Eastern Front Eagles

The small aviation art print 'Eastern Front Eagles' by Stephen Brown shows Focke Wulf Fw 190D-9s of III/JG 6 at Welzow early in 1945. The aircraft in the foreground is that flown by legendary Luftwaffe Ace Gerhard Barkhorn (Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords).

With 301 victories to his credit Gerhard Barkhorn is the second highest scoring fighter pilot of all time, surpassed only by the great Erich Hartmann with 352 victories. Born on 20 March 1919 Gerhard Barkhorn joined the Luftwaffe in 1937 and was initially posted to JG 2. After a short period he moved to JG 52 where he would stay for most of the war. Surprisingly it took 120 sorties before he recorded his first victory, in Russia on 2 July 1941. Thereafter successes came regularly as did recognition for his efforts in the form of personal awards. During his 273rd victory on 31 May 1944 Barkhorn was seriously wounded and forced to spend several months in hospital, not returning to service until October 1944. From January 1945 he spent 3 months as Kommodore of JG 6. The war ended for him with a flying accident on 21 April during a short tour flying the Me262 jet fighter with JV44.