HEAD TO HEAD BY NICOLAS TRUDGIAN
SPECIAL MULTI-SIGNED EDITION - 45 VETERANS
Released back in 2000 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Nicolas Trudgian's 'Head to Head' shows a classic confrontation between the two most famous aircraft of that Battle - the Spitfire and Me109E.
Both were modern monoplane fighters that headed their respective Airforces. The Messerschmitt Bf109 had served in the Spanish Civil War before spearheading the Luftwaffe's air superiority during the 'Blitzkreig' campaigns in Poland, the low countries and France. Armed with 20mm cannons and a fuel-injected DB engine, the Me109E was one of the finest fighters in the world in 1940. The RAF also deployed modern fighters - the Hawker Hurricane being the most numerous - but it was R.J. Mitchell's thoroughbred - the 'Spitfire' - that won the hearts of the British people in 1940. Fast and highly maneuverable, the Spitfire was a match for the Me109E during the Battle - and had the advantage of operating over it's own territory.
Nicolas Trudgian's scene depicts an action on 25th August 1940 as the Spitfire of Squadron Leader Sandy Johnstone of 602 Squadron takes on an enemy Me109E head-on at altitude, scoring decisive hits on the Luftwaffe fighter - it will be Johnstone's second victory of the day!
The Print was originally signed by EIGHT 602 Squadron Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots. This Copy has been additionally Signed by no less than 37 veterans, including TEN Luftwaffe pilots. The List of Signatories is:-
AIR VICE MARSHAL SANDY JOHNSTONE - 602 SQUADRON
WING COMMANDER PADDY BARTHROP - 602 SQUADRON
AIR COMMODORE 'MICKEY' MOUNT - 602 SQUADRON
SQUADRON LEADER NIGEL ROSE - 602 SQUADRON
AIR COMMODORE PAUL WEBB - 602 SQUADRON
WING COMMANDER HECTOR MACLEAN - 602 SQUADRON
FLYING OFFICER HUGH NIVEN - 602 SQUADRON
WING COMMANDER DONALD JACK - 602 SQUADRON
GROUP CAPTAIN TOM DALTON-MORGAN - 43 SQUADRON
WING COMMANDER WILF SIZER - 213 SQUADRON
FLIGHT LT. JACK TOOMBS - 236 SQUADRON
SQUADRON LEADER IAN HUTCHINSON - 222 SQUADRON
SQUADRON LEADER BASIL 'STAPME' STAPLETON - 603 SQUADRON
SQUADRON LEADER NEVILLE DUKE - 92 SQUADRON
FLIGHT LT. NIGEL KEMP - 242 SQUADRON
FLIGHT LT. ERIC PARKIN - 501 SQUADRON
WING COMMANDER KEN MCKENZIE - 501 SQUADRON
WING COMMANDER JOHN FREEBORN - 74 SQUADRON
FLIGHT LT. KEN WILKINSON - 19 SQUADRON
SQUADRON LEADER TONY PICKERING - 501 SQUADRON
FLIGHT LT. TERRY CLARK - 219 SQUADRON
PILOT OFFICER KEITH LAWRENCE - 603 SQUADRON
GROUP CAPTAIN BILLY DRAKE - 213 SQUADRON
FLIGHT LT. ALBERY GREGORY - 219 SQUADRON
SQUADRON LEADER TERENCE KANE - 234 SQUADRON
FLIGHT LT. JOYCE MILLARD - 242 SQUADRON
WING COMMANDER TOM NEIL - 249 SQUADRON
SQUADRON LEADER MAHINDER PUJJI - 43 SQUADRON
FLIGHT LT. RICHARD JONES - 19 SQUADRON
SQUADRON LEADER DESMOND FOPP - 17 SQUADRON
WING COMMANDER VIVIAN SNELL - 501 SQUADRON
WING COMMANDER GEORGE SWANWICK - 54 SQUADRON
WING COMMANDER KENNETH LEE - 501 SQUADRON
WARRANT OFFICER NORMAN SAMUELS - 610 SQUADRON
SQUADRON LEADER PETER HEARNE - 19 SQUADRON
GENERALLEUTNANT GUNTHER RALL - JG52
MAJOR HANS-EKKEHARD BOB - JG54
OBERLEUTNANT WALTER WOLFRUM - JG52
OBERST HAJO HERMMANN - KG30
LEUTNANT HUGO BROCH - JG54
OBERLEUTNANT ERNST SCHEUFFLE - JG5
UNTEROFFIZIER GUSTAV DREES - JG54
FELDWEBEL HERIBERT KOLLER - JG54
UNTEROFFIZIER GUNTHER KOLB - JG5
LEUTNANT ALFRED AMBS - JG7
The Print measures 26 x 21 Inches and comes with the Certificate of Authenticity.
*** SOLD ***
