The Forgotten Fighter by Stan Stokes. In early 1937, Bell Aircraft presented a revolutionary fighter design to the USAAC, the P-39 Airacobra. Incorporating machine guns and the most powerful cannon available, the new design by Robert Woods, utilized many revolutionary design features. The all-metal, low wing, monoplane design utilized a centrally located engine in the fuselage, a feature which enhanced maneuverability. A nine foot shaft ran through the cockpit to drive the propeller. Woods design was the first fighter to incorporate a forward tricycle landing gear, which gave the P-39 pilot great visibility while on the ground. The first prototype flew in 1938. Equipped with a supercharged Allison water-cooled V-12 rated at 1,150-HP, the prototype performed admirably. It exhibited a top speed of 390-MPH, and an amazingly quick rate of climb. Unfortunately for the Airacobra, the USAAC decided to eliminate the supercharged engine from the project, a move which would relegate the Airacobra to the distinction of being Americas forgotten fighter of WW II. Without the supercharger the P-39s performance at altitude was inferior to most of the adversaries it would face. In 1941 lend-leased Airacobras went into battle with the RAF, but were quickly withdrawn from front line duty. Many of these, and many others eventually found service with the Red Air Force. In fact the Soviets ultimately received more than half of the 9,500 aircraft produced. Alexander Pokryshkin  was the second highest scoring Soviet ace of WW II with fifty-nine victories. Forty-eight of these were achieved why flying the Aircacobra. Pokryshkin was a great leader who inspired others who flew under his command. He joined the Red Air Force in 1933 and attained his first victory (over a Bf-109E) in June of 1941 while piloting a Mig-3. He was a great tactician, and a student of fighter tactics. On one occasion his unit attacked a flight of sixteen Ju-87s, and Pokryshkin bagged four. While flying in the Caucasus region he became well known to his German adversaries, who would radio, Achtung! Der Ass Pokryshkin in der luft! when they realized he was airborne. Shot down on 4 occasions, he was made squadron commander of the elite 16th Guards IAP. Considered the father of Soviet fighter tactics, thirty pilots under his command would go on to be awarded the coveted Hero of the Soviet Union medal. The P-39 also was in service with several units in the Pacific early in the War. Lacking sufficient range to be used for many escort missions, and deficient in dog fighting against the superior Japanese aircraft they faced, the P-39s were relegated by the USAAC to ground attack missions. The aircraft was withdrawn from front line service as more capable P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s became available.  In spite of the deficiencies of the P-39, a derivative design, the P-63 Kingcobra, was one of only nine designs evaluated by the USAAF in 1942-43 to be put into production. Although similar in appearance the P-63 was actually a totally new design. It was not produced in any great quantity, and two hundred of these aircraft were modified into Flying Pinballs, and were used to train B-17 gunners. Black Devil of the Ukraine by Stan Stokes.  Erich Hartmann, with an amazing 352 confirmed victories, is the all time ace of aces. Born in Weissach, Germany in 1922, Hartmann was the son of a doctor, and the Hartmann family had lived in Shangai, China for several years. In 1929 the Hartmann family returned to Germany. Mrs. Hartmann learned to fly, and took her two young sons flying on many occasions. In 1933, when Hitler came to power, many flying clubs were organized throughout Germany, and Erich learned to fly gliders. When Hartmann had graduated from high school in 1940, he immediately applied to join the Luftwaffe. During his training Hartmann was arrested for an unauthorized aerobatic display. After earning his wings, he was posted to JG 52 on the Russian front. Hartmann reported to a Luftwaffe supply depot in Poland hoping to pick-up a new Bf-109 for his flight to the front. When no 109s were available, he offered to fly a Stuka Ju-87 to the front. Inexperienced with the 87, Harmanns debut was not very impressive as he managed to crash the aircraft into a wooden building prior to taking off.  Hartmann did not attain his first victory until November 5, 1942. He missed the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa, when many Luftwaffe pilots ran up amazing victory totals against an ill-equipped and relatively inexperienced Red Air Force. In the month of August 1943 Hartmann shot down 49 aircraft. After scoring his 148th victory, he was awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross on October 29, 1943. Four months later when his tally had reached 200, he was awarded the coveted Oak Leaves. In August of 1944 upon attainment of his 301st victory, Hartmann was awarded Germanys highest decoration, the Diamonds to his Knights Cross. Only ten Luftwaffe pilots received this decoration. Hartmann was shot down twice, and on fourteen occasions had to crash land his aircraft. Erich flew the Bf-109, which was very recognizable with its distinctively painted black tulip design on its nose. The Soviets nicknamed Hartmann, The Black Devil of the Ukraine. A price of 10,000 Rubles was placed on his head. At Wars end Hartmann was captured by the Soviets, who imprisoned him for ten years. He was released in 1956, and rejoined the Luftwaffe with his former rank of Major. He learned to fly jet aircraft at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Hartmann served in the Luftwaffe until his retirement. He passed away in 1994 at the age of seventy-two. It is highly unlikely, modern warfare being what it is, that any pilot will ever match the score of Erich Hartmann, the ace of all aces.

