Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely framed print of Robert Taylor’s painting THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN, matted and put into a museum grade frame measuring 36 ¼" x 27". This is number 450/1250 of a run of these prints made for collectors, and will make a fantastic display piece on any wall. The painting is set in March 1945, showing two Arado Ar 234 Jet Bombers surrounded by three Messerschmitt Me 262 Sturmvogel ("Storm Bird") fighter-bombers, hoping to knock out the Ludendorff bridge and prevent U.S. forces from crossing the Rhine.

Within 9 months of the historic Normandy landings, the US First Army had reached the Rhine – Germany’s last blockade against the advancing American onslaught. Adolf H had ordered German troops to prevent at all costs the US Army establishing a bridge-head across the river and, as they retreated to the eastern bank, the vital bridges were to be destroyed.

Like all strategic river crossings, the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen had been packed with explosives and primed for detonation, but either sabotage or a lucky tank shell took out the command wire, preventing all 60 charges from exploding. When news reached Adolf H of the American crossing at Remagen he ordered everything imaginable to be thrown at the bridge in an attempt to destroy it. V2 rockets, underwater frogmen, saboteurs and all aircraft at the Luftwaffe’s disposal were sent into action.

Lifting off from their bases, a combined force of the Luftwaffe’s new jets, Me262 and Arado 234 bombers, set out with great determination to take out the Bridge at Remagen. The attacking force flew through a terrifying barrage of American anti-aircraft fire from batteries now dug in on both sides of the railroad bridge. Relying on their incredible speed and maneuverability in an effort to destroy their target, this valiant mission was the first significant combined aircraft attack in the history of jet combat aviation.

This is summarized in the paragraph below the framed print, which reads:

THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN
by
Robert Taylor

Arado 234 and Me262 Jets of the Luftwaffe make a last desperate attack on the
American held Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine at Remagen, March 1945.

Additionally, the print is signed by artist Robert Taylor on the far left, with the following signatures of FIVE German Luftwaffe Pilots, all of them highly decorated and many of them Aces:

- Leutnant Herbert Altner - Ace with 21 Aerial Victories
- Major Hansgeorg Bätcher - Me 262 Pilot - Knights Cross with Oak Leaves
- Oberleutnant Heiner Haeffner - Pilotted the Me 262 'Yellow 7' now in the Smithsonian.
- Major Erich Rudorffer - Ace with 200+ Aerial Victories
- Major Heinz Unrau - Me 262 Pilot Nominated for the Knight's Cross (war ended before awarded)

A great display item ready for further research and display!