Confrontation At Beachy Head by William Phillips with German Ace Signatures For Sale

Print by William S Phillips depicts a British Spitfire from 92 squadron and a German Messerschmitt Bf109E of 9 JG 54 engaging in a head on dogfight over the shore of southeastern England.

Print is # 101/1000 and signed by the artist and two Battle of Britain pilots, one of them the highest scoring Royal Air Force ( and Allied ) fighter pilot of WWII with 34 victories, Air Vice Marshal “Jonnie” Johnson . In 1939 just before Germany invaded Poland Johnson enlisted in the RAFVR ( Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ) and was sent to RAF North Weald satellite airfield. When WWII officially broke out in September 1939 he was sent to the Initial Training Wing in Cambridge where he was assigned to fighter pilot training. He received his wings in August 1940 soon afterwards was taught to fly the Supermarine Spitfire. On June 24th, 1941 Johnson scored his first solo aerial victory and three months later was promoted to flight lieutenant, around which time he also became a flying Ace. Following these successes he was given command of No. 12 Wing, the first to be stationed in Europe. By the time of the German surrender he’d scored 34 aerial victories making him the highest scoring Allied Ace.

The second signature in that of “ The Fighter General “ Generalleutnant Adolf Galland. He became a skillful glider pilot before age 20 and joined the civilian airline Lufthansa in 1932. Galland served with Germany’s Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War. When Germany invaded Poland he held a staff post but went on to serve in a fighter unit during the campaign against France in 1940 and led a fighter squadron during the Battle of Britain. He was promoted to commander of the Luftwaffe’s Fighter Arm and a year later was promoted to Major General at age 30, becoming the youngest general in the German Armed Forces. Despite his able leadership he was blamed by Adolf Hitler for the gradual collapse of the German air defenses and relieved of his command. He was soon returned to active duty as the commander of an elite squadron of jet fighters. At war’s end he was captured and imprisoned for a time after which he served as technical advisor for the Argentine Air Force. The Luftwaffe was reestablished in 1956 and although Galland was suggested as the new head of the German Air Force, it was not to be. Knowing what vast tasks awaited building a new Air Force he joined a private company in Düsseldorf that

was already doing consulting work for armament firms and later resigned, opening his own consulting office in Bonn. Overseas manufacturers did not know the key personalities

of the new Luftwaffe which had to be completed reconstructed so a man with Galland’s experience, contacts and demonstrated capabilities fitted into the situation perfectly.

His memoirs were read all over the world and aerospace companies were eager to have him represent them in the new German armaments market. Later he became a roving ambassador for the German fighter pilots of World War Two and developed a close personal relationship with retired RAF Wing Commander Robert Stratford-Tuck both enjoying

a rollicking good time together down through the decades. Galland’s lectures and appearances at seminars increased his popularity as the years passed and audiences never seemed to tire of Galland or the other distinguished airmen who shared the podium with him. Galland entered his eighth decade with every material comfort a man could require

and in February 1984 married once again. This final foray into martial bliss did wonders for his moral as he battled against various health problems. At a reception given in Oberwinter Anton “ Tonius “ Weiler, head of the German Fighter Pilot’s Association characterized the Galland mystique: Glory and inactivity are two things that don’t mix, and Galland always acted accordingly.

Print measures 23” by 17” and has a one inch tear at the top left hand border. Also this is a sold out print.