ROBERT TAYLOR Running the Gauntlet WAR IN EUROPE EDITION 8 Great Signatures! WOW

  

Offered here is the awesome signed and numbered limited edition print "RUNNING THE GAUNTLET" by aviation artist Robert Taylor. This is the EIGHT signature (plus artist) WAR IN EUROPE EDITION limited to an extremely small edition of only 200 prints.

Though some 1400 of Germany's remarkable Me262 jet aircraft were built, fewer than 300 ever saw action during its short 10 month combat career, the 550 mph fighter-bomber arriving in service too late to make any impression on the course of the war. Most famous of all Me262 units was Jagdverband 44, commanded by General Adolf Galland.

Instructed by Hitler to set up a small defensive fighter unit to make the most of the new Me262, Galland's JV44 attracted other top-scoring pilots, including top aces Macky Steinhoff and Walter Krupinski, and the unit soon became dubbed Galland's Squadron of Experts. Though doing their best to repel daylight attacks on jet production plants in Southern Germany, JV44 were fighting a losing battle. During a raid on April 9, 1945, the unit lost nine aircraft - a pattern that was to continue. Also, American fighter pilots, unable to catch the 262 in the air, found success taking the jets out as they took off or landed, catching them while at their most vulnerable.

With the Allies driving deeper and deeper into Germany, production of aircraft, spares, fuel, and ammunition, steadily dried up. The point came when JV44, Galland's now legendary Squadron of Experts, finally ground to a halt. "RUNNING THE GAUNTLET" shows Me262s of JV44 returning to base in southern Germany, having come under attack from P-51 Mustangs of the 353rd Fighter Group.

Almost out of fuel and ammunition, the Me262s have little option but to complete their landing sequence, hoping fervently they are not "bounced" by American fighters loitering in the area. They are out of luck on this occasion, and although fighter General Adolf Galland has organized a unit flying Focke-Wulf Fw190D-9s to provide air cover in the area of the airfield, they too have been caught by the 353rd Fighter Group's surprise attack. At this point the JV44 Me262 remains unscathed, and with the arrival of the Fw190s, there is the possibility this particular jet pilot will survive the day. In addition to the artist each print in the edition has been individually signed in pencil by EIGHT World War II pilots.

STRAIT (P-51 pilot and ace). EAST (fighter pilot and ace). Leutnant NORBERT HANNIG (Me262 pilot and ace). Leutnant WALTER SCHUCK Me262 pilot and ace - Schuck achieved 206 victories in a variety of planes, one of only a handful of pilots in history to achieve over 200 victories. Colonel DONALD CUMMINGS (P-51 pilot and ace).

Brigadier General ROBIN OLDS (P-51 pilot and ace). Leutnant ALFRED AMBS (Me262 pilot and ace). Major ERIC RUDORFFER (Me262 pilot and ace - Rudorffer achieved an outstanding total of 222 victories in various aircraft over the course of the war). This print is in mint condition, has been stored flat, and has never been framed.

It measures 33" x 25" and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a descriptive four-page color sales brochure. GOOD LUCK AND THANKS FOR LOOKING!