EAGLES OVER THE STEPPES BY GRAEME LOTHIAN  Depicting ME109s flying over the Russian Front, the background is the enormous panorama of the Russian Steppe. Signed by 4 leading German aces who fought on the Russian Front. The enormity of the battlefield on the Eastern Front was staggering in its vastness. Stretching, as it did, nearly two thousand miles from frozen wastelands of the Arctic in the north, to the Black Sea in the south.      Over this hostile, formidable territory fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe flew more combat missions and shot down more enemy aircraft during World War Two than any other group of fighter pilots in the entire history of aerial combat. Many of the top aces were in battle from the Spanish Civil War in 1938 until the fall of Germany in 1945. They flew continuously day after day, sometimes in the most appalling weather conditions, until they were shot down or wounded.     Graeme Lothian's emotive print pays tribute to the Fighter Aces of the Eastern Front. In the Background is the enormous panorama of the Russian Steppe. Günther Rall is seen leading his pilots over enemy territory. Each print is individually signed by Günther Rall, Walter Krupinski, Peter Düttman, Walter Wolfrum. The Signatories: Generalleutenant Günther Rall      With 275 victories Günther Rall is Germany's third ranking Ace. After his 39th victory he was wounded and paralysed for six months and he then joined 8/JG 52 and later commanded III/JG - 52 on the Russian Front. In the spring of 1944 he joined II/JG-11 on the Western Front and towards the end of the war he was Kommodore of JG-300. Günther flew 621 missions, was shot down five times and his decorations include the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Generalleutenant Walter Krupinski     Walter Krupinski known as "Count Punski" was a popular figure in the Luftwaffe's Fighter Arm. In 1942 he joined legendary JG-52 and on one epic day claimed eleven victories. Early in 1944 he joined I/JG-5 in the West and later becamme Kommandeur of II/JG-11 and then Kommandeur of 111/JG-26. During the closing weeks of the war he flew ME-262 jet fighters with Adolf Galland's all star JV-44. The 'Count' had 197 victories and his decorations include the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves. Oberleutenant Peter Düttman     Peter Düttman joined 5/JG-52 in the spring of 1943 and served with that unit until the end of the war when he was a Staffelkapitan. During those two years on the Russian Front Peter flew 395 missions, had 152 victories, including nine in one day, was shot down or crash landed 17 times but was never wounded. His decorations include the Knights Cross and towards the end of the war was recommended for Oak Leaves. Oberleutenant Walter Wolfrum   Walter Wolfrum joined 5/JG-22 in February 1943, commanded by famous 'Macky' Steinhoff, and was shot down 3 times and was wounded twice before his first victory. Later he commanded 1/JG-52 on 30 May 1944, he had his most successful day with eleven victories. Walter flew 423 missions, had 137 victories, was wounded four times and had 12 crash landings. His decorations include the Knights Cross and German Cross in gold.

