By mid August 1940, the Battle of Britain
had reached its most crucial stage. The all-powerful Luftwaffe
was inflicting huge losses on RAF Fighter Command, many
of its young and inexperienced pilots becoming easy victims
of the battle-hardened German Aces. The contest was desperate.
Air supremacy was vital.
Each day, weather permitting, armadas
of German fighters and bombers set forth across the Channel;
the great aerial battles continuing from dawn until dusk.
By September, I./JG2 Richthofen was under the command of
the brilliant Helmut Wick. Leading the famous wing, Wick
was the top-scoring Luftwaffe Ace in the Battle of Britain
with 56 victories.
Nicolas Trudgian's dramatic
limited edition depicts Wick, with Günther Seeger off
his starboard wing, leading the Me109s of I./JG2 out on
a mission in September 1940. Heinkel 111 bombers of the
Kampfgeschwadern are assembling for another raid on England.
A Blenheim of No 2 Group has force-landed on the beach,
testimony to Bomber Command's contribution to the historic
battle. A masterful portrayal of aerial warfare.
Two prominent Battle of Britain JG2
Richthofen Aces have joined Nicolas Trudgian in signing the
complete edition.
Oberleutnant Günther
Seeger
In February 1940, Günther
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 December 1942, including several
months with the Geschwaderstabsschwarm. He transferred to
the Mediterranean theater with II./JG-2 before joining 6./JG-53.
In February 1943 he joined 7./JG-53 becoming Staffelkapitän
in September 1944. Awarded the Knight's Cross, Günther
Seeger scored 56 victories.
Oberleutnant Siegfried
Bethke
Siegfried Bethke joined the Luftwaffe
in 1935 and was posted to II./JG2 shortly before the Battle
of France. During the Battle of Britain he was Staffelkapitän
of 2. Staffel JG2, and by the end of 1940 his tally had
reached 10. He flew on the Channel Dash but later a serious
accident halted his flying career. Awarded the Iron Cross
I and II class, he had a total of 14 victories.
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Overall print
size: 27 1/8" wide x 18 1/2" high.
A limited edition featuring the
ME109s of JG2 during the Battle of Britain.
| The
Storm Clouds Gather by
Nicolas Trudgian |
| 400 s/n prints
w/ TWO JG2 Richthofen Aces signatures. |
US
$150 |
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| The JG2 Portfolio, issued
w/ matching number companion drawing. |
| 200 Portfolio Proofs. |
SOLD OUT |
The JG2 Portfolio:
A unique edition to just 200
prints, featuring the Me109 of Major
Helmut Wick,
Kommodore of JG2 Richthofen during the Battle of Britain.
Overall matte size: 13" wide x 11"
high.
Issued within the JG2 Portfolio, Nicolas
Trudgian fine pencil drawing depicting Helmut Wick's aircraft
is only available issued with matching numbered copies of
THE STORM CLOUDS GATHER. Each drawing is matted to include
the original pencil signature of Major Julius Meimberg, who
was in combat alongside Wick on the day that the Kommodore
was shot down over the Channel, 28 November 1940.
Major
JULIUS MEIMBERG
Julius Meimberg joined JG2 Richthofen
in December 1939 and during the Battle of France flew as wingman
to Assi Hahn. An Ace during the Battle of Britain, Meimberg
flew with Wick on the day that he was fatally shot down over
the Isle of Wight. In 1944 Meimberg was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
II./JG53. He was awarded the Knight's Cross and achieved 53
victories in 600 combat missions.
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