FREE Limited Time Special:
The Third Reich was crumbling. As the long nights of winter grew increasingly shorter, by February 1945 the Allied forces on the ground were advancing ever deeper into German territory, tightening the noose on Hitler’s failing armies. In the air, the Luftwaffe was fighting a losing battle. Having lost control of the skies they were increasingly powerless to stop the Allied Air Forces degrading what little was left of the German war machine. Yet, short of fuel, aircraft, spare parts and pilots, the survivors fought on in a dogged but determined daylight struggle to stop the US Eighth Air Force bombers from reaching their targets.
From the moment the first long-range P-51 Mustangs had appeared in German skies, the Luftwaffe was, however, facing an uphill struggle. No longer did the American bombers have to fend for themselves as they ventured deep into enemy territory.
With the introduction of the P-51 – probably the finest long-range piston-engine fighter of all time – they now had close escorts at all times and although it had taken months of grim and bitter encounters, the Allies had finally established total control of the skies. It was still no easy task for the Mustang pilots who had to remain ever vigilant, as battle-weary pilots of the Luftwaffe refused to surrender.
Robert Taylor’s bold masterwork "The Eagles Divide" portrays one of the many increasingly desperate Luftwaffe attacks on the big daylight raids undertaken by the heavy bombers of the Eighth Air Force to pound strategic targets still in German hands, as Bf109Gs from JG4 are once again thwarted in their attempt to attack a large force of American bombers over northern Germany in February 1945. Luckily for the bomber crews, eagle-eyed P-51 escort pilots from the 339th Fighter Group have quickly spotted the danger and dive to break up the enemy formation with a perilous head-on pass whilst, in the distance, their colleagues race to join the action and disperse the Luftwaffe attack.
Overall size: 24" x 32"
Along with artist Robert Taylor, every print carries the original signature of one of the Luftwaffe’s most prominent Aces who flew in combat during the Defense of the Reich:
Major ERICH RUDORFFER
Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords / 222 victories
Comprising all the elements of the Collectors edition, the twelve signature Tribute edition also includes a stunning original pencil drawing by Robert Taylor which is signed by three prominent Luftwaffe Aces.
The drawing is conservation matted to include high quality replica USAAF pilot's wings and Luftwaffe breast eagle plus the signatures of three USAAF P-51 Aces.
With all components of the Collector’s Edition, every print in the twelve signature Tribute Edition is issued with an original pencil drawing by Robert Taylor. Each drawing is signed by three highly-regarded Luftwaffe Aces:
Leutnant HUGO BROCH
Knight’s Cross / 81 victories
Feldwebel OSKAR BÖSCH
Iron Cross / 18 victories
Oberstleutnant HEINZ MARQUARDT
Knight’s Cross / 121 victories
The Matted Signatures
Each of these stunning works of art has been individually conservation matted to include the original pencil signatures of three distinguished P-51 Mustang Aces:
Colonel CLARENCE ‘BUD’ ANDERSON
2 Legion of Merits, 5 DFCs, Bronze Star, 18 Air Medals / 16 ¼ victories
Lieutenant Colonel CLYDE B. EAST
Silver Star, 4 DFCs, 42 Air Medals / 14 ½ victories
Major RICHARD ‘BUD’ PETERSON
Silver Star, 3 DFCs, 17 Air Medals, Croix de Guerre (France), Congressional Gold Medal / 15 ½ victories
Matted Tribute size approx: 18” wide x 18” high – sizes may vary.