|
|
|
|
|
 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
| Click Here For Full Artist Print Indexes | Aviation History Archive |
|
| Navigation | |
| Page 1 of 10 | Page 1 .. Next |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Navigation | |
| Page 1 of 10 | Page 1 .. Next |
| Text for the above items : |
Tribute to Dieter Hrabak by Ivan Berryman. An Me109 pilot, Dieter Hrabak scored a victory during the Battle of France, 15 more during the Battle of Britain, commanded JG54 and JG52 and survived the war scoring a total of 125 victories. He is shown here flying Bf109 G-6 of JG52, Krakow, Poland in 1944. After the war he was instrumental in rebuilding the German Air Force, retiring in 1970. He died in 1995. |
Bf109 K-4 by Randall Wilson. (GL) Messerschmitts from Stabb 111/JG53 patrolling over Germany in the last days of WW2, piloted by Lt. Bernard Ernst Dieter April 1945. |
Zemke's First Fan by David Pentland. On the 12th of May 1944, Col. Hubert Zemke tried his new fan tactic, designed to engage Luftwaffe fighters. Unfortunately on this occasion his aircraft was bounced by German ace Major Gunther Rall in his ME109 G-6AS, and escaped only by sending his P47-D Thunderbolt into a gut wrenching dive. |
Me109 - Adolf Galland by Jason Askew. (P) From June 1940 on, Adolf Galland flew as a of III./JG 26, fighting in the Battle of britain with 109-Emils from bases in the Pas de Calais. During the Battle of Britain, in a legendary front line General Officer briefing on Luftwaffe tactics, Hermann Goring asked what his pilots needed to win the battle. Galland replied: I should like an outfit of Spitfires for my squadron. Göring was speechless with rage. It is important that this remark is not taken out of context, because Galland also stated (in his autobiography) that of course fundamentally I preferred our Me109 to the Spitfire. This apparent contradiction was due to his view that because the Spitfire was more manoeuvreable he considered it more suitable to the role of defensive fighter than the Bf 109, though he actually thought that fighters should not be used in a defensive role anyway. When Galland made the much quoted comment about the Spitfires to Göring he was unbelievably vexed at the lack of understanding and stubbornness with which the command gave us orders we could not execute and so made the comment as a retort to Göring. |
Jagers by David Pentland. Zhitomir, Russia, February 1943. On 6th January 1943, Gefreiter Hugo Broch was posted to II./JG54 on the eastern front, and assigned to 6./JG54. His first combat experiences were as Kaczmarek (wingman) to Horst Adameit (166 victories) and Heinrich Bazi Sterr (130 victories) flying cannon-armed Me109G-2s against both Soviet air and ground targets. |
Spitfire Country by Nicolas Trudgian. A typical scene from a bright August morning in that momentous summer of 1940. Having climbed into the dawn sky at daybreak, the Spitfires of No 603 Squadron have already been in action, and with more heavy raids on the plotters table, they scurry back to Biggin Hill to re-arm and refuel. A Messerschmitt Me109, shot down during the previous days fighting, lies discarded in a hay field, its lucky pilot having escaped with his life. Meanwhile, the beautiful Kent countryside comes awake as it prepares for the toils of another glorious summers day. |
Deadly Pursuit by Richard Taylor. During the final days of aerial combat P-51 Mustangs on a long range fighter patrol jump Bf109s in a surprise attack resulting in a deadly pursuit through the Austrian Alps. |
Malta - George Cross by Robert Taylor. Pilot Officer John Bisley of 126 Squadron in combat with Me 109s from JG-53 during one of the intense aerial air battles over Valetta in April 1942. Between the summer of 1940 and the end of 1942, Malta became one of the most bombed places on earth. The RAFs desperate fight to retain control of the diminutive Mediterranean island, and the defiant courage of the people of Malta, is one of the epic stories of World War Two. |
