Fw 190
JG 26 Abbeville Kids by Crandall
One of the most famous aggregations of fighter pilots of all time was the legendary Jagdgeschwader 26 led by great names of the Luftwaffe such as Adolf Garland, Gerhard Schoepfel and "Pips' Priller. JG 26 gained a reputation first with the RAF then with American airmen as a special elite "aces" unit where the pilots were hand picked by Herman Goring, so the rumor went. We now know that was not quite the case. "Schlageter" was the official title given JG 26 named after the political martyr Albert Schlageter; however, to the allies JG 26 was known as the "Abbeville Boys", "Abbeville Kids", "The Yellow Nose Bastards", etc. Besides JO 26, JG 2 Richthofen and machines of JG 53 Pik As based near Abbeville, France, had engine cowlings and rudders painting yellow for ID purposes.
During the summer of 1941, II./JG 26 received the first allotments of the Fw l90 A's. As with any new machine, they suffered teething problems, namely with engines overheating and fumes leaking into the cockpit. Gradually these problems were solved with the installation of vents, then louvers on the sides of the cowling. Then finally the BMW 801 engine was moved forward about 5 inches on the A-5 and later series Fw 190.
In this tribute to the Abbeville kids, Kommodore Gerhard Schoepfel leads a Staffel of Fw 190 Aces over the French coast line.
Signed by four JG-26 aces: Gerhard Schopfel, Rolf Hermichen, Adolf Glunz, and Otto Stammberger.
Image size: 27" x 19 1/2"
Print size: 30" x 23"
Limited edition of: 950 signed and numbered
