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Birth of a Legend by Robert Taylor.
On November 5, 1942, flying wingman in a Schwarm of four Me109s of JG-52, his
flight had scrambled to intercept Russian Lagg-3s and IL-2 fighter-bombers bound
for the Front. Splitting into two elements they dived steeply into attack,
screaming in behind and below the enemy aircraft a few hundred feet off the
deck. Selecting on of the IL-2s, the rookie pilot closed at high speed,
commencing firing with 20mm cannon from about two hundred feet. His first pass
was unsuccessful but, undeterred, Hartmann zoomed up and dived over for a second
run at the Russian machine. Holding his fire till the IL-2 filled his gun-sight,
he drilled cannon shells into the oil-cooling system setting the enemy aircraft
on fire. Closing rapidly from behind, Hartmanns Me109 was showered with debris
from the doomed Russian plane, causing an explosion in the young pilots own
aircraft, which immediately caught fire. Now at very low altitude, Hartmann had
no alternative but to belly in. With great presence of mind he cut power, fuel
and ignition switches as he crash-landed at high speed in a massive cloud of
dirt and dust. Though he lost his aircraft, Hartmann had made his first kill,
the IL-2 crashing with a resounding explosion a few miles distant. Unhurt, the
young future Ace was picked up and returned to base almost immediately by a
German car. And thus a legend was born: It was the first of 352 air victories
that would make Hartmann the top scoring fighter pilot in history. Birth of a
Legend, set in the picturesque Caucasus mountain region bathed in the golden
hues of autumn, captures for posterity the dramatic moments that launched the
career of a fighter pilot legend. |
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Birth of a Legend by Robert Taylor.
On November 5, 1942, flying wingman in a Schwarm of four Me109s of JG-52, his flight had scrambled to intercept Russian Lagg-3s and IL-2 fighter-bombers bound for the Front. Splitting into two elements they dived steeply into attack, screaming in behind and below the enemy aircraft a few hundred feet off the deck. Selecting on of the IL-2s, the rookie pilot closed at high speed, commencing firing with 20mm cannon from about two hundred feet. His first pass was unsuccessful but, undeterred, Hartmann zoomed up and dived over for a second run at the Russian machine. Holding his fire till the IL-2 filled his gun-sight, he drilled cannon shells into the oil-cooling system setting the enemy aircraft on fire. Closing rapidly from behind, Hartmanns Me109 was showered with debris from the doomed Russian plane, causing an explosion in the young pilots own aircraft, which immediately caught fire. Now at very low altitude, Hartmann had no alternative but to belly in. With great presence of mind he cut power, fuel and ignition switches as he crash-landed at high speed in a massive cloud of dirt and dust. Though he lost his aircraft, Hartmann had made his first kill, the IL-2 crashing with a resounding explosion a few miles distant. Unhurt, the young future Ace was picked up and returned to base almost immediately by a German car. And thus a legend was born: It was the first of 352 air victories that would make Hartmann the top scoring fighter pilot in history. Birth of a Legend, set in the picturesque Caucasus mountain region bathed in the golden hues of autumn, captures for posterity the dramatic moments that launched the career of a fighter pilot legend.
Signed limited edition of 360 prints (Nos 491 to 850) Paper size 33 inches x 25 inches. (84cm x 64cm). Price £ Signed by Oberst Erich Hartmann (deceased) and
General Gunther Rall.
Knights Cross edition of 490 prints. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 64cm). Price £ Signed by Oberst Erich Hartmann (deceased),
General Gunther Rall,
Leutnant Hugo Broch,
Oberst Hermann Buchner (deceased),
Paule Rossmann (deceased),
Major Erich Rudorffer,
Hauptman Ernst Wilhelm Reinert (deceased),
Hauptman Alfred Grislawski (deceased) and
Leutnant Viktor Petermann.
ITEM CODE RST0009
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Birth of a Legend by Robert Taylor
- The Signatures
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 | Oberst Erich Hartmann (deceased)
Erich Hartmann started his career as 'Paule' Rossman's wingman, and it was obvious that here was a very special pilot. Promoted Staffelkapitan of 7/JG52 in July 1943, he was shot down and taken prisoner for four hours before escaping. In September he took over 9/JG52. In March 1944 he reached the 200 victory mark. He later le 4/JG52, then briefly I/JG52, and lastly Gruppenkommandeur of I/JG52. Hartmann scored a total of 352 victories, more than any other pilot in history, and was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. He died 20th September 1993.
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 | General Gunther Rall
A young pilot with III/JG52 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/JG52. After transfer to the Eastern Front his air victories mounted at an astonishing rate. A crash hospitalised him but within nine months he was back in the cockpit, and, when commanding III/JG52, gained the Wings 500th victory. Gunther 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.
