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Duel In the Dark
by Robert Taylor
| As Lancaster heavy bombers of 106 Squadron approach the target, Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, Kommandeur of IV./ NJG1 and the Luftwaffe's top-scoring night-fighter pilot, makes a daring attack passing feet below the mighty four-engine aircraft. Flying his Me110 night-fighter among the flak and searchlights he has scored hits on the bomber's outer starboard engine. While his gunner fiercely returns fire from the bomber's front turret gunner, the night-fighter Ace will slip into the shadows before selecting another quarry. |
| Overall size: 25" x 32¾" | Available in the following editions |
| 350 | Knights Cross edition | Signed by four Me110 Night-Fighter pilots plus one radio operator. | $320 |
| 250 | Night-Fighter edition | Five Me110 Night-Fighter pilots plus one radio operator. Includes companion print. | $425 |
| The signatures | ||
| Wolfgang Falck KC | Werner Hoffmann KC | Paul Zorner KC |
| Günther Bahr KC | Peter Spoden - (Night-Fighter ed.) | Fritz Rumpelhardt KC |
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Me262B, 'Red 12' of Kommando Welter (10./NJGII) climbs 13½" x 17" (Issued with the Night-Fighter edition only.) |
| The Signatories |
 Wolfgang Falck KCAfter serving in Poland, Wolfgang Falck served in the western campaign as Kommandeur of 1./ZGI. In June 1940 he was appointed Kommodore NJG1, the largest geschwader in the Luftwaffe. During this time the greatest night-fighter Aces were under his command. In July 1943 he joined the staff of Luftflotte Reich responsible for the day and night-fighter defence of the Reich. In the Autumn of 1944 he was appointed fighter Leader in the Balkans, and later head of staff for flying training. Wolfgang Falck flew 90 missions, and was awarded the Knights Cross in 1940. |
Werner Hoffmann flew with one of the first ‘Destroyer’ units, I./ZG52, during the western campaign scoring his first victory, a Spitfire, over Dunkirk. After being wounded he served as Staffelkapitän with Ergänzungs-Zerstorer Gruppe in Denmark, before re-training as a night-fighter. Becoming Staffelkapitän of 5./NJG3, he took part in the Channel Dash operation. In July 1943 he was appointed Gruppenkomandeur of I./NJG5. He flew almost 200 missions, scoring 51 night victories and 1 day victory. Awarded the Knights Cross in 1943 he was nominated for the Oak Leaves. |
Originally a transport pilot, Paul Zorner flew in North Africa, the Mediterranean and Southern Russia before re-training as a night-fighter pilot, joining II./NJG2 in 1942. In December he took command of 2./NJG3. At the beginning of 1943 he was Staffelkapitän of 3./NJG3, and then 8./NGJ3,which he lead until April 1944. when he took command of III./NJG5. In October he was promoted Kommandeur II./NJG100. Paul Zorner was credited with 59 victories, and awarded the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves. |
Serving first as an instructor, he was posted to 6./SKG 210 (later 6./ZG1) on the Eastern Front until June 1942, when he re-trained to fly night-fighters. Posted first to NJG4 in August 1943, and then I./NJG6, where on the night of 21/22 February 1943 he shot down seven four-engined Russian bombers in one night. Günther Bahr flew over 90 night-fighter missions, and was awarded the Knights Cross in March 1945. He had achieved 37 aerial victories. |
Peter Spoden was posted to 5./NJG5 in June 1943, scoring his first victory - a Lancaster, on the big Peenemunde raid of 17/18 August. In early 1944 he participated in several daylight missions to intercept |
From 1942 as an Unteroffizier, Fritz Rumpelhardt was radio operator to Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer with NJG1 and NJG4. He participated in 100 night-fighter victories with Schnaufer, and was the most successful night-fighter radio operator in the Luftwaffe. Fritz Rumpelhardt flew over130 combat missions, was awarded the Knights Cross in July 1944, and was nominated for the Oak Leaves in March 1945. |
