MORNING CHORUS

Though undoubtedly one of the Luftwaffe’s great fighter leaders, Günther Lützow is probably best remembered for confronting Hermann Goering at the famous “Wing Commanders Conference” held in Berlin in January 1945.

Called to Goering’s meeting of high ranking fighter staff to air their grievances, the fearless Lützow didn’t hesitate to lay these on the line. Adolf Galland had been dismissed as General of the Fighter Arm for his outspoken criticism of the Luftwaffe High Command and Lützow opened with a valiant attempt to have him reinstated, at the same time forcefully raising the matter of Goering’s abuse and stated mistrust of his fighter pilots. Goering exploded and stormed out of the meeting threatening to have everyone attending either shot or court-marshalled. The gallant Lützow was saved by his record and reputation, but was relieved from his command and banished to Italy.

Gerald’s superb piece depicts the roar of Daimler-Benz engines at full power as the day awakens, with Günther Lützow, his aircraft still in the markings of his previous unit JG51, leading his Me109F’s of JG3 into combat from a snow covered airfield at Schatalowka on the Russian Front, in December 1941.