Into the Fray by Richard Taylor. Squadron Leader Douglas Bader leads the Hurricanes of 242 Squadron in an aggressive diving attack upon a large force of Heinkel 111s approaching the Kent coast, whilst Spitfires from 66 Squadron tangle with the escorting Bf109s of JG52. It is September 1940, and the climax of the Battle of Britain. Throughout those critical months in 1940, the RAF engaged opposing pilots of the Luftwaffe time and time again and this atmospheric new painting depicts one such frantic engagement as one of the most legendary fighter Aces of the war, Douglas Bader leads his unit into battle. |
Combat over the Russian Front by Jason Askew. (P) An Me109 claims another Russian victim during the push on the eastern front in 1942. |
Bf109Es of JG52 by Ivan Berryman. Bf109Es of JG52 flown by Gunther Rall during the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940. |
Hunters at Dawn by Robert Taylor. Those Aces with over 100 victories were exceptional. To reach 200 victories was a spectacular achievement. Yet two men went even further and accomplished a feat that will never be repeated - both of them shot down more than 300 enemy aircraft which placed them in a league of their own. They were the elite of the elite, and their names are legendary - Erich Hartmann and Gerhard Barkhorn. It is no surprise that these iconic Aces scored their victories whilst flying with the legendary fighter wing JG52. Active from the beginning of the war, the unit fought in the Battle of France, but suffered terrible losses during the Battle of Britain before transferring to the Eastern Front at the outset of Operation Barbarossa, and it was here that it solidified its fearsome reputation. Operating the Bf109 throughout the war, the Geschwader boasted some of the greatest Luftwaffe pilots of world war two among its ranks - including the top three Aces of all time. Such renowned pilots as Gunther Rall (275 victories), Wilhelm Batz (237 victories), Hermann Graf (212 victories) and Helmut Lipfert (203 victories) helped this formidable unit notch up more than 10,000 victories, making it the most successful fighter wing in history. Hunters at Dawn features Hptm. Gerhard Barkhorn, Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG52. The great Ace, flying his Bf109 G-6, leads the Stab as they climb out from their base near the Black Sea, early November 1943. The crisp air of day break is temporarily punctuated by the roar of Daimler-Benz engines as the deadly Messerschmitt fighters set off on their daily hunt for Soviet aircraft over the front line. |
Eye of the Sun by Robert Taylor. You can feel the tension in this evocative painting as Messerschmitt Bf109s from 7./JG2 Richthofen head out on a long-range fighter patrol in September 1940. With the sun behind them they hope to launch a surprise attack on unsuspecting RAF aircraft, however these enemy raiders will soon be intercepted by some of Fighter Command's most determined 'defenders of the realm'. |
A Day for Heroes by Ivan Berryman. The afternoon of 25th July 1940 was a desperate one for the already exhausted fighter pilots of the RAF defending the South coast of England. As convoy CW8 made its way through the English Channel, sixty JU.87 Stukas and forty JU.88 bombers launched a brutal attack on the ships below, backed up by fighter cover of over 50 Messerscmitt Bf.109s. Eight Spitfires of 64 Sqn (Kenley) were scrambled, together with twelve Spitfires of 54 Sqn (Hornchurch) and Hurricanes of 111 Sqn from Croydon. The British pilots found themselves massively outnumbered, but nevertheless put up a spirited fight against the teeming enemy. This painting shows Spitfires of 54 Sqn entering the fray, the pilots scattering as they choose their targets and go after the JU.87s. To the right of this, Bf.109Es of JG.26 are roaring in to join battle, whilst Adolf Galland's aircraft engages a Hurricane of 111 Sqn. |
