Aviation Art
by James Baldwin
Aviation Art ~ Bf-109E Pips Priller
DIE JAGD DER PARTIE
'The Hunting Party'
The Bf 109-E of Oberleutnant Josef “Pips” Priller of JG 51, on a hunting sweep over the South of England in the autumn of 1940. Between May and October, Priller claimed 20 kills against the RAF thus earning the Ritterkreuz. He was to become one of the highest scoring aces of WWII with 101 claims. Unusually, all of these were on the Western Front and 68 were against Spitfires! He became famous when with his wingman, flying an FW190 he strafed the landing beaches of Normandy on 6th June 1944, which was the only showing by the Luftwaffe on that day. He led the last major Luftwaffe operation of the war, when he led JG26 in the ill-fated attack on Allied airfields on 1st January 1945.
Only eight Luftwaffe pilots achieved over 100 victories during the Second World War and of those Galland, Mayer and Priller were the only ones to achieve this exclusively in the West. In his book 'Full Circle', RAF fighter pilot Johnnie Johnson recorded that most of Pips Priller's claims could be confirmed by the Allies.
Credible Bf-109 links:
Battle of Britain Historical Society
For aviation art sales and commissions please contact the artist
©
COPYRIGHT - James Baldwin
All images shown on this website are protected by copyright.
No artwork
may be reproduced without prior consent by the artist.
Web Design by art4arts8
