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JV44


Aviation Art Prints Countries Germany Squadron Index JV44 to ZG76 JV44

[UP] - JV44 - KG2 - KG3 - KG4 - KG27 - KG30 - KG32 - KG40 - KG51 - KG53 - KG55 - KG76 - KG77 - KG806 - LG2 - NJG1 - NJG2 - NJG4 - NJG6 - NJG11 - NJG100 - SG2 - SG77 - SKG10 - ZG1 - ZG52 - ZG76


JV44
Country : Germany



A special fighter unit of top German fighter ace pilots in the Luftwaffe during the last months of World War II. The main aircraft used by the unit was the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. They were known by various nicknames, including "Der Galland-Zirkus" (The Galland Circus).

The commander of JV 44 was General Adolf Galland (103 victories) the former General der Jagdflieger who had recently been sacked from his command by Hermann Göring for attacking the operational policies and tactics used by the Luftwaffe High Command. It was hoped by Galland's superiors that a front line command would result in his death in action, thereby removing the problem of Galland's criticism. This unit was composed of highly experienced pilots who were from Galland's former staff or were otherwise co-opted by Galland from units which had been disbanded or were being re-equipped. It had relatively few operational planes available for any single sortie and was repeatedly forced to relocate due to the approach of Allied ground forces. At war's end the unit was disbanded and its brief history came to an end.



JV44 Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings
Aviation Art

Running the Gauntlet by Robert Taylor.


Running the Gauntlet by Robert Taylor.
2 of 6 editions available.
All 6 editions feature up to 15 additional signatures.
£215.00 - £295.00

JV44 - Kette of Swallows by Graeme Lothian.


JV44 - Kette of Swallows by Graeme Lothian.
One edition.
The edition features 4 additional signature(s).
£130.00

Adolf Galland by Graeme Lothian.


Adolf Galland by Graeme Lothian.
8 editions.
3 of the 8 editions feature up to 2 additional signatures.
£80.00 - £2200.00


Jet Strike by Nicolas Trudgian (AP)


Jet Strike by Nicolas Trudgian (AP)
One of 2 editions available.
Both editions feature an additional signature.
£400.00

Alpine Thunder by Nicolas Trudgian.


Alpine Thunder by Nicolas Trudgian.
5 editions.
4 of the 5 editions feature up to 3 additional signatures.
£2.00 - £280.00

Mountain Wolf by Nicolas Trudgian


Mountain Wolf by Nicolas Trudgian
4 editions.
All 4 editions feature up to 2 additional signature(s).
£100.00 - £190.00


Fighter General by Robert Taylor.


Fighter General by Robert Taylor.
Both editions sold out.
Both editions feature up to 4 additional signatures.

JV44 by Robert Taylor.


JV44 by Robert Taylor.
This single edition is sold out.
The edition features 3 additional signatures.

Stormbirds over the Reich by Robert Taylor.


Stormbirds over the Reich by Robert Taylor.
This single edition is sold out.
The edition features 3 additional signatures.



Text for the above items :

Running the Gauntlet by Robert Taylor.

Though some 1400 of Germanys remarkable Me262 jet aircraft were built, fewer than 300 ever saw action during its short 10 month combat career, the 550 mph fighter-bomber arriving in service too late to make any impression on the course of the war. Most famous of all Me262 units was Jagdverband 44, commanded by General Adolf Galland. Instructed by Hitler to set up a small defensive fighter unit to make the most of the new Me262, Gallands JV44 attracted other top-scoring pilots, including top aces Macky Steinhoff and Walter Krupinski, and the unit soon became dubbed Gallands Squadron of Experts. Though doing their best to repel daylight attacks on jet production plants in Southern Germany, JV44 were fighting a losing battle. During a raid on 9 April 1945 the unit lost nine aircraft - a pattern that was to continue. Also, American fighter pilots, unable to catch the 262 in the air, found success taking the jets out as they took off or landed, catching them while at their most vulnerable. With the Allies driving deeper and deeper into Germany, production of aircraft, spares, fuel, and ammunition, steadily dried up. The point came when JV44, Gallands now legendary Squadron of Experts, finally ground to a halt. Running the Gauntlet shows Me262s of JV44 returning to base in southern Germany, having come under attack from P-51 Mustangs of the 353rd Fighter Group. Almost out of fuel and ammunition, the Me262s have little option but to complete their landing sequence, hoping fervently they are not bounced by American fighters loitering in the area. They are out of luck on this occasion, and although Galland has organised a unit flying Focke-Wulf Fw190D-9s to provide air cover in the area of the airfield, they too have been caught by the 353rd Fighter Groups surprise attack. At the relatively slow speed required on final approach, the Me262s handling is sluggish and the pilot is having enough trouble without the attentions of a bunch of P-51 pilots. At this point the JV44 Me262 remains unscathed, and with the arrival of the Fw190s, there is the possibility this particular jet pilot will survive the day.


