Description

The arctic convoy battles of 1942 were among the most hazardous for the allies. Challenged by the intimidating German surface fleet, submarine forces and the ever present Luftwaffe, the multinational merchantmen relied upon the over-stretched and overworked Royal Navy for protection. In addition, the allies had to deal with the natural ebb and flow of the seasons in the extreme northern hemisphere. During winter, ice packs forced the convoys further south toward the enemy, while in summer the long hours of daylight exposed them to the ever marauding German forces. It was the task of the German air force and navy to halt the supply of war material to their natural enemy, Russia, by whatever means. In convoy PQ-17, their co-ordinated attack resulted in the sinking of a staggering 23 of the 34 convoy vessels. In "Arctic Encounter," the ships of PQ-17 are under attack by the Ju-88 bombers of III/KG-30 based at Bardufoss, Norway July 5, 1942. Oberst Hajo Herrmann, leading his combat group K.G. 30, attacks an allied merchantman in the Barents Sea in his Ju-88. During this attack, five ships received direct hits and others were damaged. Among the arctic convoys, PQ-17 was the most tragic, being nearly decimated by the Luftwaffe and U-boats...Signed by the artist : Robert Bailey and 4 Royal Navt Merchant Seamen Frank Saies-Jones , C. N. Mawer , John C. (Jim) Colman and Donald W. Newman plus Luftwaffe Legend Oberst Hajo Herrmann...This particular print has been additionally signed by 27 Luftwaffe Knights Cross Holder Bomber Pilots : Otto Engel , Fritz Steudel , Josef Scholz , Wilhelm Bertram , Dieter Lukesch , Dr Hubert Spadiut , Erich Taeger , Georg Ackermann , Josef Peters , Willi Dipberger , Otto Edler von Ballasko , Heinrich Schmetz , Johanne Boos , Gunther Loffelbein , Karl Beier , Udo Cordes , Heinz Cramer , Hans-Georg Batcher , Heinz Unrau , Gunther Frach , Hermann Hogeback , Herbert Isachsen , Richard Czekay and Josef Luxenburger...These signatures are very rare and are impossible to obtain anymore...priced @ £695.00 for this Multi signed Artist Proof copy...To complement the purchase of your fine art print, we are now able to offer a professional Picture Framing service. For further details please contact us by phone or email