Northern Knight,

by Robert Bailey

This exciting combat scenario places us just off the northern coast of Norway during March, 1944. Aircraft are Me­109's and Russian Bostons. Luftwaffe ace Walter Schuck (206 confirmed aerial victories) and his wingman maul a flight of Russian bombers which are attacking a German supply convoy. On March 17th, Schuck brought down SEVEN of these Boston bombers, and was awarded the Knight's Cross shortly afterwards. Combat over arctic waters was particularly hazardous. A pilot could only expect to live for five minutes after immersion in these arctic waters. Lieutnant Schuck was with JG­5, based at Petsamo, Finland. From this base he scored the majority of his long list of victories.

Arctic aerial combat was one of the most demanding forms of warfare known to man. This was primarily due to the elements, which posed harsh conditions on all combatants in the struggle that occurred near the Barents Sea, where the German Luftwaffe and Russian air forces were locked in a deadly clash. This fighting happened at the top of the world, above Norway in a theater known as the 'Polar Sea Front.' The Russians, supplied through the Allied PQ convoys destined for Murmansk and Archangel, tangled almost daily with the Luftwaffe.

These convoys were attacked constantly by both German aircraft and U-boats, especially during the long summer days of the far north. It was only during the long northern nights that the sailors felt a little safer. The Luftwaffe also defended German convoys which supplied bases along the coast of Norway. These convoys, escorted by destroyers and perhaps by flak ships (voorpostenboots), would sometimes be attacked by both British and Russian air forces. The purpose of these attacks was to both deny the enemy of supplies, and to prevent natural resources (iron ore, etc.) from being transported back to Germany to fuel the war effort. At the forefront of this conflict were the men and planes of 7/JG­5, based at Petsamo near Kirkenes, Norway.

Depicted in Robert Bailey's masterpiece, NORTHERN KNIGHT, is just such a scenario, where attacking British lend-lease Boston Bombers, flown by Russian aircrews, have set upon an arriving German supply convoy with a shipment intended for General Dietl's mountain troops. Arriving in time near the Varanger Peninsula to fend off the attacking Bostons, is experten pilot Walter Schuck ('Yellow Nine') and his wing man.

It was on an occasion similar to this (August 23, 1942), that Schuck had one of his most successful combats, surpassing 150 aerial victories. For the Russians, it was a day when they retreated to lick their wounds and plan for a better strategy to thwart the German presence.

225 Limited Edition Prints:  $175

Overall print size 34" x  24"