Steinhoff's Charge

The aviation art print 'Steinhoff's Charge' by Jim Laurier depicts Johannes 'Macky' Steinhoff with his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 amidst a formation of P-38 Lightnings. Around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 25, 1943, Steinhoff took off from Foggia airbase in southern Italy to test a new engine that had been installed in his Me-109. Oberleutnant Theo Lindemann flew as his wingman. Only a few miles from Foggia, Steinhoff and Lindemann encountered 140 P-38 Lightnings  (75 from 82nd Fighter Group, 65 from the 1st Fighter Group) inbound from their bases in North Africa for an early morning surprise attack on the German airfields in the area. The P-38s had flown over 1,000 miles and were now were flying at low level to avoid detection en route the target area. In a head-on pass, Steinhoff fired into the Lightnings, downing two. One of the P-38 pilots bailed out and landed on the runway at Foggia. He was immediately captured by the Germans. That evening, the American pilot was invited to dine with Steinhoff at his tent quarters. The two men enjoyed friendly conversation late into the night and got very drunk on the local wine.

 

• 500 Giclée prints on archival paper, signed and numbered by the Artist
• 50 Giclée prints on canvas, signed and numbered by the Artist (Image size ca. 56 cm x 66 cm + ca. 2.5 cm border)