Description
Air Defense of the Reich, when the Allied Air Forces were making continual raids over Germany, saw some of the most desperate aerial fighting of the war. Pilots of the Luftwaffe were in daily combat with the American bombers and long-range escort fighters, involving massive air battles that often travelled across the sky all the way to the target and most of the way home.
Trudgian’s exciting canvas portrays such a scene. The first wave of fighters have already made their attack on the B-17 formation as they relentlessly press on towards the target. Two B-17s have been hit, but the escort fighters have already downed a number of enemy fighters.
The painting is dominated by a Mustang of the 357th Fighter Group. Having just destroyed one of the first-wave attack Me-109s – seen smoking and on its way down – the P-51 pilot is viewed from his wingman’s aircraft, pulling “G” as he flick-rolls his Mustang on to the tails of four more Me-109s, making the second-wave attack. At over 400 mph the violent maneuver condenses the air off his wing tips; in a split-second both he and his wingman will be hurtling down in a frantic attempt to break up the new enemy attack.
Nick’s superb panorama of aerial warfare is beautifully reproduced as a fine art limited edition print using only the finest quality materials and methods.
THE SIGNATURES
In addition to the artist, this print has been personally signed by two of the 357th Fighter Group’s top-scoring Aces, together with two highly distinguished Luftwaffe fighter Aces:
Major LEONARD “KIT” CARSON – 357th Fighter Group / 18 ½ victories
Major RICHARD BUD PETERSON – 357th FG, Mustang Ace / 15 ½ victories
Hauptmann ERNST WILHELM REINERT Knights Cross with Oak Leaves – JG77 / 174 victories
Major ERIC RUDORFFER Knights Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords – JG2 / 222 victories
This copy has been additionally conservation framed and matted to include the original autographs of a further two highly respected Ace pilots from each the USAAF and Luftwaffe:
Brigadier General THOMAS L. HAYES – 357th FG Mustang Ace/ 8 ½ victories
Colonel CLARENCE “BUD” ANDERSON – 357th Fighter Group Mustang Ace/ 16 ¼ victories
Oberleutnant WALTER WOLFRUM Knight’s Cross – JG-52/ 137 victories
Oberleutnant WALTER SCHUCK Knights Cross with Oak Leaves – JG5, JG7 / 206 victories
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