War Spitfire Green Heart Warriors Print By Nicholas Trudgian- Aircraft

"GREEN HEART WARRIORS"

by Nicolas Trudgian

"GREEN HEART WARRIORS" by artist Nicolas Trudgian is a signed and numbered print from an edition limited to ONLY 1000 prints. Published in 1993. This particular print is number 530.

In the summer of 1940, as a 28 year old captain, Hannes Trautloft took command of JG 54. During the next three years this extraordinary fighter leader shaped the unit into one of the most successful combat fighter wings of World War II. The Green Heart emblem of his home town Thiiringischen, in the heart of Germany, became the Group's symbol and the fighter pilots famous as Trautloft's Green Heart Warriors. They carried their reputation throughout almost every European theatre. After campaigning in the Balkans, the unit moved to the Russian Front, where it flew Mel09s and Fw190s in the heavy fighting of the Northern Region. By the war-end no fewer than twenty Green Heart Aces had achieved more than 100 air victories, its pilots collecting 58 Knights Cross awards.

"GREEN HEAR WARRIORS" portrays a typical scene on the Eastern Front in 1943: IL-2 Stormoviks have attacked a German armoured division who have called for air support. JG 54 Green Hearts have quickly scrambled to the scene and have broken up the attack, downing several Russian aircraft during the encounter. In the foreground, Hannes Trautloft's Fw190 hurtles out of the picture towards us, as the Ace glances over his shoulder to see an unfortunate IL-2 moments before hitting the snow-covered landscape a few feet below. Behind, two more FW190s give support while in the background the low-level aerial contest is furiously fought. The drama unfolds in an exquisitely painted landscape, the northern morning sun casting long shadows across the snow drifts.

In addition to the artist this print is hand-signed by FOUR of JG 54's most outstanding fighter Aces: General DIETER HRABAK, General HANNES TRAULOFT, Major HANS-EKKEHARD BOB, and Major FRANZ EISENACH.

This print is in mint condition and has been expertly framed by Guildhall Gallery. It measures 32" x 25" and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.