Ice Warriors by Nicolas Trudgian features FW190s of JG54 on the Eastern Front.

The Green Heart Warriors carried their famous emblem throughout almost every European theatre during World War Two. Having fought with distinction in the Battle of Britain, JG54 transferred to the Eastern Front, where it was to achieve historic success. Becoming one of the most successful combat fighter wings of the war, JG54 spawned a succession of top fighter Aces, no fewer than 20 achieving more than 100 air victories, its pilots collecting an impressive 58 Knights Cross awards. Flying both Fw190s and Me109s, JG54 took part in the heavy air fighting in the northern region of the Russian Front, where conditions were not for the faint hearted and demanded exceptional piloting skills.

One young Austrian pilot, Walter Nowotny, won a reputation even among Allied pilots, and during the summer of 1943 became a virtual one-man air force in the skies above the Eastern Front. In June 1943 he shot down 41 aircraft, 10 in one day. In August he collected a further 43 air victories, and another 5 the following month. In a dog-fight in October Nowotny shot down a P-40 fighter to record an astounding 250 air victories, becoming the first fighter pilot in history to achieve this score. Nicolas Trudgian's spectacular painting magically captures the busy atmosphere of a Luftwaffe fighter station on the Russian Front in the dead of winter. It is February 1943, the countryside deep in snow, and the temperature well below freezing as Leutnant Walter Nowotny, Staffel-kapitän of 1./JG54, taxis 'White One' out from a crowded dispersal on to the snow covered runway at Krasnogvardeisk. With their temporary whitewash colour scheme glinting in the early morning sunlight, the Fw190A-4s pose a menacing spectacle as they line up to follow the fighters of 2./JG54, already airborne, into the cold morning air. With each print signed by leading Aces who flew with JG54 on the Russian Front in WWII, this spectacular print will provide a valuable addition to the most discerning of aviation art collections. 

Ice Warriors by Nicolas Trudgian is signed by three famous Luftwaffe Aces who flew with JG54 'Green Hearts':
Major HANS-EKKEHARD BOB
Leutnant HUGO BROCH
Major ERIC RUDORFFER.

Published in 2002 this print sold out some time ago and is becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Condition: this copy has a handling kink in the right hand border, it runs across the white border and about 5 mm into the outer edge of the tinted border - it would not be visible if framed. It is otherwise excellent with strong 'as new' colours, having never been framed and having been stored flat and dark at room temperature. It comes with the original Certificate of Authenticity. Normal price for a perfect example of this print would be £135.

The fault would be difficult to show in a photograph - however the print is covered by our 'No Quibble Guarantee' so if its not as you expected you can return it for a full refund.

Note: the 'Nicolas Trudgian' logo on the bottom right of the image does not appear on the actual print itself.