Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

Frame Size: 19" x 23" ~ autographed British First Day Covers signed in ink by: Erich Hartman, Gerd Barkhorn and

Litho Print signed in pencil by: Günther Rall. Comes with COA.

"The 300 Club"

by Lonnie Ortega

The most exclusive club in the world has only two members, and it is unlikely that anyone else will ever qualify to join. Nepotism, wealth, and heredity cannot force the club's doors. The two exclusive members are Erich Hartmann and Gerhard Barkhorn, the only two fighter pilots in history to down more than three hundred aircraft in aerial combat. Hartmann is credited with 352 kills, and his bag includes seven American-flown Mustangs. He shot down five Mustangs in two missions over Rumania in one day, and downed his other two American fighter in one mission in southern Czechoslovakia shortly before the war's end. His other 345 victories were against the Soviet Air Force. Barkhorn's 301 kills were all Russian-flown aircraft downed on the Russian Front. He flew on the Western Front in the Battle of Britain and also during the final months of the war, but was unable to confirm a victory against the Western Allies. For a long time, the two most successful fighter pilots of all the wars flew together with JG-52 in Russia. In 1944 Hartmann became a squadron leader in II/JG-52, which was under Barkhorn's command. When the Barkhorn left JG-52 to become Kommodore of JG-5, Hartmann succeeded him as Gruppenkommandeur of II/JG-52. They both survived the war. Illustration is signed by the 3rd highest ranking Ace Günther Rall with 275 victories.