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Approaching their target at the oil refinery at Zwickau, 60 mikes southwest of Dresden, the 452nd Bomb Group's B-17 Flying Fortresses were bounced by 28 ME-262 jets from JG-7. Screaming in from the six o'clock position, the jet pilots singled out the 3rd Division just as they began their bombing run.

The crew of one B-17 desperatly defend their bomber against the determined, high-speed attack by the ME-262 interceptors. Closing at almost three times the speed of their targets, each ME-262 pilot has just fractions of a second to find his mark. Each interceoption is over in the blink of an eye.

Robert Taylor's brilliantly constructed and magnificently painted composition portrays the stunning beauty and awesome reality of aerial engagement in the frozen skies over Europe during World War II. In this brief cameo, the outcome is indecisive: the B-17 has lost part of its horizontal stabilizer, which will make handling and landing difficult. It's gumnners, undeterred by the fearsome attack, are laying a wall of fire in the path of the enemy jet; the Luftwaffe pilot will be lucky to escape unscathed. In the distance, more ME-262s are diving into the fray, but soon 8th Air Force escort fighters, like cavalry to the rescue, will arrive to break up the attack.

With all the remarkable skills that have established him as the most-collected aviation artist in history, Robert has vividly brought to life this heart-stopping aerial combat in a breathtaking aerial panorama.

Adding credibility and collectibility to the piece, each lithograph is endorsed with the individual original signatures of Luftwaffe Aces who flew the ME-262 jet during the final defense of Germany, and is issued with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

The Signatures

Oberst Hermann Buchner
Austrian Hermann Buchner's first combat role was ground attack flying the ME-109 fighter. After 215 missions, he was badly injured when his ME-109 exploded at 22,000 feet. Returning to action in 1943, he flew a further 200 missions before being wounded again. Back in action, Buchner had 58 aerial victories plus 48 tanks, numerous trucks and antiaircraft units. He was awarded the Knights Cross.

Leutnant Viktor Petermann
Joining III/JG-52, Viktor Petermann flew in Russia as an Oberstfeldwebel 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. Petermann was awarded the Knight's Cross.

Hauptmann Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert
Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert first saw combat with 4/JG-77 on the Eastern Front, achieving his first victory on August 8, 1941. By the end of 1942, he had achieved over 100 aerial victories. He was posted to Tunisia in January, 1943, where he became the most successful Luftwaffe Ace in North Africa during that period. After campaigning through Italy and a succession of commands, he was abck flying ME-109s. On January 2, 1945, he was given the leadeship of IV/JG-27, flying the ME-262. In his 715 missions, Reinert scored 174 aerial victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.

Major Werner Roell
At the beginning of the war, Werner Roell flew with St.G 77 During the Norwegian Campaign. flying in that JU-52-equipped Transportgruppe. He flew in Yugoslavia and Crete and later, Russia. He led the ME-110 "Destroyer" Gerschwader Stabstaffel, which became one of the most effective fighter cover and ground attack units on the front. Flying JU-87s with 4/St. G 77, he destroyed a Soviet light cruiser near the Crimea. IN early 1945, he was summoned by Adolf Galland to join his "Squadeon of Experts" in JV-44, where he served until the end of the war. Flying a total of 477 combat missions, he was awarded the Knight's Cross in 1945.

Major Erich Rudorffer
Joining the Luftwaffe in 1938, Erich Rudorffer joined I/JG2 "Richtofen" in November, 1939, and was soon flying combat patrols. He took part in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain and became Adjutant of II/JG-2 in June, 1941 In December, 1942, he was transfered to North Africa. In July, 1943, he was posted to command of II/JG-54 in Russia. In February, 1945, he took command of I/JG-7, flying the ME-262 jet. Rudorffer was the master of multiple scoring and achieved more multiple victories than any other pilot. These included 8 RAF aircraft in 32 minutes in December, 1943 and 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 in over 1,000 missions and was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.