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War Wolf
The lightning victories enjoyed by the Germans
during the first years of World War II were due in large part to the Luftwaffe.
But by the fall of 1944, they were retreating. All available resources were
prepared for a last, desperate gamble. On December16, 1944, Hitler launched a
huge offensive in bad weather. Aircraft from both sides were unable to
participate during the opening days of what was later to be called 'The Battle
of the Bulge.'
With the return of good weather after Christmas, the
ground battle reached its climax. At this point, Allied and German pilots were
eager to lend support to the monumental clash of armies.
This gripping painting, 'War Wolf,' puts us a few
hundred feet above the treetops of the German/Belgian border at 11:15 a.m. on
December 27. Eleven FW-190's of IV Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet,"
led by Leutnant Glaubig, were flying over the Eifel at low level to avoid radar.
Suddenly, ground control radioed a desperate message: "Achtung! Fifty-plus
Indians in Ida Richard Five!" These American fighters were probably from
the 352nd Fighter Group.
In the wild melee that followed, Feldwebel Oscar Boesch
was too low to bail out if his aircraft was hit. He managed to shoot down one
Mustang into the trees and escape with his life. However, six other pilots of IV
Gruppe were not so lucky: Leutnant Glaubig, Unteroffizier Leuchtenberger,
Unteroffizier Rusch, Leutnant Rennwanz, Gefreiter Stumpf, and Oberfahnrich
Buechsenmann, were killed in the morning's action. The loss of so many
experienced pilots was another blow from which the Luftwaffe could not recover.
Five days later, on New Year's Day, over 150 German aircraft would be lost
during attacks upon Allied airfields. After the 'Battle of the Bulge,' the
Luftwaffe was only a shadow of its former self, but the pilots gave their best
to the end.
Print Information:
Overall Size: 34" x 24"
50 Artist Proofs with ONE co-signature, $175
Main numbers: 1 to 500, with ONE co-signature, $145
50 Special Edition with ONE co-signature (remarqued), $235
