The Tirpitz 11 March
1943
EISMEER PATROL
by Anthony Saunders
On the morning of 11 March 1943, Fw190s from IV./JG5 left their base to
escort the mighty battleship Tirpitz and a screening fleet of escort destroyers
and torpedo boats, at the start of a voyage north to Bogen Bay during
‘Operation Rostock’, designed to escape the increasingly frequent British
bombing raids.
Tirpitz would leave southern Norway to join an impressive
German naval battle fleet gathering near Narvik, one of the largest German
naval bases in Norway. Together with the Scharnhorst,
the heavy cruiser Lützow and the
light cruiser Nürnberg, they would
pose a grave threat to the Arctic convoys.
Tirpitz was the flagship of the German Kriegsmarine. After repeated attempts to sink her she
was eventually destroyed by Lancaster
Bombers of 617 and 9 Squadrons at her anchorage in Altafjord on 12 November
1944.
THE SIGNATURES
This stunning print has been hand numbered and signed by
artist as well as one of the few survivors rescued from the upturned hull of
the Tirpitz when she was sunk, along with an escort pilot who was one the last to fly over the sinking vessel:
After serving
during the “Blitzkrieg” in France, he then flew as a Me-110 wireless operator
over southern Russia, and then night missions against England in Do-217s with
I./KG2. In September 1943 he trained as a fighter pilot and flew 65 missions in
Me109s with III./JG5 on the Arctic Front, scoring three victories. In November
1944 he flew in the ill-fated defense of the German battleship Tirpitz arriving
too late to intercept RAF bombers. He finished the war in command of 16./JG5 in
Norway.
Please note: The prints in my store are hand-signed by the veterans involved in the
painting so the signatures are original autographs and not reproductions.
The certificate of authenticity is included.
CONDITION: My items are guaranteed to be in perfect
condition, any issues are clearly detailed in the description.
SHIPPING: As a former aviation art retailer I have shipped countless prints over
the years. My prints are rolled in acid free tissue and shipped in heavy duty
tubes, and the shipping is insured and guaranteed.
If
you are interested in more than one item I will always do my best to combine
the shipping to save costs – please just ask.