JV44 - Kette of Swallows by Graeme Lothian.

The formidable Me262s of JV44 fly above the clouds in 1945.


Adolf Galland by Graeme Lothian.

Adolf Galland fought in the great Battles of Poland, France and Britain, leading the famous JG26 Abbeville Boys. He flew in combat against the RAFs best including Douglas Bader, Bob Stanford Tuck and Johnnie Johnson. In 1941, at the age of 29, he was promoted to Inspector of the Fighter Arm. In 1942 Hitler personally selected Galland to organise the fighter escort for the Channel Dash mission. He became the youngest General in the German High Command but open disagreements with Hermann Goering led to his dismissal at the end of 1944. He reverted to combat flying, forming the famous JV44 wing flying the Me262 jet fighter, and was the only General in history to lead a squadron into battle. With 104 victories, all in the West, Adolf Galland received the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.


Jet Strike by Nicolas Trudgian (AP)

Arguably the most significant fighter leader of World War II, Adolf Galland took command of all German day and night fighters, but was in constant dispute with Luftwaffe supreme, Goering, who ultimately sacked him. Reinstated by Hitler, Galland returned to active combat in the final year of the war, commanding the legendary JV44 fighter wing, flying the Me262 jet. The great Adolf Galland ended the war as he had begun - flying fighters in daily combat, the only serving General ever to lead a combat wing in action. Gallands Me262s of JV-44 climbing to intercept a formation of B-17s in April, 1945.


Alpine Thunder by Nicolas Trudgian.

By late April 1945 most of the Third Reich had been cut to shreds by the advancing Allied forces and those units remaining intact were regrouping in southern Germany and Austria. With American advance units nearing the outskirts of Munich, on 28th April Adolf Galland took the decision to evacuate his precious jets to Salzburg, deep in the mountains. Bad weather prevented their departure until the following morning and they only just managed to escape under the noses of the encircling Americans. Galland had hoped to battle on with JV44 but the unsuitable mountain airfields prevented the famous fighter wing from doing much to delay the inevitable. So the beautiful Alpine meadows became the final resting place for what was potentially the most formidable fighter unit of the war. In just a few days the jets were left abandoned. Their short, exhilarating war, consigned to history.


Mountain Wolf by Nicolas Trudgian

Set in a spectacular mountain scene, Nicolas Trudgians print records the last days of air combat as World War II drew to a close. The most feared of the Luftwaffes remaining units were those equipped with the remarkable Me262 fighter jet, but they were vulnerable to attack during take-off and landing. Commanding JV-44, General Galland countered the threat by employing Fw190 Dora 9s to fly top cover. Nicolas Trudgians painting depicts the colourful Fw190 of Hptm Waldermar Wubke of JV-44 as he prepared to scramble Red Three at Ainring airfield in may 1945.

Published 2000.

Signed by two Luftwaffe Knights Cross holders who flew the Fw190D-9 operationally during World War II.



Fighter General by Robert Taylor.

Having completed a successful bomber interception high above Salzburg, the Me262s of JV44 led by Adolf Galland, are returning towards Munich-Riem at full throttle, hugging the deck to avoid the attentions of USAAF escort fighters. Below the crew of a B-24, brought down in the air-fighting, has survived a dramatic crash-landing amid spectacular surroundings.


JV44 by Robert Taylor.

SOLD OUT.


Stormbirds over the Reich by Robert Taylor.

Me262s of JV 44 make a high speed rocket attack on a formation of B-26 Marauders.



View JV44 Aircraft


View JV44 Signatures
Aces for : JV44
A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name.
NameVictoriesInfo
Gerhard Barkhorn301.00The signature of Gerhard Barkhorn features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Heinz Bar220.00The signature of Heinz Bar features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Walter Krupinski197.00The signature of Walter Krupinski features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Johannes Macky Steinhoff176.00The signature of Johannes Macky Steinhoff features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Gunther Lutzow110.00
Adolf Galland104.00The signature of Adolf Galland features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Wilhelm Herget72.00
Alfred Heckmann71.00
Herbert Kaiser68.00The signature of Herbert Kaiser features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Hans-Ekkehard Bob60.00The signature of Hans-Ekkehard Bob features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Klaus Neumann37.00



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