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Duel in the Dark by Robert Taylor.
The air war fought throughout World War II in the night skies above Europe raged
six long years. RAF Hurricanes sent up to intercept the Luftwaffes nightly blitz
on British cities had no more equipment than the fighters that fought the Battle
of Britain during the day, but as the scale of nightly conflict developed,
detection and navigation aids - primitive by todays standards - were at the
cutting edge of World War II aviation technology. As the air war progressed the
intensity of the RAFs nightly raids grew to epic proportions, and the Luftwaffe
night-fighters became a critical last line of defence as their cities were
pounded from above. By 1944 the Luftwaffe was operating sophisticated systems
coordinating radar, searchlights and flak batteries, enabling effective guidance
to increasingly wily aircrews flying equipment-laden aircraft. But the RAF had
in turn developed their own detection equipment, and the nightly aerial contests
between fighters and bombers were desperate affairs. Night-fighter pilots were
men of special calibre, requiring a blend of all the best piloting and
navigational qualities combined with patience, determination, and no small
element of cunning. They were hunters in the purest sense, constantly honing
their skills, and pitting their wits against a formidable foe. The young
aircrews of the Luftwaffe fought a brave but losing battle in defence of their
homeland, but their dedication never faltered, and their bravery is legend.
Robert Taylor pays tribute to this courageous and skilled group of flyers with
his new painting Duel in the Dark. It is August 1944. As Lancaster heavy bombers
of 106 Squadron approach the target, Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, Kommandeur
of IV./ NJG1 and the Luftwaffes top-scoring night- fighter pilot, makes a daring
attack passing feet below the mighty four-engine aircraft. Flying his Me110
night-fighter among the flak and searchlights he has scored hits on the bombers
outer starboard engine. While his gunner fiercely returns fire from the bombers
front turret gunner, the night-fighter Ace will slip into the shadows before
selecting another quarry. His nights work is not yet done. |
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Duel in the Dark by Robert Taylor.
The air war fought throughout World War II in the night skies above Europe raged six long years. RAF Hurricanes sent up to intercept the Luftwaffes nightly blitz on British cities had no more equipment than the fighters that fought the Battle of Britain during the day, but as the scale of nightly conflict developed, detection and navigation aids - primitive by todays standards - were at the cutting edge of World War II aviation technology. As the air war progressed the intensity of the RAFs nightly raids grew to epic proportions, and the Luftwaffe night-fighters became a critical last line of defence as their cities were pounded from above. By 1944 the Luftwaffe was operating sophisticated systems coordinating radar, searchlights and flak batteries, enabling effective guidance to increasingly wily aircrews flying equipment-laden aircraft. But the RAF had in turn developed their own detection equipment, and the nightly aerial contests between fighters and bombers were desperate affairs. Night-fighter pilots were men of special calibre, requiring a blend of all the best piloting and navigational qualities combined with patience, determination, and no small element of cunning. They were hunters in the purest sense, constantly honing their skills, and pitting their wits against a formidable foe. The young aircrews of the Luftwaffe fought a brave but losing battle in defence of their homeland, but their dedication never faltered, and their bravery is legend. Robert Taylor pays tribute to this courageous and skilled group of flyers with his new painting Duel in the Dark. It is August 1944. As Lancaster heavy bombers of 106 Squadron approach the target, Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, Kommandeur of IV./ NJG1 and the Luftwaffes top-scoring night- fighter pilot, makes a daring attack passing feet below the mighty four-engine aircraft. Flying his Me110 night-fighter among the flak and searchlights he has scored hits on the bombers outer starboard engine. While his gunner fiercely returns fire from the bombers front turret gunner, the night-fighter Ace will slip into the shadows before selecting another quarry. His nights work is not yet done.
Signed limited edition of 350 prints, Knights Cross Edition. Image size 26 inches x 17 inches (66cm x 43cm). Price £200.00 Signed by Oberst Wolfgang Falck (deceased), Major Werner Hoffmann, Major Paul Zorner, Oberfeldwebel Gunther Bahr (deceased) and Leutnant Fritz Rumpelhardt.
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Image size 26 inches x 17 inches (66cm x 43cm). Price £395.00 Signed by Oberst Wolfgang Falck (deceased), Major Werner Hoffmann, Major Paul Zorner, Oberfeldwebel Gunther Bahr (deceased), Leutnant Fritz Rumpelhardt and Hauptmann Peter Spoden.
Trilogy Proof signed limited edition of 100 prints. Image size 26 inches x 17 inches (66cm x 43cm). Price £ Signed by Oberst Wolfgang Falck (deceased), Major Werner Hoffmann, Major Paul Zorner, Oberfeldwebel Gunther Bahr (deceased), Leutnant Fritz Rumpelhardt, Hauptmann Peter Spoden and Major Martin Drewes.
