Fighter Sweep Over Kent - Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 Canvas | INCLUDES: Engine Relic

"Fighter Sweep Over Kent" by Artist Craig Tinder

This Fine Art Print by Artist Craig Tinder depicts 27 November 1940 engagement between Luftwaffe Bf 109s of JG 51 and RAF Spitfires from the 41st and 74th Squadrons.

The Story Behind the Print:

27 November 1940 - Just weeks after the final major air raids of the Battle of Britain, Germany’s Luftwaffe resumed their "Freie Jagd" (Free Hunt) missions over southern England. These fighter sweeps, which allowed German pilots to engage Allied aircraft without the need to protect bombers, were an attempt to reassert control over the skies. On this clear autumn day, at approximately 15:45 hours, Spitfires from the 41st and 74th Squadrons of the Royal Air Force scrambled to intercept the incoming German fighters.

Among the Luftwaffe pilots that day was Gefreiter Joachim Hergesell of 3./JG 51, flying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4, call sign "Brown 2". As the dogfight escalated in intensity, Hergesell’s aircraft was targeted by an RAF Spitfire. After several minutes of combat, his Messerschmitt sustained a critical hit, leaving him with no choice but to make an emergency landing. Hergesell brought his crippled Bf 109 down at Sarnden Farm near Iden Green, Benenden, Kent. He survived the forced landing and was taken as a prisoner of war by British forces.

This incident occurred during the waning months of the Battle of Britain, a time when the Luftwaffe began to reduce its activity over the UK in favor of shifting resources to other fronts. In the weeks following Hergesell’s crash, the frequency of such engagements declined as the Luftwaffe began repositioning its forces for the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa. This shift marked a turning point in the aerial battles over England, with the RAF solidifying its control of British skies and the Luftwaffe's attention turning eastward.

Visit the Journal to read the full story!

Commissioned by Museums, Treasured by Collectors

This item is handmade by artist, Craig Tinder. Available to ship worldwide!