{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-luftwaffe-ace-gunther-rall-signed-limited-edition-portrait-print-by-j-g-keck-275-victories-no-310-500-framed-22-x-28","title":"Original German WWII Luftwaffe Ace Günther Rall Signed Limited Edition Portrait Print by J.G. Keck - 275 Victories, No. 310\/500 - Framed 22 ¼ x 28 ¼”","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is a striking framed limited edition portrait of \u003cstrong\u003eGünther Rall, the third highest scoring fighter ace in aviation history\u003c\/strong\u003e, personally signed in pencil by Rall and by artist \u003cstrong\u003eJ.G. Keck\u003c\/strong\u003e. Numbered \u003cstrong\u003e310\/500\u003c\/strong\u003e, the print depicts Rall in his wartime Luftwaffe uniform and commemorates a combat career that ultimately produced \u003cstrong\u003e275 credited aerial victories in 621 combat missions\u003c\/strong\u003e, placing him behind only Erich Hartmann and Gerhard Barkhorn. Rall achieved the overwhelming majority of his victories on the Eastern Front while flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109, survived being shot down on multiple occasions, was seriously wounded several times, and was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. For collectors of Luftwaffe aviation history, the combination of an original Rall signature, limited edition Keck artwork, and attractive period style framing makes this an especially appealing display piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe portrait was created by artist:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJ.G. Keck\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eand is signed in pencil by Keck together with the limited edition number:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e310\/500\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGünther Rall has also personally signed the print in pencil at the right side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRall was born on March 10, 1918, in Gaggenau, Germany. He entered military service before WWII and transferred into the Luftwaffe, qualifying as a fighter pilot before the outbreak of hostilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis early combat career was spent with:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJagdgeschwader 52\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJG 52\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRall flew combat patrols on the Western Front during the relatively quiet period commonly known as the “Phoney War” and subsequently participated in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis first aerial victory came on May 18, 1940, when he claimed a French Curtiss Hawk 75 south of Metz.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was after Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941 that Rall’s victory total began to rise dramatically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJG 52 became one of the most famous Luftwaffe fighter wings of WWII and was associated with the three highest scoring fighter pilots in aviation history:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eErich Hartmann - 352 victories\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGerhard Barkhorn - 301 victories\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGünther Rall - 275 victories\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three became closely associated with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the enormous air war fought over the Eastern Front.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRall was ultimately credited with \u003cstrong\u003e275 aerial victories during 621 combat missions\u003c\/strong\u003e. Of these, 272 were claimed against Soviet aircraft on the Eastern Front, while three were scored against Western Allied opponents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis success came at considerable personal cost. Rall was repeatedly shot down and was wounded on three occasions. One of his most serious crashes occurred in November 1941 after combat over the Soviet Union. He suffered a broken back and spent months recovering before returning to flying status.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite those injuries, Rall returned to combat and continued accumulating victories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe received the \u003cstrong\u003eKnight’s Cross of the Iron Cross\u003c\/strong\u003e in September 1942 after reaching 65 victories. The Oak Leaves followed later that year as his score passed 100, and in September 1943 he received the \u003cstrong\u003eSwords to the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves\u003c\/strong\u003e, by then one of Germany’s highest military decorations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn November 28, 1943, Rall achieved his \u003cstrong\u003e250th aerial victory\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough the Eastern Front accounted for almost his entire combat record, Rall was later transferred west to participate in the defense of Germany against increasingly powerful American and British air forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn May 12, 1944, while fighting U.S. Army Air Forces fighters, Rall was shot down and badly wounded. His left thumb was severed during the engagement, temporarily ending his combat career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe returned to command later in the war and ultimately served with several Luftwaffe fighter formations, including JG 52, JG 11, and JG 300.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRall’s story did not end with WWII.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the creation of the West German Bundeswehr, he returned to military service in the 1950s and became an important figure in rebuilding the postwar German Air Force within NATO.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis later career placed him in a completely different aviation world from the one in which he had first fought. The piston engined Bf 109 had given way to modern jet aircraft, including the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRall eventually rose to the rank of \u003cstrong\u003eGeneralleutnant\u003c\/strong\u003e and served as \u003cstrong\u003eInspector of the Luftwaffe\u003c\/strong\u003e, effectively the professional head of the West German Air Force. His combined wartime and postwar military career therefore spanned nearly four decades and connected two radically different periods of German aviation history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn later life Rall became well known on the international aviation and veterans circuit. He participated in reunions, lectures, historical events, and meetings with former Allied adversaries, making his autograph particularly familiar to serious aviation collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis print was published by \u003cstrong\u003eKing’s Crown Gallery\u003c\/strong\u003e as a limited edition of only 500 examples. According to the original information associated with the print, the edition was already approximately 80 percent sold by 1989 and has long since sold out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe complete framed presentation measures approximately:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e22 ¼ x 28 ¼”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe frame remains in great overall condition and is fitted with \u003cstrong\u003eacrylic rather than glass\u003c\/strong\u003e, reducing weight and the risk of breakage while displayed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of \u003cstrong\u003eGünther Rall’s original pencil signature, J.G. Keck’s artist signature, low 500-piece edition, individually numbered 310\/500 status, and an image depicting one of the most successful fighter pilots in history\u003c\/strong\u003e makes this far more compelling than an unsigned Luftwaffe aviation print. It would make an excellent addition to a Günther Rall, Jagdgeschwader 52, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Luftwaffe fighter ace, Eastern Front aviation, or advanced WWII autograph collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44834453323845,"sku":"ONSV26FWI130","price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26FWI130__01.jpg?v=1775050556","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-luftwaffe-ace-gunther-rall-signed-limited-edition-portrait-print-by-j-g-keck-275-victories-no-310-500-framed-22-x-28","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}