Signed by one He111 pilot and one Bf109 pilot.

Limited Edition Signatures:

Oberst Hajo Hermann
A formidable figure in the Luftwaffe, Hajo Hermann had flown as an He111 bomber pilot during the Battle of Britain with 7./KG4. He flew against Malta, and then in the Arctic against the convoys. He flew over 320 operations with KG4, and later II./JG30, where he sank 12 ships. In 1942 he was appointed to the Luftwaffe Operational Staff. In July 1943 he was responsible for the formation of JG300 and founded the highly successful Wilde Sau (Wild Boar) tactics of free roaming FW190 night fighters. In December 1943 he was appointed Luftwaffe Inspector of Aerial Defence. At the end of 1944 he led the 9th Flieger Division and created the famous Rammkommando Elbe. At the end of the war he was captured by the Russians, spending long years in captivity. He had 9 aerial victories and was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob
After success in Poland and France with 9./JG54, Hans-Ekkehard Bob was promoted to Staffelkapitän as the Battle of Britain began in 1940, and by October he already had eighteen victories to his credit. In 1941 he was awarded the Knight’s Cross. Transferring to the Eastern Front his victories rose steadily to 50 by September 1942. Returning to the West, his group flew in the Defence of the Reich and in April 1943 he rammed a B-17 Flying Fortress. Returning to the Eastern Front as Kommandeur of IV./JG3, he ended the war as Adjutant of Galland’s JV44 in the West. In over 700 missions he scored 60 victories.

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The Anniversary Edition Signatures:

Oberst Hajo Hermann, Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob, Generalleutnant Günther Rall
Major Erich Rudorffer, Oberleutnant Heinrich Sudel.

 
Major Eric Rudorffer
Erich Rudorffer joined I./JG2 ‘Richthofen’ in November 1939, and was soon flying combat patrols. He took part in the Battle of France, and the Battle of Britain, becoming Adjutant of II./JG2 in June 1941. In December 1942 he was transferred to North Africa, and in July 1943 he was posted to command II./JG54 in Russia. In February 1945 he took command of I./JG7 flying the Me262. Erich Rudorffer was the master of multiple scoring – scoring more multiple victories than any other fighter pilot. This included 8 RAF aircraft in 32 minutes in December 1943, and 7 in 20 minutes a few days later. In Russia he shot down 5 aircraft in only 4 minutes. He ended the war with 222 victories in over 1000 combat missions. Awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

 
Generalleutnant Günther Rall
Günther Rall was with III./JG52 at the outbreak of war, and scored his first air victory early in the Battle of Britain. By July 1940 he was leading 8./JG52. After transfer to the East his victories quickly mounted, but a crash hospitalised him. Within nine months he was back in action again. Commanding III./JG52, he gained the Wings 500th victory. Günther fought throughout the war to become the 3rd highest Ace in history, with 275 victories. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. He too rejoined the German Air Force after the war, and became Chief of Air Staff in 1974.

 
Oberleutnant Heinrich Sudel
Having joined the Luftwaffe in 1937, Heinrich Sudel was an experienced Observer in He111s by the time war broke out. He flew a total of 408 combat missions in Heinkels, both in the West over France and England, and on the Eastern Front. In September 1940 whilst over England, his aircraft was badly damaged by RAF fighters, but his pilot managed to reach the safety of the French coast on one engine. He finished the war commanding L/KG55, and had been awarded the Knight’s Cross, the Iron Cross I and II, and the German Cross in Gold.

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The Artist Proof Edition Signatures (same as the Anniversary Edition):

Oberst Hajo Hermann, Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob, Generalleutnant Günther Rall
Major Erich Rudorffer, Oberleutnant Heinrich Sudel.