FIGHTER GENERAL BY GRAEME LOTHIAN  Fighter general shows 'Dolfo' Galland leading a schwarm of BF109's out low at tree top height over the Kent countryside after doing battle with spitfires, during the last week of August 1940. This remarkable pilot was awarded the Knights Cross as a Major on the 15th August. His daring and leadership won the hearts of his men and respect from RAF Pilots. the Oak leaves was awarded on the 23rd September 1940 and crossed Swords in June 1941 after 69 victories.  At the end of 1941 at age only 29 he was promoted Inspector General of the Fighter Arm. Leaving his post as Kommodore JG26 to Gerhard Schoepfel he was awarded the Diamonds to the Knights Cross in January 1942 at Oberst. As the youngest General in the German High Command he held this post until 1944, after open disagreements with Goring let to his dismissal. Reverting to combat flying he formed, with Steinhoff, the legendary JV-44, flying the ME262 jet fighter. His score by wars end stood at 104 all on the western Front. he was the only General to lead a squadron into battle.    General Leutnant Walter Krupinski  Born in 1920 in eats Prussia, Walter Kuprinski joined the Luftwaffe as a 19 year old on the day of the war. Commissioned as a Leutnant in 6/JG52 in February 1941. He was awarded the Knights Cross in October 1942 after 56 victories. promoted Staffelkapitan of 7?jg52 in March 1943. awarded Oak leaves in march 1944 after 154 Victories. taking over II/JG11 on the invasion of France and later III?JG26. he led that group until its disbandment on 26th march 1945.   Haupmann Krupinski joined Adolf Galland's squadron of experts of JV44 scoring 2 victories in the ME262 Jet. Bringing his total to 197 confirmed victories  Krupinski's 5 wounds were recognised by the award of the Wound Badge in Gold. Major Erich Rudorffer  Born in 1917, Rudorffer won his Ritter Kreuz in May 1941. Whilst with JG2 he down 45 RAF planes over the Channel and a further 27 in Tunisia.  But it was with JG54 in Russia that he had his spectacular victories, scoring 5 Soviet Aircraft in 4 minutes on one mission and 7 aircraft in 7 minutes. But his most outstanding feat of arial combat was 13 enemy aircraft in just 17 minutes. The Oak Leaves followed on April 1944 and the Crossed swords on January 1945. he finished the War as an Ace on Jets with JG7 scoring 12 victories in the mE262. In his remarkable career he never went on leave, was shot down 16 times, bailed out 9 times, flew over 1,000 missions and scored 222 victories, the seventh highest ranking expert. Major Gerhard Schoepfel.  Born in 1912, Transferred to the Luftwaffe from the infantry in 1935, he was Steffelkapitan 9/JG26 at the beginning of the war. he succeeded Galland as Kommandeur of III?JG26 when Galland was promoted Kommodore and was awarded the Knights Cross in September 1940.  he took over as Kommodore when Galland was Promoted. A post he held for just over a year.   Serving as fighter operations officer in Italy then JAFU, Norway and later Hungary. As Kommodore JG6 in Czechoslovakia he was captured by the Russians and remained a prisoner of War until 1949. he flew 700 combat missions with the Jadwaffe. Major Heinz Lange  Began his combat in the polish Campaign and in 1939 shot down his first aircraft, a British Blenheim Bomber, During the Battle of Britain he flew 76 missions. After service with JG 54 he was given command of 3/JG51.    By May 1944 he led IV Gruppe JG51 and reached his total of 70 victories being awarded the Knights Cross in November. promoted Major was appointed Kommodore of Molders JG51 and in all flew 628 combat missions. Colonel Heinz Marquardt He was born in Braunsberg in 1922 and spent his entire combat time with JG51 and in 320 combat missions with the Luftwaffe Heinze Negus Marquardt was accredited with 121 aerial victories, all scored on the eastern Front. Flying both the BF109 and FW190. With 16 more unconfirmed. He was himself shot down 8 times and on 7th October 1944 he downed 8 enemy aircraft in one day and was awarded the German Cross in September 1944 and the coveted Knights Cross in November 1944. Captain Ernst-Wilhelm Reimert Born in 1919 this well known and highly decorated fighter pilot had by 21942 achieved over 100 victories on the eastern Front with JG27. He was posted to Tunisia where he became the top scoring Luftwaffe Ace in this theatre of war. With JG77 sent to Italy he continued to score spectacular and ended the war flying 715 combat mission and scored 174 aerial victories and was awarded the Knights Cross with oak leaves and Crossed Swords. Leutnant Fritz Tegtmeier  Born in 1917 he joined 2/JG-54 in October 1940, but after being injured in a crash it wasn't until 1941 that he achieved his first victory. A brief time as a fighter Instructor in 1943 he returned to the Russian Front and his score soon started to mount, By May 1944 he had over 100 victories. August 1944 saw his appointment as Staffelkapitan of 3/JG-54.  In March 1945 he transferred to JG-7 flying mE262 Jet. By the end of the war he had flown 700 combat missions and had 146 victories. he was awarded the Knights Cross. Leutnant Peter Duttmann  Peter Duttmann Joined the luftwaffe at the beginning of the war and after Fighter training was posted to 5/JG-52 in the Spring of 1943 and stayed  with this top-scoring unit until the end of the War when he was a Staffel-Kapitan. he was shot down or crash landed 17 times and on 3 occasions landed far behind Russian lines and each time walked back to his unit, sometimes taking days to do so.     The 2 years Peter spent on the front he flew 395 missions and had 152 confirmed victories and more unconfirmed, all in the BF109 including2 tanks.   His decorations include the Knights Cross and was recommended for the Oak leaves at the very end of the war.