"Fighter General"
by Robert Taylor

Robert Taylor, much admired by Adolf Galland, painted this superb picture of the General in his Me262, leading JV-44 during the last few weeks of the war in the final defence of Germany. The scene
is early April 1945: Having completed a successful bomber interception high above Salzburg, the 262s are returning towards MunichRiem at full throttle, hugging the deck to avoid the attentions of USAAF escort fighters. Below, the crew of a B-24, brought down in the air fighting, has survived a dramatic crash-landing amid spectacular surroundings.

In the fierce aerial actions fought during the last desperate defence of Germany, Galland, as a full General, led a fighter wing made up almost entirely of famous Luftwaffe Fighter Aces, drawn from
those who had survived the ravages of six years of uninterrupted aerial combat. This last brief period of combat flying remained among the General's most cherished memories and it is a scene from
this historic era that is portrayed in this tribute to General Adolf Galland.

Three of Adolf Galland's veterans of JV-44 have joined the General in signing this unique and irreplaceable edition. They are Hans-Ekkehard Bob, Gottfried Hahrmann, Walter Krupinsku and Galland, himself.