Info on the pictures.........
"On May 25th, 1944, CPT. Joe Bennett's three man flight of P-51's ran into a formation of Bf 109Gs from III./JG 1 over Sarreguemines near the Franco-German frontier, and the American found himself locked in mortal combat with Obfhr. Hubert Heckmann, a grimly tenacious-some may say foolhardy-foe. When the guns of Heckmann's Bf 109G-6/AS yellow 15-1 jammed, the German refused to let his quarry escape. Pulling up his Messerschmitt's nose, he caught Bennett's P-51B-7-NA s/n 43-6572 codded VF-N in a mighty Daimler Benz buzz-saw that sliced off the Mustang's entire tail section. The American's aircraft madly whirled out of control, but the pilot bailed out unhurt to become a prisoner of war. Released at war's end, Bennett was eventually credited with 8.5 victories and was awarded three distinguished service crosses.
Following his collision with the American, Heckmann successfully belly-landed his Bf 109G-6/AS (Wnr. 163 796) near Botenheim. Returning to duty was his unit, he was injured in air combat with a P-38 followed by a crash landing near Compiegne, France, on August 5th, 1944. He returned to duty, later flew Me 262s with JG7, and survived the war with 5 victories."
From the book 'Flying Ace's'
Artwork by Roy Grinnell