14th. January 1945; and the war was not going well for Germany. The noose was tightening as the Allies, having broken out from their Normandy landings seven months earlier, stood on the banks of the Rhine. On their bomb-cratered airfields the Luftwaffe prepared for the final onslaught during the Defense of the Reich.

“Headlong Into the Clash” captures a moment during that massive aerial battle as enemy fighters from JG300 and JG301 make a head-on attack through a close formation of B-17s from the 390th Bomb Group near Ludwigslust. But their ever-vigilant P-51 escorts quickly engage the enemy with devastating results.

In the centre of the action Flt Lt Joe Peterburs of the 20th Fighter Group screams past the Bf109G of Lt Bruno Klostermann from II./JG300 who is attempting to penetrate the bomber formation. Peterburs scored a victory over an Fw190 in the ensuing battle, Klostermann, however, will not survive the day.