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THE EAGLES DIVIDE
by Robert Taylor
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A Powerful Limited Edition by the World's Premier Aviation Artist
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 Print Size: 32" wide x 24" high Image Size: 25 3/4" wide x 16 1/2" high
The Military Gallery, the leading publisher of aviation art for over four decades, is proud that the prints in this highly-restricted edition are autographed by distinguished USAAF and Luftwaffe veterans who flew in combat during these close encounters over Europe during World War Two. Adding great historical importance, each signatory reached Ace status and together they clocked up many thousands of hours flying in combat during the war, representing both sides of this dramatic period of aerial conflict.
The Limited Edition
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
The Collector's Edition & Artist Proofs
Each print in these six signature editions is additionally signed by a highly-regarded Luftwaffe Ace along with four famous P-51 Mustang pilots who flew in combat with the USAAF as the Allies pushed for victory in Europe during World War Two:
Hauptmann KARL-FRITZ SCHLOSSSTEIN
German Cross in Gold / 8 victories
Colonel ARTHUR C. 'ART' FIEDLER
Silver Star, Legion of Merit, 2 DFCs, 22 Air Medals / 8 victories
Captain JAMES L. BROOKS
Silver Star, 2 DFCs, 21 Air Medals / 13 victories
Colonel HERSCHEL 'HERKY' GREEN
DSC, Silver Star, 2DFCs, 26 Air Medals, Croix de Guerre (France) / 18 victories
Colonel BOB J. GOEBEL
Silver Star, 2 DFCs, 18 Air Medals / 11 victories
The Tribute Edition
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
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THE LIMITED EDITION
US $295.00 UK £195.00
Edition Size - 200
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In Stock |
THE COLLECTORS EDITION
US $415.00 UK £295.00
Edition Size - 75
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In Stock |
THE COLLECTORS ARTIST PROOFS
US $485.00 UK £345.00
Edition Size - 25
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In Stock |
THE TRIBUTE EDITION (Subject to availability)
US $3895.00 UK £2795.00
Edition Size - 10
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