Me109
Greeenheart Leader by Grinnell
August 15th 1940. High in the sun's fading rays Me109E's of 9./JG54 escort Dornier 17s of KG3 heading to attack Rochester. Led by Oblt. Hans Ekkehard Bob in 'Gelbe Eins' (Yellow One), the Messerschmitts peel of to break up the counter-attack of No.151 Sqn Hurricanes at the height of the Battle of Britain. Based at Guines airfield, near Calais for most of the campaign, JG54 'Greenhearts' were assigned on this day to fly escort to the Do17Z-2s, as part of the Luftwaffe's "Adlertag" preparations, which followed on August 18th.
On the day depicted the Luftwaffe flew over 2000 sorties and in reply Fighter Command launched 974. Heavy losses were taken by both sides. This sortie was the last of three flown that day by the KG3 'Pencil bombers' and 151 Sqn were scrambled and vectored to intercept from North Weald Airfield, Essex. In the ensuing combat Oblt. Bob raised his victories by one.
Flying right through to the "Defense of the Reich" with the "Greenhearts", Hans Ekkehard Bob rose to the rank of Staffelkapitan, going on to fly both the Bf109G-5 and Me 262. He ended the War with forty nine confirmed victories, all on the Western Front.
Signed by:
Hans Ekkehard Bob
Ken Lee
Edition size: 175 signed and numbered
Print size: 24 1/4" w x 18 1/2"h
