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Storm
Chasers
Nicolas Trudgian
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A dazzling print edition from Nicolas
Trudgian bringing to life a dramatic scene from an important
era in the Luftwaffe's struggle against the large-scale
American daylight raids during the final phase of the air
war against Germany.
Even the most faithful of Messerschmitt
Me109 pilots that also flew the Fw190 grudgingly admitted
the well-proportioned and aesthetically pleasing Fw190 was
the finest single-seat fighter in the Luftwaffe's armory
during World War II. Soon after its arrival on the Channel
Front in 1941, when initial bugs were ironed out, this superb
fighter came close to fighter design perfection by the standards
of the day. Just as the Mk IX Spitfire held the mantle as
Britain's most outstanding combat fighter of the war, so
was the Fw190 regarded by experienced Luftwaffe pilots.
Within months of its operational debut the Fw190 was causing
widespread consternation among RAF pilots, the new fighter
equal to the Mk IX Spitfire in all but its ability in the
tightest of turning circles.
By 1944 the technically superb Fw190
came into its own in the great air battles against the USAAF's
massed daylight raids. The defense of the Reich's western
airspace rested on the shoulders of a few Jagdgschwarden
who, against steadily increasing odds, were tasked with
interception and destruction of the attacking American heavy
bombers. Flying alongside the two established Channel fighter
wings JG2 'Richthofen' and JG26 'Schlageter', equipped with
Fw190s and led by the great fighter ace Oberst Walter Oesau,
JG1 joined the battle in defense of northern Germany.
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Overall print
size: 35 1/2" wide x 24" high.
Image size: 28 3/4" wide x 16"
high.
| Storm
Chasers by Nicolas Trudgian |
| The Fighter Pilots Edition |
| 525 s/n w/FOUR signatures. |
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Nicolas Trudgian's fine painting Storm
Chasers depicts the Fw190A's of I./JG1, distinguished by their
distinctive black and white striped cowls, scrambling from
the snow-covered Dortmund airfield on 10 February 1944 to
intercept another inbound American daylight raid. Nick's dramatic
view of this technically supreme fighter conveys its true
class as it hurdles over the airfield, its undercarriage retracting
as the Fw190 accelerates into the climb. Below, sharing the
airfield with I./JG1, are the Fw190s of the newly formed Sturmstaffel
1, identified by their black-white-black tail bands, seen
taxing out to join in the interception. Despite bad weather
conditions the Luftwaffe's defending fighters scored heavily
that day, inflicting severe losses on the Americans, claiming
29 bombers and 8 fighters shot down in the action. |
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The Signatures
The Fighter Pilots Edition
Each print in the Fighter Pilots
Edition has been individually signed by FOUR eminent Luftwaffe
Fighter Aces who all flew teh Fw190 in combat during the
'Defense of the Reich'.
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 Leutnant
Hugo Broch
Vital
to all fighter units are the pilots who make such superb wingmen
that their leaders are loath to part with them. Hugo Broch was
one such wingman. Having joined VI./JG54 in January he flew
first with Horst Adameit (166 victories), and later with 'Bazi'
Sterr (130 victories), but soon demonstrated his own skill in
combat. By the end of 1944 he had lifted his personal score
to 71 victories. One of JG54's great Fw190 Aces, Hugo Broch
saw combat on the Eastern and Baltic Fronts, and completed the
war having flown 324 combat missions, and claiming 81 victories.
He was awarded the Knight's Cross.  Unteroffizier
Gustav Drees
Born in 1923, Gustav Drees was called
up for military service in 1942, and with a passion for flying
joined the Luftwaffe. After training as a fighter pilot he
was immediately posted to the Eastern Front with his first
front-line unit - JG54 'Green Hearts', where he flew the Me109.
In very early 1943 he became on of the first of the JG54 pilots
to fly the Fw190A in combat. With four air victories to his
credit with JG54 in Russia, towards the end of the war he
was posted to join JG108 in Austria, where he stayed until
the end.
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 Oberfeldwebel
Willi Reschke
One of the outstanding younger Luftwaffe
pilots, Willi Reschke was one of the leading members of JG300
Wilde Sau flying the Fw190A in the 'Defense of the Reich'.
Towards the latter months of the war he transferred to the
Stabsschwarm of JG301, still flying the Fw190A. Awarded the
Knight's Cross in April 1945, he was credited with 26 victories
- all in the west - including 18 four-engine bombers.
 Oberleutnant
Ernst Scheufele
Joining the Luftwaffe in October
1940, Ernst Scheufele went straight into pilot training. On
gaining his wings he was posted, in June 1942, to 4./JG5 in
Norway. There, flying the Messerschmidt Bf109, he carried
out a total 67 escort missions for the Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen, and later for the Tirpitz. In October 1943 he joined
II./JG5, flying over Arctic waters, in Finland, and on the
Russian Front, before transferring in June 1944 to defense
of the Reich. On 3 December 1944 he was shot down by an American
flak battery near Saxony, wounded and taken prisoner. He had
scored a total of 18 victories.
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The Knights Cross Tribute Remarque
Edition
A tiny issue of the Storm Chasers
edition will be released as the Knights Cross Tribute Edition.
Limited to TEN COPIES ONLY, each print will be beautifully
inscribed with an original DOUBLE pencil drawing remarque
by Nicolas Trudgian. These double remarques will also be
individually signed by major additional signatures - two
of the most formidable and highly regarded Luftwaffe fighter
leaders of World War II, both holders of the coveted Knights
Cross, with Oak Leaves and Swords. A total of SIX signatures.
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 Oberst
Hajo Hermann
A formidable figure in the Luftwaffe,
Hajo Hermann was originally awarded the Knight's Cross in
1940 as a bomber pilot. He flew over 320 operations with KG4,
and later III./JG30, where he sank 12 ships. In 1942 he was
appointed to the Luftwaffe Operational Staff. In July 9143
he was responsible for the formation of JG300 and founded
the highly successful Wilde Sau (Wild Boar) tactics of free-roaming
Fw190 night fighters. In December 1943 he was appointed Luftwaffe
Inspector of Aerial Defense. At the end of 1944 he led the
9th Flieger division and created the famous Rammkommando Elbe.
At the end of the war he was captured by the Russians, spending
long years in captivity. He was awarded the Knight's Cross,
Oak Leaves and Swords.
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 Generalleutnant
Günther Rall
Günther
Rall was a young pilot with III./JG-52 at the outbreak of war.
He quickly demonstrated his natural ability and leadership qualities,
scoring his first air victory early in the Battle of Britain,
and by July 1940 was leading 8./JG-52. After transfer to the
Eastern Front his air victories mounted at an astonishing rate.
A crash hospitalized him but within 9 months he was back in
the cockpit, and when commanding III./JG-52, gained the Wing's
500th victory. Günther fought throughout the war to become
the 3rd highest Ace in history with 275 victories. He was awarded
the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. |
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As a tribute to one of his favorite
fighter aircraft - the Fw190, artist Nick Trudgian has agreed
to this unique chance for collectors of aviation art to
have the opportunity to secure a DOUBLE remarque pencil
drawing. Nick will inscribe a tiny edition of just TEN remarque
prints with a double pencil drawing, every print signed
by Hajo Hermann and Gunther Rall, two of the most highly
regarded figures in the Luftwaffe, and both of whom are
themselves great admirers of Nick Trudgian's art.
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