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 Germany’s 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 Rühr 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 Sturmböcke Focke Wulf Fw190 A-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 Messerschmitt Mel09s to hold off any escorting American fighters, The Focke Wulf 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.

Richard Taylor’s exciting new limited edition captures the scene: Closing at high speed with all cannons blazing. Unteroffizier Willi Maximowitz is seen flying his distinctive “Black 8” with IV Sturm/JG3, as he dives in to attack a formation of USAAF B-24 Liberators from the 93rd Bomb Group. The American gunners have a frightening task on their hands to fend off the attack until help arrives. With each print signed by no less than three Luftwaffe Focke Wulf Fw190 pilots, this brand new edition will be rated a significant addition to those collectors who have already recognised the talent and gathering reputation of this remarkable new artist.

PRINT DETAILS

Three highly experienced Luftwaffe pilots who flew the Focke Wulf Fw190 A-8 in Defence of the Reich have added great authenticity to Richard Taylor's new Limited Edition by signing each print. The edition is also is signed by the artist, and individually hand numbered.

Leutnant HELMUT BALLEWSKI
Leutnant KURT WUPPERMANN
Oberfeldwebel WILLI RESCHKE

THE SIGNATURES

Leutnant HELMUT BALLEWSKI. Helmut Ballewski joined the Luftwaffe in November 1942 and immediately after training was posted to Geswaderstab JG53 in Sicily. He remained with this unit until January 1945 and then transferred to IV JG53 flying Focke Wulf Fw190 A-8s as wingman to Helmut Bennemann on Operation Bodenplatte. He flew on the operations at Remagen, and in total completed 47 combat operations, all on the Western Front.

Leutnant KURT WUPPERMANN. Kurt Wuppermann was called up in 1942, and with a love of flying, joined the Luftwaffe. After completing his pilot training, he was posted to join JG54 Greenhearts flying the Focke Wulf Fw190 A-8. Transferring to the northern sector of the Eastern Front, he notched up three quick victories and flew on combat operations continually until 18 December 1944 when he was shot down over the Baltic near Riga making an emergency landing. On the ground he was rescued by Strafgeshwader 291, but had suffered bad facial injuries. So great was the need for experienced pilots in the last months of the war however, after six weeks in hospital he was patched up and flying combat again.

Oberfeldwebel WILLI RESCHKE. One of the outstanding young flyers Willi Reschke joined I / JG302 in June 1944, his first victories being two B24s near Budapest. By the end of August he had become one of the Gruppe’s most experienced pilots. Re-equipping with the Fw190 A-8, In September 1944 I. /J G302, redesignated III, JG301 was transferred nearer to Berlin. In the last days of the war he flew a Ta152 claiming an RAF Tempest shot down. His last two victories came when he shot down two Russian fighters over Berlin. Awarded the Knights Cross in April 1945, he achieved 27 victories, including 20 four-engined bombers, in 70 combat missions.

REMARQUE EDITION

Richard Taylor’s superb pencil remarques have, in a short period of time, matured into extremely skilled pieces of original art. Highly detailed, these beautiful hand-crafted drawings are becoming so appreciated by collectors that they are now increasingly in high demand.

Two very restricted remarque editions of Ramraiders will be issued, each with drawings comprehensively researched and relating either to the Focke Wulf Fw190 or the B24 - Liberator the choice is yours! The first edition, limited to 25 copies, will each have an Original pencil drawing elegantly hand drawn by Richard Taylor. The second, restricted to just Ten copies, will be issued with either a Double Size remarque drawing or Two separate and individual remarque drawings

Matching numbered certificate of authenticity included.

Overall Print Size 30" x 23" (inches) Printed in lightfast inks on acid free archival paper.

PRINT PRICES

The Limited Edition
UK £95.00
Edition Size - 400

Artist Proof
UK £125.00
Edition Size - 25

Remarque
UK £265.00
Edition Size - 25

Double Remarques - Subject to availability
UK £445.00
Edition Size - 10

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When ordering remarque and artist proof editions, we recommend you email us first to advise on delivery details.

The Aviation Art Gallery accept most major credit and debit cards. Place your order online, or by telephone. If you wish to pay by cheque, or fax your order, please download our printable order form here.

info@aviationartgallery.co.uk

Tel: (01423) 867986 Overseas (44) 1423 867986

Helpful information regarding our Limited Edition Prints

Limited edition print:

An edition of identical prints, numbered sequentially and individually signed by the artist, having a stated limit to the quantity in the edition. Following publication the printing plates are destroyed. Almost all the aviation art and aircraft prints featured on this website are authenticated with the original signatures of distinguished military personnel.

Artists Proof:

An old tradition of reserving a quantity of prints for the artist's use, usually equal to about 10 % of the edition. In the early days of printing, these prints were the only remuneration the poor artist received. Proofs are signed by the artist and numbered showing the quantity of Artist's Proofs issued in the edition. Because of their highly restricted number, Artist's Proofs are sold at a higher value than the regular prints in the edition.

Publishers Proof:

A quantity of prints, not always announced or issued at the time of publication, usually equal to no more than 10% of the edition. These are reserved for the publisher's use, mostly for donation to Museums, Service establishments, Service Associations, and the like. Quantities of Publishers Proofs, sometimes issued with a supplementary print, may be made available to collectors either at the time of publication, or at a later date, depending upon availability.

Remarqued print:

A print issued with an original pencil drawing by the artist in the margin, each numbered out of the quantity of individually remarqued prints in the edition. The quantity of remarqued prints in any one edition generally is between 25 and 50. Each remarque drawing made by the artist is slightly different, thus making each print totally unique. Remarqued prints may be available at the time of publication, or announced at a later date, depending upon the artist's work load at the time .Please be aware that Remarque prints can take up to six weeks for delivery. An artist remarqued print is the ultimate collector item in terms of reproduced work.

Companion print:

An additional print, usually issued with smaller dimensions, published to compliment a limited edition, and usually issued at the same time.

Matted (or mounted) print:

A print fitted into an acid-free or conservation matt (or mount), ready for framing.

Original drawing:

An original work individually drawn by the artist, completed in pencil, ink, or other medium, and personally signed by the artist. Being an original work each drawing is unique and different.

Certificate of Authenticity:

A certificate issued by the publisher stating the total quantity of prints issued in the edition, confirming authenticity of the signatures, and in the case of a limited edition, inscribed with the matching unique number inscribed on the individual print. Collectors are advised to keep certificates safely as a future means of provenance. All our aviation art and aircraft prints are issued with a certificate of authenticity.

 

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