OPERATION BODENPLATTE

Description

Bf109s and Fw190s of JG3 attack the Allied airfield at Eindhoven during Operation Bodenplatte, January 1 1945, when over 900 Luftwaffe aircraft made simultaneous attacks on Allied air bases during the final phase of WWII. Spitfires from 414 Sqn RCAF, returning from a mission, do their best to repel the 23 minute attack, during which the Luftwaffe destroyed or damaged 60 of 439 Squadron’s Typhoons

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 and although 200 Allied aircraft were destroyed, most on the ground, pilot losses were light.

Nicolas Trudgian’s 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.

THE SIGNATURES

Each print is signed by FOUR top Luftwaffe pilots who flew in Operation Bodenplatte.

Oberstleutnant HELMUT BENNEMANN Knights Cross – 93 victories
Leutnant HELMUT BALLEWSKI Iron Cross
General WALTER KRUPINSKI Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves – 197 victories
Oberfeldwebel WERNER HOHENBERG German Cross in Gold – 33 victories