Limited edition of 25 remarques. Image size 26 inches x 17 inches (66cm x 43cm). Price £ Signed by Oberst Wolfgang Falck (deceased), Major Werner Hoffmann, Major Paul Zorner, Oberfeldwebel Gunther Bahr (deceased), Leutnant Fritz Rumpelhardt and Hauptmann Peter Spoden.
Night-Fighter Edition of 250 prints. Image size 26 inches x 17 inches (66cm x 43cm). Price £275.00 Signed by Oberst Wolfgang Falck (deceased), Major Werner Hoffmann, Major Paul Zorner, Oberfeldwebel Gunther Bahr (deceased), Leutnant Fritz Rumpelhardt and Hauptmann Peter Spoden.
Robert Taylor Promotional Flyer. A4 Size Double Sheet 11.5 inches x 8 inches (30m x 21cm). Price £1.50
ITEM CODE DHM2218
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Duel in the Dark by Robert Taylor
- The Signatures
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 | Oberst Wolfgang Falck (deceased)
At the outbreak of war Wolfgang Falck was Staffelkapitan of 8,/JG132 flying the Bf110 Zerstorer in the Polish Campaign. In Feb 1940 he became Kommandeur 1./ZG1 and led it during the Western campaign. From June 1940 Falck was appointed Kommodore NJG1, the largest Geschwader in the Luftwaffe. During this time the greatest Luftwaffe night Aces were under his command. In July 1943 he joined the staff of Luftflotte Recih where he was responsible for the day and night fighter defence of the Reich. In the autumn of 1944 he was made Fighter Leader in the Balkans, and later became head of staff for flying training. Wolfgang Falck flew 90 operations and was awarded the Knight's Cross. Died 13th March 2007.
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 | Major Werner Hoffmann
Born in 1918, Werner Hoffman began flying gliders in 1932 before joining the Luftwaffe in 1936, being awarded his pilots bagde in June 1938. A month later, he was with 7./JG234 which, at the beginning of May 1939, became one of the first Destroyer units, I./ZG52. He was assigned to 4./ZG2 and took part in the Battle of France, scoring his first victory, a Spitfire, over Dunkirk. After being wounded, he served as a Staffelkapitan with Erganzungs Zerstorer Gruppe in Denmark, before retraining as a night fighter. Becoming Staffelkpitan of 5./NJG3, he took part in the Channel Dash operations. Hoffmann claimed two twin engine RAF bombers during the 1,000 bomber raid on the night of 25th - 26th June 1942, his first victories at night. In July 1943 he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG5. By the end of 1943, his victory total had increased to 18, but on 20th January 1944 his aircraft was damaged by a Lancaster bomber and he was forced to bale out. At the end of January 1944, he shot down three Halifaxes one night, followed by two Lancasters the following night. With further victories over four-engined bombers at night, his tally grew until the night of 16th - 17th March 1945, when his Ju88 was shot down by a Mosquito night fighter, thought to have been the 239 Sqn Mosquito of British Ace Dennis Hughes. He flew almost 200 missions, scoring 51 night and 1 day victories. Awarded the Knight's Cross in 1943, he was nominated for the Oak Leaves.
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 | Major Paul Zorner
Originally a transport pilot, Paul Zorner flew in North Africa, the Mediterranean and southern Russia before retraining as a nightfighter pilot, joining II./NJG2 in 1942 flying the Ju88. In December he took command of 2./NJG3 operating first the Do217 and then the Me110. At the beginning of 1943 he was squadron commander of 3./NJG3 and then 8./NJG3, which he led until April 1944, when he took command of III./NJG5, re-equipping with the Ju88G-6. In October 1944 he was promoted to become Kommander of II./NJG100. Paul Zorner was credited with 59 victories and was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.
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 | Oberfeldwebel Gunther Bahr (deceased)
Born 18th July 1921. Serving first as an instructor, he was posted to 6./SG210 (later 6./ZG1) on the Eastern Front until June 1942, when he retrained to fly night fighters. Posted first to NJG4 in August 1943, and then I./NJG6 where on the night of 21st/22nd February 1943 he shot down seven four-engined Russian bombers in one night, after claiming four victories on each of the two previous nights. Gunther Bahr flew over 90 night fighter missions, and was awarded the Knight's Cross in March 1945. He had achieved 37 air victories, including shooting down Norman Jackson VC. Sadly, Gunther Bahr passed away on 29th April 2009.
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 | Leutnant Fritz Rumpelhardt
From 1942 as an Unteroffizier, Fritz Rumpelhardt was radio operator to Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer with NJG1 and NJG4. He participated in 100 night fighter victories with Schnaufer, and was the most successful night fighter radio-operator in the Luftwaffe. Fritz Rumpelhardt flew over 130 combat missions and was awarded the Knight's Cross in July 1944, and was nominated for the Oak Leaves in March 1945.
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 | Hauptmann Peter Spoden
Posted to 5./NJG in June 1943, he scored his first victory on the Peenemubde raid. In early 1944 he took part in many daylight missions with rocket firing Me110s against B17 Fortresses. Returning to night fighting he eventually became Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG6, his final tally was 26 victories.
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