ANNOUNCING ONE OF THE MOST EPIC EDITIONS EVER TO BE RELEASED BY ROBERT TAYLOR

AN EXCEPTIONAL NEW LIMITED EDITION PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE PILOTS WHO FLEW THE LUFTWAFFE’S LEGENDARY JET FIGHTERS; AND THE MEN WHO FOUGHT THEM

On 10 April 1945 thirteen hundred bombers of the Mighty Eighth set out to destroy the last of the Luftwaffe’s jet force. But, unknown to the bomber crews and their fighter escort, the enemy jets were already airborne and waiting to spring their deadly trap.
As the war in mainland Europe entered its final, bloody phase, the German Armies defending Berlin fought on with a savage determination, slowly disintegrating before the mighty weapon of war unleashed against them. What remained of the Luftwaffe was mercilessly pounded from the air, their airfields hammered relentlessly. Aircraft, fuel, spare parts, ammunition and pilots all in short supply but still they fought on, with deadly effect. At the forefront of the German offensive and pivotal during the defence of the Reich, were the highly advanced jet fighters of the Luftwaffe, and in particular the legendary Me262.

It is easy to see why Robert Taylor is the unrivalled master of aviation art as once again he has created a powerful reconstruction of events as they happened that day portraying B17s of the First Air Division with streaming contrails in the cold clear air as they turn for home. Several Me262s have already torn through the massed formation. but a P-51 from the escorting 356th Fighter Group has quickly spotted his target and presses home his attack. The hunter becomes the hunted as the Mustang pilot, Wayne Gatlin, skillfully positions himself behind the Me262 ready for the kill.

Throughout the final stages of the war there were many examples of the determination and skill of Allied pilots flying slower piston-engined fighters triumphing over the cream of the Luftwaffe in their highly advanced but often temperamental jet fighters.

This classic new edition has been authenticated with the original signature of Wayne Gatlin himself, alongside some of the Luftwaffe’s most famous exponents of the jet. In addition the prints are personally signed by a staggering number of WWII’s most experienced allied fighter pilots, all of whom had victories against the jets of the Luftwaffe – they were the Jet Hunters!

Overall Print Size: 34 3/4” wide x 24 3/4” high Image Size: 28 5/8”wide x 17 1/4”high

THE EDITIONS AND SIGNATURES

THE LIMITED EDITION - three signatures
Every print in has been signed by three highly-distinguished veterans who belong to that small, talented band of Allied fighter pilots to have scored a victory over a jet.

Major General WAYNE C. GATLIN
On 10 April 1945 he destroyed the Me262 jet portrayed in the main painting immediately damaging another.

Squadron Leader JUREK MENCEL
Flying a Mustang III he downed an Me262 on 9 April 1945.

Colonel JOE PETERBURS
Shot down the Me262 of Walter Schuck, on the 10th April, 1945.

400 signed & numbered prints with THREE signatures - £ 200

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THE PILOTS’ EDITION with companion print and 12 signatures
This outstanding TWELVE signature edition is issued with the magnificent pencil companion print Black November Day and the main print is additionally signed by a further four pilots who scored victories over German jets:

Lieutenant Colonel DON CUMMINGS
One of only two fighter pilots to shoot down two Me262’s during WWII on 25 Feb 1945 – 6½ victories in total.

Colonel ART JEFFREY
The first Pilot ever to score a victory over a jet when he downed an Me163 on 29 July 1944 – 14 victories in total.

Captain WAYNE L. COLEMAN
Destroyed an Me262 on 31 March 1945 – 4 victories in total.

Lieutenant Colonel HUIE LAMB
Downed an Me262 on 15 October 1944 and an Arado 234 Blitz-Bomber on 19 March 1945 – 2 victories in total.

BLACK NOVEMBER DAY
- THE COMPANION PRINT -

Black November Day overall print size 28 3/8”wide x 171/2”high

On the morning of 8 November 1944, with Kommando Nowotny’s Me262s still plagued by mechanical problems, Major Walter Nowotny stands down after his aircraft’s jet turbine fails to ignite. Later, in the early afternoon, he took off in company with Lt. Frank Schall. After downing a B-17G, and probably a P-51D, he reported an engine failure. His last transmission before the crash in which he died, included the garbled words “burning – on fire”.

Also issued in the Pilots Edition, this superb companion drawing is personally hand signed by five of the Luftwaffe’s iconic Me262 pilots:

Major ERICH RUDORFFER
JG7 with 12 victories in the jet – 222 victories in total.

Oberleutnant WALTER SCHUCK
JG7 with 8 victories in the jet – 206 victories in total.

Major HANS-EKKEHARD BOB
EJG2 & JV44 – 60 victories in total.

Feldwebel ERNEST GIEFING
JG 7 with 2 victories in the jet – 6 victories in total.

Leutnant NORBERT HANNIG
JG7 – 42 victories in total.

200 Pilots’ Edition with TWELVE signatures - £ 255

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THE PILOTS’ EDITION ARTIST PROOFS - companion print and 14 signatures
With all the components of the Pilots Edition the main print in the strictly limited Artists Proofs are additionally signed by two USAAF Fighter Pilots who scored victories over German jets, creating an outstanding FOURTEEN signature edition:

Major General EDWARD GILLER
Destroyed an Me262 on 9 April 1945 – 3 victories in total.

Captain CLAYTON ‘KELLY’ GROSS
Shot down an Me262 on 14 April 1945 – 6 victories in total.


25 Artist Proofs with FOURTEEN signatures - £ 375

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THE JET HUNTERS’ EDITION - companion print and 20 signatures
Issued with all the components of the Artist Proofs, this TWENTY signature edition has been additionally signed by an Me262 night-fighter pilot and seven P-51 pilots, all with victories over Luftwaffe jets:

Major URBAN DREW
One of only two pilots to destroy two Me262's, both in the space of a minute on 7 October 1944 – 6 victories in total.

Lieutenant Colonel DON BRYAN
Destroyed an Arado 234 jet on 14 March 1945 – 13½ victories in total.

Lieutenant Colonel RALPH DELGADO
Shot down an Me262 on 2 March 1945.

First Lieutenant STEPHEN ANANIAN
Downed an Me262 on 9 Feb 1945 – 4 victories in total.

Captain JOHN FITCH
Downed an Me262 on the 18th November 1944.

The companion drawing Black November Day is additionally signed by:

Leutnant JORG CZYPIONKA
Me262 Night-Fighter with NJG 11 – a total of 2 victories in the jet.

150 Jet Hunters’ Edition with TWENTY signatures - £395

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