Description
A Soviet Yak 3 hurtles towards us in a typically daring head-on attack on a Bf109. Other Yaks wheel and turn frantically in search of the enemy. Casualties on both sides are evident. Away into the distant horizon stretches a vast Russian sky, painted in Robert’s inimitable style: soon all will be quiet again until the next ferocious encounter.
THE NORMADIE-NIEMEN SQUADRON
This iconic unit consisted of French Pilots who had escaped the German occupation. Based in England they trained alongside the RAF until they joined Soviet forces in the fight against the Luftwaffe on the Eastern Front. The group fought in three campaigns on behalf of the Soviet Union between March 1943 and May 1945. Its pilots destroyed 273 enemy aircraft and received a number of citations and decorations from the Free French and Soviet governments.
THE SIGNATURES
Each print is individually signed by SIX fighter Aces who fought on the Russian Front. Joining two top Russian Aces – both Heroes of the Soviet Union – and two leading Luftwaffe Aces, are two highly decorated fighter Aces from the legendary Free French Normandie-Niemen Squadron. These iconic Aces flew over 3316 missions and scored 547 air victories between them:
Generalleutnant GÜNTHER RALL Knights Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords – 275 victories (third highest scoring Ace in history)
General JOHANNES “MACKY” STEINHOFF Knights Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords -178 victories
Lieutenant General ARSENY VASILYEVITCH VOROZHEIKIN Hero of Soviet Union – 52 victories
Major General KONSTANTIN MIKHAILOVITCH TRESHYOV Hero of Soviet Union – 28 victories
Lieutenant JACQUES DE SAINT PHALLE Legion of Honor / Normandie-Niemen Squadron – 1 victory
General JOSEPH RISSO Grand Cross of Legion of Honor / Normandie-Niemen Squadron – 11 victories
THE PUBLISHERS PROOFS
Limited to just 50 copies this Fourteen Signature special edition is issued with the companion pencil print “Squadron Normandie Niemen Scramble” which is additionally signed by a further eight Pilots who flew with the Normandie-Niemen Squadron:
VLADIMIR BASSOV
MARCEL HANNAUX
ALEXANDRE KAPRALOV
DIMTRI KOUSMINE
GRATTEN MAIRE
GEORGE MASUREL
NICOLAS TOUNIEV
SERGE AGAVELIAN
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