Eagles of the West
by Robert Taylor
- Including Helmut Wick signature & WWII officer's breast eagle - |
The Battle of Britain will be remembered as one
of the most important battles ever fought. It is the setting for "Eagles of the West", which portrays the Luftwaffe’s leading Battle of Britain Ace -
Helmut Wick. Recently promoted Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG2 ‘Richthofen’, Wick is seen
leading a group of Bf109s back to their base in Normandy following a sweep over the English
Channel and Normandy coast during the closing stages of the battle. |
Overall size: 23" x 28" | Image size: 13" x 19½" |
Museum Presentation | Five Luftwaffe Ace signatures & WWII breast eagle - conservation matted. |
Note: Additional shipping charges apply to deliveries outside the lower 48 U.S. states. Please contact us for a quote. |
SOLD |
This is a limited edition print signed by three prominent Luftwaffe Aces. It is triple-matted with a shadow box layer and includes the original signature of the Luftwaffe's leading Battle of Britain Ace - Helmut Wick. Also included is the signature of JG-2 Ace Siegfried Lemke, and an original WWII Luftwaffe officer's breast eagle. - (Matted to full conservation standards) |
Helmut Wick signature Wick was one of the most significant Luftwaffe aces, but while his career was brilliant, it was also short and there are few examples of his signature to be found. |
matted signature |
Original Luftwaffe officer's breast eagle The breast eagles worn by Luftwaffe officers differed from those of other ranks in that they were hand sewn with silver thread. This example is of the early 'droop-tail' pattern, as would have been worn at the time of the Battle of Britain. While it is in extremely good condition, it was clearly issued and worn, as there are signs of it having been sewn to a uniform. Who's uniform of course, we don't know. |
The signatures | |
Major Helmut Wick - Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves / 56 victories - (matted) | |
Leutnant Siegfried Lemke - Knight's Cross / 70 victories - (matted) | |
Generalleutnant Günther Rall - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords / 275 victories - (signed on the print) | |
Leutnant Hermann Neuhoff - Knight’s Cross / 40 victories - (signed on the print) | |
Major Erich Rudorffer - Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords / 222 victories - (signed on the print) |
Helmut Wick Helmut Wick was born on 5 August 1915 at Mannheim. Wick joined the new Luftwaffe in 1935 and by April 1936 he had received the rank of Fahnenjunker and then in July 1937 he was promoted to the rank of Fähnrich. On completion of his training, Wick was assigned to II./JG 134 flying Arado Ar 68 biplane fighters. He was commissioned with the rank of Leutnant on 1 September 1938. In January 1939, he was transferred to 1./JG 53, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 under the command of Werner Mölders. Wick was transferred to JG 2 on 30 August 1939, assigned to 3./JG 2 and served with the unit in the air defence of Berlin during the Polish Campaign. He recorded his and the Geschwader’s first victory on 22 November 1939 when he shot down a French Hawk 75 fighter near Strasbourg. On 10 May, 3./JG 2 was relocated to the western front but Wick remained behind while his aircraft underwent an engine Wick added six further victories with this unit to raise his victory total to 28. He was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 2 on 9 September. On 5 October, he shot down five RAF fighters in the Isle of Wight area . This gained him the immediate award of the Eichenlaub. Further promotion followed and, at 25 years of age, Wick was the youngest Major in the Wehrmacht. |
Siegfried Lemke |
Günther Rall was a young pilot with III./JG52 at the outbreak of war, and quickly demonstrated his natural ability and leadership qualities. He scored his first victory early in the Battle of France, and by July 1940 was leading 8./JG52. After transferring to the Eastern Front his victories soon mounted but he was hospitalized following a crash. Returning to combat as Kommandeur of III./JG52, he gained the Wing's 500th victory, before being posted Kommandeur of II./JG11 on the Western Front, flying high altitude intercepts in Me109Gs. He was later Kommandeur of JG300, and finished the war as the 3rd highest Ace in history with 275 victories. |
Hermann Neuhoff At the outbreak of World War Two, Neuhoff was serving with 3./JG 53. but was later transferred to III./JG 53. He recorded his first victory on 2 March 1940 when he shot down an RAF Hurricane southwest of Diedenhofen. He added a further four victories during the French campaign and participated in the Battle of Britain gaining a further four victories. Operating over the Eastern front, Neuhoff gained considerable success, reaching 30 victories. Neuhoff accompanied III./JG 53 when it was relocated to the Mediterranean theatre in November 1941. Following a lengthy spell of instruction and officer training Neuhoff returned to combat duty in March 1942. III./JG 53 was now based in Sicily operating over Malta and Neuhoff claimed four RAF fighters shot down over and around the island. On 9 April, Neuhoff was appointed acting Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 53. Neuhoff led his new Staffel over Malta and attacked three RAF Spitfire fighters. During the subsequent combat Neuhoff was shot down. He baled out to become a prisoner of war. |
Erich Rudorffer Considered by many to be the Luftwaffe’s greatest all-round fighter ace of World War Two, Erich Rudorffer began his campaign with JG2 during the Battle of France, he then served in the Battle of Britain alongside top aces such as Helmut Wick and Gunther Seeger. |