Oberst
Heinz Marquardt
In late 1941 Heinz Marquardt was
with a training squadron south of Paris. In August 1943 he
was posted to join IV./JG51 in Russia, achieving his first
victory two months later. Shot down eight times, he once achieved
twelve victories in a single day. Awarded the Knight's Cross
in November 1944, he flew a total of 320 missions, and scored
121 victories.
Oberst Johannes
Naumann
With III./JG26 at the outbreak of
war, Johannes flew in all the campaigns of 1939 - 1940, including
the Battle of Britain. He led 6./JG26 on the Channel front,
and later 7./JG26. In March 1944 he became Kommandeur of II./JG26,
and in August Kommandeur II./JG6. He flew 450 missions, scored
45 victories, all in the West, and was awarded the Knight's
Cross in 1944.
Oberleutnant Erhard
Nippa
Erhard Nippa joined JG2 in 1942,
serving firstly with 10./JG2 'Richthofen'. This was one of
the Luftwaffe's most successful fighter bomber units attacking
British coastal shipping in the English Channel. This unit
was amalgamated with 15./SG210 at the end of 1942. Nippa then
flew in the Mediterranean theater before joining II./SG10
in Russia. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in March 1944
for his successful sorties against ground and shipping targets.
He flew over 300 combat missions.
Major Gerhard
Schöpfel
Gerhard Schöpfel was Staffelkapitän of 9./JG26 at
the outbreak of war, and became Kommandeur of III./JG26 in
August 1940. In December 1941 he succeeded Adolf Galland as
Kommodore of JG26 until January 1943. Later, Kommodore of
JG4 and JG6. He flew over 700 combat missions, achieving 40
victories, all in the West. He was awarded the Knight's Cross
in 1940.
Oberleutnant Günter
Seeger
In February 1940, Gunter Seeger was
an Unteroffizier with 3./JG-2, scoring his first victory in
the early days of the Battle of Britain, He served on the
Channel Front until November 1942, including several months
with the Geschwaderstabsschwarm. In December he transferred
to the Mediterranean theatre with II./JG-2 before joining
6./JG-53. In February 1943 he joined 7./JG-53 becoming Staffekapitan
in September 1944. He flew in North Africa, in the Dolomite
region and in Sicily. Awarded the Knight's Cross, Gunter Seeger
flew over 500 combat missions in the west and scored 56 victories.
One of the classic books to come
out of World War Two, Adolf Galland's autobiography is written
with the stark reality of aerial warfare ever present. The
General recounts how he trained as a pilot in the 1930s, joined
the Condor Legion that served in the Spanish Civil War, and
went on to play a major role in the Battle of Britain, when
he commanded the legendary JG26 Fighter Wing. By 1941 he was
a household name on both sides of the Channel Front. Containing
a number of photographs, this highly collectible edition is
issued in a lavish gold-blocked slip-case with a mounted bookplate
individually signed by General Adolf Galland. A rare collectors
item.
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The Commemorative
Proofs are issued with matching numbered book 'The First and
The Last', gold-blocked slip-case, and bookplate signed by:
 Generalleutnant
Adolf Galland (1912
- 1996)
Adolf Galland fought in the great
Battles of Poland, France and Britain, leading the famous
JG26 'Abbeville Boys'. He flew in combat against the RAF's
best including Douglas Bader, Bob Stanford Tuck and Johnnie
Johnson. In 1941, at the age of 29, he was promoted to 'Inspector
of the Fighter Arm'. In 1942 Hitler personally selected Galland
to organize the fighter escort for the 'Channel Dash'. He
became the youngest General in the German High Command but
open disagreements with Goering led to his dismissal at the
end of 1944. He reverted to combat flying, forming the famous
JV44 wing flying the Me262 jet fighter, and was the only General
in history to lead a squadron into battle. With 104 victories,
all in the West, Adolf Galland received the Knight's Cross
with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.
Just 75 copies of Robert
Taylor's limited edition print 'Eagles On The Channel Front'
are issued with a copy of Adolf Galland's book - The First
& The Last - inside a gold-blocked slip case, complete
with a bookplate signed by General Galland, to form a truly
historic commemorative set.
The First and The Last
Germany's Fighter Force In The Second
World War
by Adolf Galland
Foreword by Douglas Bader
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