Me 163B Komet - Ekdo 16

by Antonios Valamontes

Original - Not For Sale

Price

$7,200

Dimensions

60.000 x 37.000 x 1.500 inches

Title

Me 163B Komet - Ekdo 16

Artist

Antonios Valamontes

Medium

Painting - Oils On Portrait

Description

Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet - Rocket interceptor developed by Messerschmitt late in World War II.

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet is a rocket-powered interceptor aircraft primarily designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt. It is the only operational rocket-powered fighter aircraft in history and the first piloted aircraft of any type to exceed 1,000 kilometers per hour in level flight.

An Erprobungskommando (EKdo) ("Testing command") was a variety of Luftwaffe special-purpose units tasked with testing new aircraft and weaponry under operational conditions. Similarly-named Erprobungs-prefixed squadron (Staffel) and group (gruppe) sized units also existed at various times in the Luftwaffe during 1939-1944 to service-test new designs, usually numbered with the RLM aircraft designation system airframe number matching the aircraft they were meant to test, with the three-digit number following the "8-xxx" RLM airframe number designating the unit, as with Erprobungsstaffel 177 (contracted to E-Staffel 177), charged with testing the A-0 production prototypes of the Heinkel He 177A heavy bomber. The similarly-prefixed Erprobungsgruppe 210 was meant to have service-tested the Messerschmitt Me 210 twin-engined "destroyer" and light bomber. Still, that design's early aerodynamic problems caused the unit's transformation and expansion into SKG 210, a dedicated "fast bomber" unit using Bf 110s instead.

This specific Komet 'Ekdo 16' was under the command of Erprobungskommando 16 -

The Erprobungskommando 16 was formed in March 1943 in Peenemünde-West as a test unit for the new Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket fighter. It was later based at the Luftwaffe airfield in Bad Zwischenahn for a considerable period. The unit was disbanded on 14 February 1945.

Commanding officers

Major Wolfgang Späte, February 1943 – May 1944
Hauptmann Toni Thaler, May 1944 – February 1945

Major Wolfgang Späte went on to fly for the German Air Force from 1956–67 with the rank of Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)


Synopsis: A vivid red fighter aircraft with German insignia is flying through the clouds, leading to the formation of planes. The scene conveys a dynamic aerial battle environment, accentuated by the contrast of the red plane against the muted tones of the other aircraft and the background sky.

© R is designated that the painting is a reproduction

Uploaded

March 10th, 2024

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