Battle of Britain Print

"Coup de Grace for a 109"

B: in the series "Echoes of the Home Front by John Howard Worsley

The story-sheet with this print includes authentic photos sent to author by Herr Neumann.
August 18th 1940: On the day before his 24th birthday, Oblt Julius Neumann destroys his
faithful "Emil" after crash-landing on St. Martin's Down, Shanklin.
This link gives more about Julius Neumann including photos

and this link even more facts and photos

Extract from the Story-Sheet:

........................ Meanwhile Julius Neumann was chasing a Spitfire from the Solent towards
the back of the Isle of Wight. He had been separated from his companions but was satisfied to see a thin trail of black smoke spewing back from his target. Another burst from his guns would probably do the trick but a quick glance over his shoulder to check that he in turn was not being pursued, changed his satisfaction to dismay. It was not a British fighter that he saw but another trail of smoke. In the slipstream of the two aircraft, white and black tails played like paper streamers on a windy day. The white streamer was from his own cooling system and he could feel the cockpit getting uncomfortably hot.

There was no time to continue the battle. Too far from base to hope to get home, it was time to bale out and the canopy was jettisoned in readiness. However, the aircraft was far too low and now the engine was running rough. As the pilot quickly glanced from side to side to see if there was a suitable place to land, the engine seized. He was now over land and terrain couldn't be worse. The dog-fight had brought the aircraft to the most hilly part of the Island and just ahead loomed the top of St. Martin's Down with the town of Shanklin beyond. There could be little choice and so the Messerschmitt was side-slipped towards the only possible field. It was a great gamble for the ground curved over towards a sparse hedge beyond which was an inland cliff.

Desperately the pilot concentrated on getting down. He had a fleeting impression of panic stricken cows dashing in all directions and ..............

What happens next is part of the story-sheet

Available as hand mounted prints 10" x 8" , 14" x 11" & 20" x 16".

Also available to order as Canvas Repro'