Fought above the hostile wastelands of the desert, witnessed only by those who took part, it was an intense and private war offering little chance of survival for a pilot forced down amongst the undulating sand, rock and scrub.
The first Luftwaffe unit to arrive in North Africa in April 1941 was to become one of its most famous. JG-27 had already fought in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, and its arrival in the Western Desert presented fierce opposition to the R.A.F. fighter pilots. Its Me109Es were superior to all other fighters in the Desert at the time.
Led by the brilliant Eduard Neumann, the JG-27 pilots were given a freedom in the air not experienced on the Channel Front. Flying in free-ranging pairs and fours they roamed the North African skies, pouncing from height upon enemy formations. The tactics suited the talents of the more aggressive pilots, and stars quickly emerged, none more prominently than Hans-Joachim Marseille. During a short but mercurial career in the Desert, Marseille claimed over 150 victories, more than any other Luftwaffe Ace against the R.A.F. pilots during World War II.
Robert Taylor's new limited edition, records Marseilles's jubilant low pass as he returns to his Desert airstrip having just achieved his 100th victory. In the foreground his fellow pilots are seen clambering out of their Me109s. Robert's masterful painting brings life the heat and dust if the Western Desert, the acrid aroma of hot engines and the exhilaration of victory as another combat mission ends.
Each print is signed by four distinguished Luftwaffe fighter pilots of JG-27:
Eduard Neumann
Franz Elles
Friedrichg Korner
Fritz Keller