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CRACK ACE
by Robert Taylor
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A book & print portfolio paying tribute to one of the Luftwaffe's great Aces - Helmut Wick
Ace:
a fighter pilot who has shot down
five or more enemy aircraft in combat.
The Luftwaffe had so many Aces that the
number runs into the thousands. The list
includes many whose impressive tallies
will never be surpassed, names that are
recorded for posterity: men such as top-
scorer Erich Hartmann with 352 victories,
Gerhard Barkhorn who also surpassed the
300 victory mark and Gunther Rall, who
surely would have done so but for injury.
Along with others such as Erich Rudorffer
who flew over 1,000 combat missions and
was shot down sixteen times whilst
achieving his tally of 222 victories; he
somehow managed to survive but many
didn't.
Unlike their RAF and US counterparts, the
highly-skilled and battle-honed Luftwaffe
'experten' were not rested from combat to
recuperate and hand their knowledge on to
a new generation, before returning to the
fray. They fought until the end; there was
no respite unless you were wounded, shot
down and taken prisoner - or killed in
action; which many were.
Men such as Major Helmut Wick who, had he
lived, might have surpassed them all.
A successful veteran of the Battle of
France, he fought with distinction in the
Battle of Britain and was only the fourth
recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak
Leaves. He was the youngest Major in the
Luftwaffe when he was appointed
Geschwaderkommodore of JG2
'Richthofen', again the youngest ever to
hold this position. But, like so many
others, his exceptional career and
meteoric rise would come to an end. On 28
November 1940 his luck ran out when, with
a staggering 56 air combat victories to
his credit - at the time, the top-scoring
Luftwaffe pilot ever - he was shot down
and killed by the RAF Ace John Dundas,
during an engagement over the English
Channel. Dundas was himself immediately
shot down and killed.
Helmut Wick is the subject of Robert
Taylor's brilliantly composed Crack Ace,
the latest release in his increasingly
collectible series of Masterwork drawings.
With his unrivalled skill using his
striking graphite and paint combination,
Robert portrays the top Ace shortly after
his appointment as Geschwaderkommodore of
JG2 'Richthofen', describing the outcome
of a recent duel with a Spitfire to his
fellow officers.
Overall print size: 18" wide x 18" high
Image size: 14" wide x 13" high
Following countless Luftwaffe editions that have been produced over more than four decades, the Military Gallery is proud to announce that each print is personally autographed by a prominent Luftwaffe fighter pilot who flew in combat during WWII. Some editions are also conservation matted to include the original autographs of renowned Luftwaffe fighter Aces, giving collectors the opportunity to secure a piece of history for future generations.
Every print in this commemorative edition is signed by a prominent Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot:
Lieutnant HORST JAEKEL
Bf109 pilot with 3./JG4
THE BOOK
To complete the portfolio, each print is issued with a matching-numbered, hard-back copy of the book ARRIVAL OF EAGLES by distinguished author and historian Andy Saunders.
THE MATTED COLLECTOR'S EDITION & ARTIST PROOFS
Each print is conservation matted to include the original signatures of four famous Luftwaffe Aces who flew Bf109s during WWII:
Hauptmann SIEGFRIED BETHKE
Iron Cross 1st Class / 14 victories
Oberleutnant GÜNTHER SEEGER
Knight's Cross / 56 victories
Generalleutnant GÜNTHER RALL
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords / 275 victories
Generalleutnant FRIEDRICH OBLESER
Knight's Cross / 120 victories
Each matching-numbered book contains a special collector's bookplate autographed by the legendary Luftwaffe Ace:
Generalleutnant ADOLF GALLAND
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds / 104 victories
Approx matted size: 22" wide x 24¼ high"
THE MATTED REMARQUES
Robert will hand-craft an original drawing in the lower margin of the print, giving collectors the opportunity to acquire a highly sought after original work by the world's most collected aviation artist. Each copy is individually matted with all the components of the Collector's Edition.
Sizes and layouts of matted Remarques will vary.
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THE LIMITED EDITION
US $125.00 UK £90.00
Edition Size - 75
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THE COLLECTORS EDITION
US $315.00 UK £225.00
Edition Size - 25
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THE COLLECTORS ARTIST PROOFS
US $415.00 UK £295.00
Edition Size - 10
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THE REMARQUES
US $1095.00 UK £795.00
Edition Size - 15
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THE DOUBLE REMARQUES (subject to availability)
US $1935.00 UK £1395.00
Edition Size - 10
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