 
Major Eric Rudorffer
Erich Rudorffer joined I./JG2 ‘Richthofen’ in November 1939, and was soon flying combat patrols. He took part in the Battle of France, and the Battle of Britain, becoming Adjutant of II./JG2 in June 1941. In December 1942 he was transferred to North Africa, and in July 1943 he was posted to command II./JG54 in Russia. In February 1945 he took command of I./JG7 flying the Me262. Erich Rudorffer was the master of multiple scoring – scoring more multiple victories than any other fighter pilot. This included 8 RAF aircraft in 32 minutes in December 1943, and 7 in 20 minutes a few days later. In Russia he shot down 5 aircraft in only 4 minutes. He ended the war with 222 victories in over 1000 combat missions. Awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

 
Generalleutnant Günther Rall
Günther Rall was with III./JG52 at the outbreak of war, and scored his first air victory early in the Battle of Britain. By July 1940 he was leading 8./JG52. After transfer to the East his victories quickly mounted, but a crash hospitalised him. Within nine months he was back in action again. Commanding III./JG52, he gained the Wings 500th victory. Günther fought throughout the war to become the 3rd highest Ace in history, with 275 victories. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. He too rejoined the German Air Force after the war, and became Chief of Air Staff in 1974.

 
Oberleutnant Heinrich Sudel
Having joined the Luftwaffe in 1937, Heinrich Sudel was an experienced Observer in He111s by the time war broke out. He flew a total of 408 combat missions in Heinkels, both in the West over France and England, and on the Eastern Front. In September 1940 whilst over England, his aircraft was badly damaged by RAF fighters, but his pilot managed to reach the safety of the French coast on one engine. He finished the war commanding L/KG55, and had been awarded the Knight’s Cross, the Iron Cross I and II, and the German Cross in Gold.

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This outstanding eleven signature edition contains some of the most famous Battle of Britain Luftwaffe pilots, including the extremely rare original wartime signature of Heinz Bär. This edition is subject to availability, please contact to learn more at 1-800-545-9464.

With all the signatures and components of the Anniversary Edition, every print in this special Tribute Edition is accompanied by a substantial original pencil drawing individually crafted by the world’s premier aviation artist Robert Taylor. Each drawing is different and will feature aircraft relevant to the painting 'Air Armada."

The Tribute Proof Signatures:

Oberst Hajo Hermann, Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob, Generalleutnant Günther Rall,
Major Erich Rudorffer, Oberleutnant Heinrich Sudel, Oberleutnant Erwin Leykauf **,
Generalmajor Dietrich Hrabak*, Oberst Heinz Bär*, Generalleutnant Adolf Galland*,
Oberst Herbert Ihlefeld*, Oberstleutnant Hans-Joachim Jabs* 

* matted signature
** signed on drawing

Oberleutnant Erwin Leykauf
Erwin Leykauf flew with JG27 at the beginning of the Battle of Britain, then with JG54 where he scored his first 7 victories. Transferring to the Balkans and later to the Eastern Front, in 1943 he joined JG26 flying the Fw190. At the end of the war he was with JG7 flying the Me262. Erwin Leykauf was awarded the Iron Cross I and II and his victories had climbed to 33.

 
Oberst Heinz Bär
With I./JG51 at the outset of war Heinz Bär flew with JG51 throughout the Battle of Britain and was the Luftwaffe’s top-scoring NCO pilot of the battle with 17 victories. In July 1941 he was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of IV./JG51 for the invasion of Russia, and in May 1942 became Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG77 in the Mediterranean. Transferred to Defence of the Reich he commanded II./JG1 and was then Geschwaderkommodore of JG3. In January 1945 he formed III./EJG2 flying the Me262 jet before joining Galland’s ‘Squadron of Experts’ in JV44, taking command of the unit after Galland was wounded. With 220 victories to his credit Heinz Bär is the 8th highest Ace of all time, 16 of which were in the Me262 making him the 2nd highest jet Ace of the war. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

