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March 1944. Walter Schuck of JG5 defends
a German supply convoy against Russian bombers off the coast
of Norway.
Arctic aerial combat was one of
the most demanding forms of warfare known to man. This was
primarily due to the elements, which posed harsh conditions
on all combatants in the struggle that occurred near the Barents
Sea, where the German Luftwaffe and Russian air forces were
locked in a deadly clash. This fighting happened at the top
of the world, above Norway in a theater known as the 'Polar
Sea Front.' The Russians, supplied through the Allied PQ convoys
destined for Murmansk and Archangel, tangled almost daily
with the Luftwaffe.
These convoys were attacked by both German
aircraft and U-boats, especially during the long summer days
of the north. It was only during the long northern nights
that the sailors felt a little safer. The Luftwaffe also defended
German convoys, which supplied bases along the coast of Norway.
These convoys, escorted by destroyers and perhaps by flak
ships, (voorpostenboots), would sometimes be attacked by both
British and Russian air forces. The purpose of these attacks
was to both deny the enemy of supplies, and to prevent natural
resources (iron ore, etc.) from being transported back to
Germany to fuel the war effort. At the forefront of this conflict
were the men and planes of 7/JG5, based at Petsamo near Kirkenes,
Norway. Depicted in Robert Bailey's masterpiece is just such
a scenario, where attacking British lend-lease Boston Bombers,
flown by Russian aircrews, have set upon an arriving German
supply convoy with a shipment intended for General Dietl's
mountain troops.
Arriving in time near the Varanger Peninsula
to fend off the attacking Bostons is experten pilot Walter
Schuck ('Yellow Nine') and his wingman.
It was on an occasion similar to this
(August 23, 1942), that Schuck had one of his most successful
combats, surpassing 150 aerial victories. For the Russians,
it was a day when they retreated to lick their wounds and
plan for a better strategy to thwart the German presence.
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Sheet size:
34" wide x 24" high.
| Northern
Knight by Robert Bailey |
| 275 s/n prints w/ONE signature. |
US $175 |
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A total of only prints 335 worldwide!
Signed in Germany by Walter Schuck and Robert Bailey.
Oberleutnant
Walter Schuck
Walter Schuck was born on
July 30, 1920 and joined the Luftwaffe in 1937. By December
1940 he was an Unteroffizier in JG3. In January of 1942 he
was transferred to 7/JG5. By April of that year he was at
Petsamo on the Polar Sea Front and it was here, on May 15th,
that he scored his first victory. On June 5th he shot down
four Russian fighters. After that, his progress was steady.
By April 14th he had 31. After another two months, he added
a further 13 aircraft and then received the German Cross in
Gold.
On March 17th, 1944, he brought
down seven Boston Bombers, with another 5 victories on 7th
April. His total was then 84, for which he received the Knight's
Cross the following day. On May 25th and 26th he shot down
another 10 aircraft and then on June 15th, another further
6 successes brought his total to the magic 100.
Two days later, he had his
most successful day (never surpassed by any other JG5 pilot)
when he scored 12 victories in 24 hours! On the 27th and 28th
of the same month, 11 more victories carried him to 125. Then
7 more August 23rd, 1944 brought him past the 150 mark.
On August 1st, Schuck was
promoted to Leutnant and given the leadership of the 10th
Squadron. On September 30th he was awarded the Oak Leaves
to the Knight's Cross, after 171 victories. Walter Schuck's
final tally was 206 aerial victories, with the rank of Oberleutnant. |
