Robert Taylor

Price:  $425

Item#:  23991

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The air war fought throughout World War II in the night skies above Europeraged six long years. RAF Hurricanes sent up to intercept the Luftwaffe'snightly blitz on British cities had no more equipment than the fighters thatfought the Battle of Britain during the day, but as the scale of nightly conflictdeveloped, detection and navigation aids - primitive by today's standards -were at the cutting edge of World War II aviation technology.As the air war progressed the intensity of the RAF's nightly raids grew to epicproportions, and the Luftwaffe night-fighters became a critical last line ofdefence as their cities were pounded from above. By 1944 the Luftwaffe wasoperating sophisticated systems coordinating radar, searchlights and flakbatteries, enabling effective guidance to increasingly wily aircrews flyingequipment-laden aircraft. But the RAF had in turn developed their owndetection equipment, and the nightly aerial contests between fighters andbombers were desperate affairs.Night-fighter pilots were men of special calibre, requiring a blend of all thebest piloting and navigational qualities combined with patience,determination, and no small element of cunning. They were hunters in thepurest sense, constantly honing their skills, and pitting their wits against aformidable foe. The young aircrews of the Luftwaffe fought a brave butlosing 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 withhis new painting Duel in the Dark. It is August 1944. As Lancaster heavybombers of 106 Squadron approach the target, Major Heinz-WolfgangSchnaufer, Kommandeur of IV./ NJG1 and the Luftwaffe's top-scoring night-fighter pilot, makes a daring attack passing feet below the mighty four-engineaircraft. Flying his Me110 night-fighter among the flak and searchlights hehas scored hits on the bombers outer starboard engine. While his gunnerfiercely returns fire from the bomber's front turret gunner, the night-fighterAce will slip into the shadows before selecting another quarry. His night'swork is not yet done.

Signatures May Vary by Edition

Knight's Cross Edition signed by

Oberst WOLFGANG FALCK
Major WERNER HOFFMANN
Major PAUL ZORNER
Oberfeldwebel G?£NTHER BAHR
Leutnant FRITZ RUMPELHARDT

The Night Fighter Edtion also signed by
Hauptmann PETER SPODEN

The Trilogy Proofs additionally signed by
Major MARTIN DREWES

this title is also available in...

• Artist's Proof on Paper   -   26.25 X 17.5
• Knights Cross Edition   -   26.25 X 17.5

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