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Desert Sharks and Eagles by Nicolas Trudgian.
The air war fought in the skies above the inhospitable wastelands of the North
African desert were among the most hotly contested of the war. The outcome of
the bitter land war raging below largely depended upon who controlled the air
space above, and both sides knew it. JG-27, having cut its teeth in the battles
of France and Britain, was the first Luftwaffe unit to arrive in North Africa.
Commanded by the mercurial Eduard Neumann, its Me109s were superior to the
Hurricanes and P-40 Kittyhawks flown by the RAF pilots and, without the
restriction of close escort duties dictated on the Western Front, the JG-27
pilots roamed the desert skies, closing in combat with the British fighters at
every opportunity. The North African air campaign spawned many fighter aces,
including Hans-Joachim Marseille who claimed more than 150 victories in his
short career - more than any other Luftwaffe ace flying against RAF pilots. The
scale of the desert air war is highlighted by raw statistics: 1400 British
aircraft lost; over 1200 Luftwaffe destroyed. A dog-fight between Me109s from
JG-27 and P-40 Kittyhawks of the RAFs 12 Squadron, led by Killer Caldwell, and
later Billy Drake, 112 Squadron were in constant combat with Edu Neumanns
fighters as they jousted for air supremacy above Rommels advancing Afrika Korps
tanks. Below them, the desolate beauty of the Libyan desert stretches as far as
the eye can see. |
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Desert Sharks and Eagles by Nicolas Trudgian.
The air war fought in the skies above the inhospitable wastelands of the North African desert were among the most hotly contested of the war. The outcome of the bitter land war raging below largely depended upon who controlled the air space above, and both sides knew it. JG-27, having cut its teeth in the battles of France and Britain, was the first Luftwaffe unit to arrive in North Africa. Commanded by the mercurial Eduard Neumann, its Me109s were superior to the Hurricanes and P-40 Kittyhawks flown by the RAF pilots and, without the restriction of close escort duties dictated on the Western Front, the JG-27 pilots roamed the desert skies, closing in combat with the British fighters at every opportunity. The North African air campaign spawned many fighter aces, including Hans-Joachim Marseille who claimed more than 150 victories in his short career - more than any other Luftwaffe ace flying against RAF pilots. The scale of the desert air war is highlighted by raw statistics: 1400 British aircraft lost; over 1200 Luftwaffe destroyed. A dog-fight between Me109s from JG-27 and P-40 Kittyhawks of the RAFs 12 Squadron, led by Killer Caldwell, and later Billy Drake, 112 Squadron were in constant combat with Edu Neumanns fighters as they jousted for air supremacy above Rommels advancing Afrika Korps tanks. Below them, the desolate beauty of the Libyan desert stretches as far as the eye can see.
Signed limited edition of 450 prints. Paper size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £180.00 Signed by Hauptmann Emil Clade (deceased), Group Captain Billy Drake, Squadron Leader Neville Duke (deceased) and Oberst Eduard Neumann (deceased).
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £220.00 Signed by Hauptmann Emil Clade (deceased), Group Captain Billy Drake, Squadron Leader Neville Duke (deceased) and Oberst Eduard Neumann.
Limited edition of publishers proofs. Paper size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £190.00 Signed by Hauptmann Emil Clade (deceased), Group Captain Billy Drake, Squadron Leader Neville Duke (deceased) and Oberst Eduard Neumann (deceased).
Nicolas Trudgian Promotional Flyer. A4 Size Double Sheet 11.5 inches x 8 inches (30m x 21cm) . Price £1.50
** (Ex Display) Signed limited edition of 450 prints. (To copies reduced to clear) Paper size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £120.00 Signed by Hauptmann Emil Clade, Group Captain Billy Drake, Squadron Leader Neville Duke (deceased) and Oberst Eduard Neumann (deceased).
ITEM CODE NT0315
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Desert Sharks and Eagles by Nicolas Trudgian
- The Signatures
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 | Hauptmann Emil Clade (deceased)
Born 26th February 1916, Emil Clade joined the Luftwaffe in April 1937. At the outbreak of war he was with 1 Staffel JG27 and took part in the Battle of France, the fighting over Dunkirk and then in 1940, based in the Pas de Calais, in the Battle of Britain, where he scored his first victory flying the Me109E. In early 1941 Emil was posted with JG27 to North Africa where he flew continually until the German forces were eventually defeated at the end of 1942. By the end of the war he had survived 6 bail outs and scored 26 air victories. He was awarded the German Gold Cross, and Iron Cross 1st Class. Sadly, Emil Clade passed away in May 2010.
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 | Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC*
Joined the R.A.F. in 1936. His first posting was to 1 squadron flying Furies then Hurricanes and first saw action over France in the Spring of 1940 and was awarded his first DFC by the end of the year. As a Squadron Leader he was sent to West Africa to command 128 Squadron. 1942 saw his commanding 112 squadron in North Africa, in July saw an immediate BAR to his DFC and in December an immediate DSO. Posted to Malta as Wing Commander he won a US DFC in 1943. Back in the UK he now was flying Typhoons in the lead up to D-Day. With Pete Brothers he was sent to the States to attend the US Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. After the war he continued in the R.A.F. serving in Japan, Malaya, Singapore, Switzerland and his final posting as Group Captain RAF Chivenor, Devon. Retired in July 1963. Going to Portugal where he ran a Bar and Restaurant and dealing in Real Estate. In his flying career he accounted for more than 24 enemy aircraft.
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Billy Drake signing the print - Fighting Lady - by Graeme Lothian. |
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 | Squadron Leader Neville Duke, DSO, OBE, DFC*, AFC, CzMC (deceased)
Neville Duke flew Spitfires as wingman to Sailor Malan in 92 Squadron. In November 1941 he was posted to 112 Squadron in the Middle East. After a second tour in the Desert, he flew a third tour, with 145 Squadron in Italy. He was the top scoring Allied Ace in the Mediterranean with 28 victories. After the war, in 1953, he captured the World Air Speed record. He died 7th April 2007.
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Neville Duke signing artwork of Graeme Lothian. |
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 | Oberst Eduard Neumann (deceased)
A veteran of the Spanish Campaign, Edward Neumann, at the start of the war, was leading 4./JG26 in France, later promoted Adjutant of I./JG27. He took part in the Balkan Campaign before moving in 1941 to North Africa, where I./JG27 was the only German fighter unit for the first nine months. In 1942 he became Kommodore of JG27, a position which he held throughout the remainder of the Desert Campaign. He was credited with moulding the careers of many outstanding pilots, the best known being the young Hauptmann Marseille. Following the defeat of Rommel's Afrika Korps at El Alamein JG27 covered their retreat back to Tunisia. When his wing left the desert, 'Edu' Neumann was transferred to the Staff of General of the Fighter Arm, where he remained until 1944. Promoted to Oberst in the autumn of that year, he took over as Fighter Commander of Northern Italy. Edu Neumann ended the war as one of the Luftwaffe's most highly respected Commanders. Died 9th August 2004.
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