Details
HORRIDO!
by Robert Taylor
(Luftwaffe Aces Edition – 10 Signatures)
Overall Print Size: 30½" x 26⅞"
Edition Size: 600
Secondary Market
“From the Battle of Britain onwards, the Luftwaffe became increasingly over-extended as theatres of operations grew and new Fronts were opened, often covering vast areas of territory as in the Desert and Russia. Spread over so many Fronts, so much was asked of its pilots…" (Adolf Galland)
Of the many outstanding Luftwaffe fighter Wings of World War II, JG52 became the most successful. Many of the most famous Aces flew with this legendary wing, including one-time Squadron Commander Adolf Galland. JG-52 was home to the only fighter Aces in history to destroy more than 300 enemy aircraft ¬- Erich Hartmann and Gerhard Barkhorn. The Wing's top ten scoring Aces amassed a staggering 2286 aerial victories and, by the end of the war, JG-52's pilots had recorded over 10,000 aerial victories; sixty-¬seven of their number were awarded the coveted Knights Cross or higher decorations, but the cost to the Wing was high: 678 of its aircrew perished in combat, while many others were taken prisoner following combat. Appropriately, Robert Taylor has chosen the Me109s of JG52 to represent the fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe in his amazing tribute to these courageous flyers.
The breathtaking "HORRIDO!" (the radio cry "Horrido" signaled that the enemy had been sighted and was about to be engaged - the equivalent of the RAF’s "Tally-ho") depicts Squadron Commander Hptm Wolfgang Ewald leading Bf109s of I./JG52 as they plunge into combat high over the English Channel during the ferociously fought Battle of Britain in the Summer of 1940. These sleek and deadly fighters are eloquently shown glinting and menacing against an ominous backdrop of heavy cumulous clouds - the world's foremost aviation artist's skill bringing to life the Luftwaffe's most successful fighter aircraft in action.
In addition to the artist this print was individually signed in pencil by TEN Luftwaffe fighter pilots of World War II. With an astounding 1225 aerial victories between them, these distinguished veterans of air combat proudly represent the famous Luftwaffe fighter Wings and the pilots who fought - many of them throughout the entire duration of World War II:
- Leutnant HUGO BROCH
- Major HANS-EKKEHARD BOB
- Leutnant NORBET HANNIG
- Feldwebel HERBERT KOLLER
- Generalleutnant GUNTHER RALL
- Major ERIC RUDORFFER
- Oberleutnant WALTER SCHUCK
- Leutnant HERMANN SCHLEINHEGE
- Oberleutnant GUNTHER SEEGER
- Oberleutnant WALTER WOLFRUM
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity
