JV-44 SQUADRON OF EXPERTS - Framed Collector's Piece
by Robert Taylor
A very rare Limited Edition by Robert Taylor signed by four distinguished Luftwaffe Me262 pilots.
In the entire history of fighter aviation there has never been a combat unit like JV-44. Commanded by a General, its pilots were made up, without exception, of high scoring, highly decorated fighter aces, flying an aircraft so advanced that its technology was revolutionary. In its brief life during the dying months of WWII it wrote its own short passage in history. As the Allied Forces drove inexorably towards Berlin, General Adolf Galland formed the new JV-44 wing to operate the Messerschmitt Me262 twin jet fighter in a last-ditch effort to stem the tide. The combination of mercurial leadership and advanced fighter aircraft became a magnet towards the Luftwaffe's elite, drawing a host of colourful high-scoring fighter pilots together for a 'last fling' in combat, flying the new jet fighter.
So brilliant was the collection of pilots Galland recruited that the Knights Cross was referred to as the squadron 'badge'. The combination of skilled, experienced pilots, and an aircraft vastly superior to anything else in the air, gave the squadron immediate success. Robert Taylor's limited edition print does superb justice to this unique and historic fighter wing, bringing to life again Adolf Galland's unique Squadron of Experts as they dive into attack at over 900km per hour.
Originally published in 1987 by The Military Gallery this superb edition sold out almost immediately, and has since become highly sought-after on the Secondary Market. It's not often we're able to offer one in such good condition!
The Signatures
Personally signed and numbered by the artist, this incredibly rare print carries the original pencil autographs of Generals Galland, Steinhoff, Krupinski and Leutnant Kaiser - all of whom flew the revolutionary Me262 jet fighter in combat with the legendary JV-44 - making this a beautiful tribute remembering a poignant passage in the history of aviation.
But that's not all...
To make this copy completely unique we've also included in the mount an additional fourteen autographs of prominent Me262 pilots to create an astonishing EIGHTEEN signature collection, PLUS a sizeable fragment of rear fuselage from an original Me262!
The impressive list of signatures reads:
- Generalleutnant Adolf Galland KC with Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds
- General Johannes 'Macky' Steinhoff KC with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Generalleutnant Walter Krupinski KC with Oak Leaves
- Leutnant Herbert Kaiser KC
- Oberst Hermann Buchner KC
- Oberstleutnant Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert KC with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Oberleutnant Adolf Glunz KC WITH OAK LEAVES
- Oberleutnant HEINER HAEFFNER
- Major Heinz Unrau KC
- Leutnant Alfred Ambs
- Leutnant Gottfried Fahrmann
- Major Erich Rudorffer KC with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Oberstleutnant Hansgeorg Batcher Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
- Feldwebel Ernst Giefing IC
- Oberleutnant Walter Schuck KC with Oak Leaves
- Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob KC
- Major Werner Roell Knight's Cross
- Hauptmann Johannes Neumann
- Media:
- Framed Prints
- Size:
- 35.5 x 31 inches
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