Black Devil of the Ukraine by Stan Stokes. Erich Hartmann, with an amazing 352 confirmed victories, is the all time ace of aces. Born in Weissach, Germany in 1922, Hartmann was the son of a doctor, and the Hartmann family had lived in Shangai, China for several years. In 1929 the Hartmann family returned to Germany. Mrs. Hartmann learned to fly, and took her two young sons flying on many occasions. In 1933, when Hitler came to power, many flying clubs were organized throughout Germany, and Erich learned to fly gliders. When Hartmann had graduated from high school in 1940, he immediately applied to join the Luftwaffe. During his training Hartmann was arrested for an unauthorized aerobatic display. After earning his wings, he was posted to JG 52 on the Russian front. Hartmann reported to a Luftwaffe supply depot in Poland hoping to pick-up a new Bf-109 for his flight to the front. When no 109s were available, he offered to fly a Stuka Ju-87 to the front. Inexperienced with the 87, Harmanns debut was not very impressive as he managed to crash the aircraft into a wooden building prior to taking off. Hartmann did not attain his first victory until November 5, 1942. He missed the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa, when many Luftwaffe pilots ran up amazing victory totals against an ill-equipped and relatively inexperienced Red Air Force. In the month of August 1943 Hartmann shot down 49 aircraft. After scoring his 148th victory, he was awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross on October 29, 1943. Four months later when his tally had reached 200, he was awarded the coveted Oak Leaves. In August of 1944 upon attainment of his 301st victory, Hartmann was awarded Germanys highest decoration, the Diamonds to his Knights Cross. Only ten Luftwaffe pilots received this decoration. Hartmann was shot down twice, and on fourteen occasions had to crash land his aircraft. Erich flew the Bf-109, which was very recognizable with its distinctively painted black tulip design on its nose. The Soviets nicknamed Hartmann, The Black Devil of the Ukraine. A price of 10,000 Rubles was placed on his head. At Wars end Hartmann was captured by the Soviets, who imprisoned him for ten years. He was released in 1956, and rejoined the Luftwaffe with his former rank of Major. He learned to fly jet aircraft at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Hartmann served in the Luftwaffe until his retirement. He passed away in 1994 at the age of seventy-two. It is highly unlikely, modern warfare being what it is, that any pilot will ever match the score of Erich Hartmann, the ace of all aces. |
Snow Warriors by Ivan Berryman. Gunther Rall in his Me109G Black 13 about to set off with the rest of III./JG52 from a snow covered eastern front airstrip in 1943. |
Tribute to Gunther Rall by Ivan Berryman. (P) No text for this item |
New Enemy by David Pentland. Kedainiai, Lithuania, 23rd June 1941. Taking part in the opening days of Operation Barbarossa, Hans-Ekkehard Bob recorded his first victory in Russian airspace - a Tupolev SB-2 twin-engined bomber. During this combat action his Me 109F2 was hit by return fire, resulting in a forced landing behind enemy lines. He evaded capture and returned to his unit 2 days later. This was his 22nd victory. |
Spitfires of No.54 squadron during the Battle of Britain by Graeme Lothian. (P) Air Commodore Alan Deere DSO DFC* and other Spitfires of No.54 squadron during the Battle of Britain, attacking He111 bombers which are being escorted across the Channel by Me109 fighters |
Aces on the Western Front by Robert Taylor. Returning from a combat mission over the English Channel, Me109s flying low over Mont St. Michel, northern coast of France, Spring 1941. |
Achtung - Indianer, Rechts by Iain Wyllie. Leutnant Julius Maimberg in Messerschmitt Me109E white 11 and his Katschmarek Unteroffixzier Rudolf Miese of 4 Staffel, JG2 Richthofen turn towards a distant squadron of RAF fighters during the Battle of Britain. |