Gunther Rall was born on March 10, 1918 in the small Bavarian town of Gaggenau, Baden. Immersing himself in Boy Scout activities during the difficult economic times in Germany following WW 1, Rall finished school in 1936 and joined the German Army. Influenced by a friend, who was a young officer in the Luftwaffe, Rall entered pilot's school in 1938. His initial posting was with JG52. He attained his first aerial victory during the Battle of France in May of 1940. During the Battle of Britain JG52 absorbed many casualties, and Rall was promoted to Squadron Commander at the young age of 22. With his fair-hair and smooth complexion the young officer looked even younger than his years. But behind this pleasant exterior was a fierce competitor with the heart of a tiger. Later, Rall's squadron would support the attack on Crete, followed by deployment to the Southern Sector on the Eastern Front. Rall's victory totals began to mount. Following his 37 th victory, GiInther was himself shot down. He was lucky to survive the crash, but with a badly broken back he would spend most of the next year in various hospitals. In Vienna at the University Hospital he would meet his future wife, Hertha. Miraculously, Rall recovered and returned to the Luftwaffe in August of 1942. By November his score exceeded 100 and he was awarded the Oak Leaves to accompany the Knight's Cross he was awarded only weeks earlier. As the War progressed against Russia, Rall began to encounter ever more experienced Soviet pilots flying better performing aircraft. Despite this fact, and being shot down several more times himself, Rall's victory tally kept rising. By March of 1944 the ace had attained 273 aerial victories. With the War now going badly for Germany, Rall was transferred to the Western Front. He was able to attain only two more victories against the swarms of Allied bombers and fighter escorts which now pounded Germany every day and night. In May of 1944 Rall was shot down by a P-47. Losing his thumb in the battle he remained out of combat until later in 1944. Rall's final assignments included flying 190Ds as Kornmodore of JG300, and flying the Me-262 jet. Rall's 275 aerial victories (attained on less than 700 combat sorties) make him the third highest scoring ace of all time. If not for the down time suffered as a result of his broken back, Rall might have actually equaled or exceeded Erich Hartmann's alltime record of 352 aerial victories. Rall was not much for socializing during the War. He was a fierce competitor with a businessman's attitude about flying. He was an excellent marksman, and possibly the best deflection shot expert of the War. He continued to fly with the Bundeslufwaffe following the War, serving as its Commander-In Chief in 1970-74.
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Gunther Rall signing the print - Eagles Over the Steppes - by Graeme Lothian. |
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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.
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 | Oberst Hermann Buchner (deceased)
Hermann Buchner was born in Salzburg, Austria, 30th October 1919. Hermann Buchner's first combat role was ground attack. After 215 combat missions he was badly injured when his Me109 exploded at 22,000ft. Returning to action in 1943, he flew a further 200 missions before again being wounded. Back in action a third time, he fought in the Crimea and Romania. After 500 ground attack missions he transferred to join 'Nowotny', the Me262 jet trials unit, and then 9./JG7. He was the first jet pilot in history to score a victory. Hermann Buchner had 58 air victories plus 48 tanks, numerous trucks and anti-aircraft units. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in July 1944. Hermann Buchner died in Lorsching, 1st December 2005, aged 86.
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 | Paule Rossmann (deceased)
One of the most respected leaders in JG52, 'Paule' flew in the Battle of Britain before transferring to Russia. Hartmann began as Rossmann's wingman. In July 1943 he landed behind enemy lines in an attempt to rescue a fellow pilot but was captured by the Russians. He had scored 93 victories, and been awarded the Knight's Cross. Died 4th April 2004.
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 | Major Erich Rudorffer
Erich Rudorffer joined I./JG2 'Richthofen' in November 1939, and was soon flying combat patrols. He took part in the Battle of France, and the Battle of Britain, becoming Adjutant of II./JG2 in June 1941. In December 1942 he was transferred to North Africa. In July 1943 he was posted to command II./JG54 in Russia. In February 1945 he took command of I./JG7 flying the Me262. Erich Rudorffer was the master of multiple scoring - achieving more multiple victories than any other pilot. This included 8 RAF aircraft in 32 minutes in December 1943, 7 in 20 minutes a few days later. In Russia he shot down 5 aircraft in only 4 minutes. He ended the war with 222 victories from over 1000 missions. He was awarded the Knight's Cross, with Oak Leaves and Swords.
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Erich Rudorffer signing the print - Fighter General - by Graeme Lothian |
Erich Rudorffer with artist Graeme Lothian and the original painting of Fighter General. |
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 | Hauptmann Ernst Wilhelm Reinert (deceased)
Ernst Wilhelm Reinert flew with JG77, before transferring to the Eastern Front in 1941. He was posted to Tunisia in January 1943 where he became the most successful Luftwaffe Ace in North Africa during that period. On January 2nd 1945 he was given the leadership of IV./JG27. In March he transferred to III./JG7 flying the Me262. In his 715 missions Reinert scored 174 aerial victories. he was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Born 2nd February 1919 in Lindenthal, died 5th September 2007.
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Ernst Wilhelm Reinert with artist Graeme Lothian, and the original painting - Fighter General. |
Ernst Wilhelm Reinert signing the print - Fighter General - by Graeme Lothian |
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 | Hauptmann Alfred Grislawski (deceased)
Alfred Grislawski joined 9./JG52 in 1940, quickly becoming an Ace. An outstanding fighter pilot, his air victories were 133 in over 800 combat missions until he was severely wounded. he was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. Died 19th September 2003.
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 | Leutnant Viktor Petermann
Joining III./JG-52, Viktor Petermann flew in Russia as an Oberfeldwebel and became skilled in low-level attacks, sinking a gun boat and 50 troop ferries. On one of these missions, after being hit by ground fire, his left arm was amputated and he was hospitalized for a long period. After his recovery he was sent back into combat in 1945 with II./JG-52, with an artificial arm, and scored another 4 victories! He finished the war with JG-7, and a total of 64 victories. Viktor Petermann was awarded the Knights Cross.
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