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Robert Bailey


Sheet size: 21 1/2" high x 34" wide.

Petsamo Scramble by Robert Bailey
20 Studio Edition (signed by artist only)
US $95
100 Limited Edition prints w/ONE signature (Kurt Schulze)
US $175
30 Artist's proofs w/FIVE signatures (including Walter Schuck)
US $300
60 Eagles Edition w/FIVE signatures (including Walter Schuck)
US $275
30 Remarques w/FIVE signatures (including Walter Schuck)
US $425

 

Unteroffizier Heinz Kern was born in 1922 on a farm in the Taunus region of Germany. He was interested in aviation from his childhood on reading books about famous pilots like the Red Baron. After flying gliders, receiving his pilot's license (1943) and fighter pilot training, he flew the Me109 and Fw190 in France, Austria, Finland and Norway. He owns a hotel north of Frankfurt where his old friends of JG-5 meet for their annual reunion.

Leutnant Heinrich Frieherr von Podewils joined the Luftwaffe in 1939. He flew Me109's and Fw190's in Bulgaria, Norway, and Finland and in the 'Home Defence'. (Reichsverteidigung). His victories include a Hurricane, a B-17 and a Beaufighter. He was shot down twice, once over Germany by a P-47 Thunderbolt. In 1945 he commanded 8./JG-5 in Norway, where he became a P.O.W. of the Americans. He was turned over to the French. In January 1947, he escaped from a P.O.W. camp in France but was caught near the German border. He remained a prisoner in France until June 1947, two years after the end of the war.

Oberleutnant Kurt Schulze began his service as a cadet in 1939. As a wireless operator, he flew in Me 110's over southern Russia with 3.(F)11. From 1942 - 44 he was Communications and Navigation Officer of 1/KG-2 and flew night missions to England as a navigator in Do 217's. While with KG-2, he became a pilot and in 1944, flew Me 109G's with III.JG-5 from northern Finland and Norway. There, he participated in photoreconnaissance missions over Murmansk, (F)124. He flew from Bardufoss, Norway, on November 12, 1944 when the Tirpitz was attacked by Lancasters off Tromsoe. He was scrambled too late to intercept the bombers. In early 1945 he commanded 1/JG-51 in Gdansk, where he flew the last of his 103 missions and ended the war commanding 13/JG-5 in Norway. He was credited with 3 victories and holds the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, Flight Clasp, etc. After the war, he spent two years as a P.O.W. in France.

    

Petsamo Scramble

Far to the north of Germany in one of the most inhospitable regions on the earth, stands Petsamo, Finland. In February 1944, a very closely knit unit of pilots and ground personnel of the Luftwaffe's JG-5 (also known as Eismeer Jager) manned this remote and isolated airfield 300 miles above the artic circle and approximately 50 miles from the Russian port of Murmansk. The unit was one of the few defenders of German occupied airspace in this sector. It also often worked to protect General Dietl's mountain troops, who were guarding the German supply convoys on their way to the harbors of Kirkenes, Norway and Petsamo. They also protected other Luftwaffe bases near Petsamo and Kirkenes harbor, necessitating constant air patrols. Such close proximity to her adversary on the eastern front resulted in predictable violent encounters with the Russian Air Force who flew Sturmoviks and a variety of lend-lease aircraft from Britain and the U.S.A., including Hawker Hurricanes and Bell P-39 Airacobras. In Robert Bailey's painting, titled Petsamo Scramble, Me109's of JG-5 struggle valiantly to get airborne as Russian aircraft attack their airfield. The ensuring aerial maelstrom will be brief and deadly as yet another confrontation of adversaries is played out in this frigid battlescape.

Oberleutnant Ernst Scheufele was born in Walldorf, Germany. He joined the Luftwaffe in October 1940 and later flew the Me109 with 4./JG-4, on 'Defense of the Reich' missions. He also flew the Me109 with JG-5 from Norway. On December 3rd, 1944, he was shot down by American ground fire near Aachen. He has a total of 18 victories, including 3 four-engine bombers and 2 Mustangs. Ernst Scheufele flew 200 missions and holds the Frontflugspange in Gold.

Oberleutnant Walter Schuck joined the Luftwaffe in 1937. He scored his first victory while with 7./JG-5 based at Petsamo on the Polar Sea. On June 5th, 1942, he shot down 4 Russian fighters. His rate of victories increased steadily. During March, 1944, he shot down 7 Boston bombers and by April had 84 victories. On June 15th he scored 6 more, and on the 17th, 12 more victories in 24 hours! By August he had 150. Later in the war he flew the Me.262 jet with JG-7. He shot down 4 B-17's in the 262, with 8 victories. His all-up score was 206 confirmed aerial victories. His awards include the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.