JG53 Aces of 1940

Around midday on 12th August 1940, Hptm Hans Karl Mayer of 1/JG53 bounced a section of Hurricanes from 145 Squadron just south of the Isle of Wight. In the ensuing combat all three Hurricanes were shot down, two by Mayer and one by his wingman Rohl. The RAF pilots, Wilhelm Pankratz, Josef Kwiecinski (both Polish) and John Harrison were all lost without trace in the Channel. Painted for the cover of the Osprey book 'JG53 Aces of 1940'