 
Generalleutnant Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland may well be the most popular figure of German WW II military aviation. Respected by friend and foe all over the world, both during and after this momentous struggle, he became one of the early aviation war heroes of the German public during the aerial fights of the Battle of Britain.He obtained his Private Pilot Licence in 1932, joined the airline Lufthansa a year later and finally volunteered for service in the Luftwaffe in 1934.He fought in the Spanish Civil War in 1937 and pioneered fighter bomber tactics that would later be used extensively throughout WW II. After working in the Ministry of Aviation upon his return from Spain, he was made commanding officer of 1./JG433 and later 5./LG2. It was in this latter unit that he participated in the Polish campaign, flying over 50 missions during the initial phase of WW II. Posted to JG27 he won his first three aerial victories in May 1940, quickly adding ten more to them by the end of the French campaign. Awarded the Knight´s Cross on July 28th, 1940 and promoted to Officer Commanding (Kommodore) JG 26 "Schlageter" about a month later. In this role he fought during the entire duration of the Battle of Britain. 40th victory and award of the Oak Leaves on September 24th, 1940. The Swords followed after his 69th victory when he was shot down and injured in a dogfight but managed to bale out.Recovering quickly, he succeeded Werner Mölders as General of the Luftwaffe Fighter Forces on December 5th, 1941 when Mölders was killed in a flying accident. He was awarded the Diamonds to his Knight´s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, and promoted to Major General at the age of 30. In his position of Fighter General, Adolf Galland experienced every detail in the rise and fall of this formidable force. He pioneered many of the new technical advances and their testing to operational status, including the world´s first operational jet fighter, the Messerschmitt Me-262. His loyalty to his men got him into serious trouble with his Nazi superiors, and as a consequence of these mounting tensions he was finally relieved of his command as Fighter General in January of 1945. He survived the end of the war, flying jets in JV44 which operated under his command. He once again scored several victories and was eventually captured by U.S. Forces and imprisoned until May of 1947. His record speaks for itself: 705 combat missions. 103 aerial victories, all on the Western Front including 4 four-engined bombers and 7 kills in the Me-262 jet.Decorations include: Knight´s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamond.

 
Oberst Herbert Ihlefeld
Herbert Ihlefeld gained 9 victories in Spain with I./JG132 ‘Richthofen’. He flew in the Polish and French Campaigns, and during the Battle of Britain commanded I(J)LG2. By September 1940 he was commanding the Group, having recorded 24 aerial victories in the battle. He took part in the Balkan Campaign and was subsequently Kommodore of the famous JG52 Wing. In 1943 he was appointed Kommodore of JG25, and in 1945 took command of JG1 equipped with the revolutionary He162 jet. He flew more than 1000 missions, recorded 140 victories, and was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

 
Oberstleutnant Hans-Joachim Jabs
During the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain Hans Joachim-Jabs flew the Me110 Zerstorer heavy fighter with the famous ‘Shark’s Gruppe’, II./ZG76. In September 1940, as the Me110s were withdrawn from the battle, he retrained as a night-fighter, briefly returning to day operations to take part in The Channel Dash. In November 1942 he became Staffelkapitän with IV./NJG1. He was promoted Kommandeur of this group, and from March 1944 until the end of the war as Kommodore of NJG1. On 28 April 1944 he achieved two remarkable day victories over Spitfires. By the end of the war he had flown over 710 mission, achieved 22 day and 28 night victories, and was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves.

 
Generalmajor Dietrich Hrabak
Dietrich Hrabak commanded two of the Luftwaffe’s most famous Geschwader, JG54 and JG52, and is remembered for his outstanding leadership qualities. Although he had been shot down in his first aerial combat during the Polish Campaign, he survived to fight in the Battle of France and commanded II./JG54 during the Battle of Britain, bringing his victory tally to 16. He was the first JG54 Ace to be awarded the Knight’s Cross, and led II./JG54 in the Balkans and then during Operation Barbarosa on the northern sector of the Eastern Front. In November 1942 he took command of JG52 in the south. In October 1944 he returned to command his old wing, JG54. Dietrich Hrabak was credited with 125 victories, achieved in over 1000 missions.