Me109 Willy Messerschmitt designed the BF109 during the early 1930s. The Bf109 was one of the first all metal monocoque construction fighters with a closed canopy and retractable undercarriage. The engine of the Me109 was a V12 aero engine which was liquid-cooled. The Bf109 first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and flew to the end of World War II, during which time it was the backbone of the Luftwaffe fighter squadrons. During the Battle of Britian the Bf109 was used in the role of an escort fighter, a role for which it was not designed for, and it was also used as a fighter bomber. During the last days of May 1940 Robert Stanford-Tuck, the RAF ace, got the chance to fly an Me109 which they had rebuilt after it had crash landed. Stanford-Tuck found out that the Me109 was a wonderful little plane, it was slightly faster than the Spitfire, but lacked the Spitfire manoeuvrability. By testing the Me109, Tuck could put himself inside the Me109 when fighting them, knowing its weak and strong points. With the introduction of the improved Bf109F in the spring of 1941, the type again proved to be an effective fighter during the invasion of Yugoslavia and during the Battle of Crete and the invasion of Russia and it was used during the Siege of the Mediteranean island of Malta. The Bf109 was the main fighter for the Luftwaffe until 1942 when the Fw190 entered service and shared this position, and was partially replaced in Western Europe, but the Me109 continued to serve on the Eastern Front and during the defence of the Reich against the allied bombers. It was also used to good effect in the Mediterranean and North Africa in support of The Africa Korps. The Me109 was also supplied to several German allies, including Finland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovakia. The Bf109 scored more kills than any other fighter of any country during the war and was built in greater numbers with a total of over 31,000 aircraft being built. The Bf109 was flown by the three top German aces of the war war. Erich Hartmann with 352 victories, Gerhard Barkhorn with 301 victories and Gunther Rall with 275 kills. Bf109 pilots were credited with the destruction of 100 or more enemy aircraft. Thirteen Luftwaffe Aces scored more than 200 kills. Altogether this group of pilots were credited with a total of nearly 15,000 kills, of which the Messerschmitt Bf109 was credited with over 10,000 of these victories. The Bf109 was the most produced warplane during World War II, with 30,573 examples built during the war, and the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced up to April 1945. Bf109s remained in foreign service for many years after World War II. The Swiss used their Bf109Gs well into the 1950s. The Finnish Air Force did not retire their Bf109Gs until March 1954. Romania used its Bf109s until 1955. The Spanish Hispanos flew even longer. Some were still in service in the late 1960s. |
| Top Aces for : Me109 | |
| A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown this aircraft. | |
| Name | Victories |
| Erich Hartmann | 352.00 |
| Gerhard Barkhorn | 301.00 |
| Günther Rall | 275.00 |
| Otto Kittel | 267.00 |
| Walter Schuck | 206.00 |
| Anton Hafner | 204.00 |
| Walter Krupinski | 197.00 |
| Joachim Kirschner | 188.00 |
| Johannes Steinhoff | 176.00 |
| Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke | 162.00 |
| Hans-Joachim Marseille | 158.00 |
| Hans Beisswenger | 152.00 |
| Friedrich-Karl Muller | 140.00 |
| Rudolf Trenkel | 138.00 |
| Herbert Ihlefeld | 137.00 |
| Walter Wolfrum | 137.00 |
| Adolf Dickfeld | 136.00 |
| Otto Fonnekold | 136.00 |
| Karl-Heinz Weber | 136.00 |
| Joachim Muncheberg | 135.00 |
| Wilhelm Lemke | 131.00 |
| Walter Dahl | 128.00 |
| Dieter Hrabak | 125.00 |
| Adolf Galland | 104.00 |
| Max-Hellmuth Ostermann | 102.00 |
| Edmund Rossmann | 93.00 |
| Helmut Bennemann | 92.00 |
| Karl Neumann | 75.00 |
| Alfred Ambs | 7.00 |
| Alfred Heckmann | 71.00 |
| Helmut Ruffler | 70.00 |
| Hans-Ekkehard Bob | 60.00 |
| Gunther Seeger | 56.00 |
| Kurt Schade | 27.00 |
| Gerhard Schöpfel | 45.00 |
| Johannes Schmid | 45.00 |
| Friedrich Korner | 36.00 |
| Erwin Leykauf | 33.00 |
| Willi Reschke | 28.00 |
| Arnold Lignitz | 25.00 |
| Franz von Werra | 21.00 |
| Wolfgang Schenck | 18.00 |
| Ernst Scheufele | 18.00 |
| Eduard Neumann | 13.00 |
| Franz Elles | 5.00 |
| Eino Juutilainen | 94.17 |
| Werner Hohenberg | 33.00 |
| Emil Clade | 27.00 |
| Heinz Radlauer | 15.00 |
| Friedrich Schelker | 22.00 |
| Johannes Bachmann | 5.00 |
| Manfred Leisebein | 5.00 |
| Norbert Hannig | 42.00 |
|
Contact Details |
|
Sign Up To Our Newsletter!
This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com
|
|
|
