those equipped with the
remarkable Me262 fighter jet. With their huge speed advantage, the 262s
were a difficult target in aerial combat even for the fastest Allied
fighters, but the German jets were especially vulnerable to attack during
take-off and landing. The American long range fighter pilots were quick to
spot this weakness, and scored many successes by catching the jet pilots
as they returned low on fuel and ammunition.
Commanding JV-44, General Adolf Galland countered the
threat by employing the Fw190 "Dora" 9s to fly top cover, their
task being to sweep the sky as the jets returned from combat. Nicholas
Trudgian's new painting Mountain Wolf depicts the colourful Fw190 of Hptm
Waldermar Wubke of JV-44 as he prepares to scramble "Red Three"
at Ainring airfield in May 1945. The brightly coloured paint schemes
brought | |
