OPERATION BODENPLATTE By Nicolas Trudgian - Special Multi-Signed Edition

OPERATION BODENPLATTE BY NICOLAS TRUDGIAN

SPECIAL MULTI-SIGNED EDITION - 20 VETERANS

Released back in 1999 to commemorate the Luftwaffe's bold New Year's Day attack in 1945, 'Operation Bodenplatte' was a desperate attempt to wrest back some air superiority in the West. Originally designed to support the opening of the 'Battle of the Bulge' in December 1944, 'Bodenplatte' was delayed until weather conditions improved. The plan was to strike at 17 Allied Airfields in Belgium and destroy as many aircraft as possible. Despite the planning, most of the Luftwaffe pilots that were to take part were very inexperienced and, in several places, suffered appalling losses. By the end of the day some 400 Allied aircraft had been destroyed or damaged, but these could easily be replaced. For the Luftwaffe it was a disaster - 140 pilots were killed or missing and such losses could not be replaced.

Nicolas Trudgian's scene depicts the action at Eindhoven airfield where the Me109G's and Fw190A's of JG3 are making attacks on 439 Squadron's Typhoons. Meanwhile, Spitfires of 414 Squadron RCAF have returned from a patrol to suddenly find their airfield under attack! The Spitfires try desperately to divert the Luftwaffe attack.

Paying tribute to the veterans of the Royal Air Force and Luftwaffe that flew throughout the war - the Print has been Signed by TWENTY Luftwaffe and RAF veterans.

The List of Signatories is:-

WALTER KRUPINSKI - JG52/JG26/JV44 - Led III/JG26 during 'Bodenplatte'

HELMUT BENNEMANN - JG52/JG53 - Led JG53 during 'Bodenplatte'

HELMUT BALLEWSKI - JG53 - Flew as wingman to Bennemann during 'Bodenplatte'

'HAJO' HERRMANN - KG4/KG30/JG300 - Flew Bombers and Fighters during WW2

GUNTHER RALL - JG52/JG11/JG300 - 3rd highest 'Ace' in history

HANS-EKKEHARD BOB - JG54/JG51

PETER HEARNE - Flew both Spitfires and later Mustangs with the RAF

NEVILLE DUKE - 92/112/145 Squadrons - Flew Spitfires with the 'Biggin Hill Wing' before moving to the Western Desert to fly P-40 Kittyhawks with 112 Squadron. He later became a top Test pilot.

BILLY DRAKE - 1/213/112 Squadrons - Flew Hurricanes in the Battle of France and later Battle of Britain. With 112 Squadron flew the P-40 Kittyhawk.

GEORGE SWANWICK - 54/603 Squadrons - Flew Spitfires with 54 Squadron in the Battle of Britain and later defended Malta with 603 Squadron.

BASIL 'STAPME' STAPLETON - 603/247 Squadrons - Flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain with 603 Squadron at Hornchurch. He later was Squadron Leader of 247 Squadron flying the awesome Typhoon. 

WILF SIZER - 213/152/93 Squadrons - Flew Hurricanes with 213 Squadron in France , Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain. He later flew in North Africa.

RICHARD JONES - 64/19 Squadrons - Flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain from Duxford with 19 Squadron. He was later a Test pilot for De Havilland.

TON DALTON-MORGAN - 43/2nd TAF - Flew Hurricanes with 43 Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain. He later was Wing Commander of the Ibsley wing before being 'Ops Commander' for the 2nd TAF on D-day, where he flew a Tempest over the beaches!

VIVIAN SNELL - 103/501/308 Squadrons - Originally flying the Fairey Battle, Snell joined 501 Squadron flying Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain. He later flew Spitfires with 308 (Polish) Squadron.

DES FOPP - 17/132 Squadrons - Flying Hurricanes with 17 Squadron during the Battles of France and Britain, Fopp later flew Spitfires with 132 Squadron in dangerous 'Rhubarb' sorties over France.

BOB FOSTER - 605/54 Squadrons - Flew Hurricanes with 605 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, he later went 'down under' with 54 Squadron flying Spitfire Vc's and scored their first victory - a Ki46 'Dinah'!

MOHINDER PUJJI - 43/258 Squadrons - Volunteering for the RAF in 1940, Pujji joined 43 Squadron in 1941 and later 258 flying 'Rhubarb' patrols over occupied France. He later served in Air HQ Western Desert before serving in Burma and India against the Japanese.

CYRIL 'BAM' BAMBERGER - 610/261/93/243 Squadrons - Flying Spitfires with 610 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, he later joined 261 Sq for the defence of Malta. He then flew with 93 Squadron in North Africa before supporting the invasion of Sicily with 243 Squadron.

The Print measures 38 x 22 Inches and comes with the Certificate of Authenticity.