Dark Defenders,

by Robert Bailey

In early 1945, Leutnant Jorg Czypionka takes off from his base at Burg-bei-Magdeburg in Germany, to defend the area from an incoming Lancaster raid.

Lt. Czypionka is one of the very few Luftwaffe pilots who flew the revolutionary Messerschmitt 262 jet during night operations in WWII. This was the Kommando Welter 10/NJG­11 and Jorg flew 'Red 6.' Another 262 takes off while Lt. Czypionka climbs for height. Below, we see two night fighter Me­110's warming up for night missions, with ground crew standing by. An Me­109 is parked after its day's work. Because a black-out was in effect, runway lights were lit for only a few minutes. For the same reason, a mechanic hastily closes a workshop door to prevent light from being seen by marauding Allied fighters.

Overall print size 24" x  34"