A military website in Israel is asking if anyone can identify this chap ? Sorry, that's the only info I have at the moment Ron
The artist according to this Facebook page (scroll down) is Ludwig Schwerin whose name is signed on the portrait. Google Translation: A pilot in the British RAF, 1943 Portrait by Ludwig Schwerin (July 10, 1897 Buchen, Germany - July 21, 1983) Ramat Gan, Israel) The painter Ludwig Schwerin immigrated from Germany following "Kristallnacht". He later settled in Ramat Gan and is a darling of Ramat Gan (1982). In this portrait of World War II, a young pilot in the British Royal Air Force stars with the rank of pilot. Beyond that, we know nothing about the work or about it The identity of the cartoonist. The portrait is kept in the country by an Israeli collector And any information about it is welcome Regards ...
I have a cousin in Israel who asks if anyone can help in identifying a serviceman from a portrait of him painted by Ludwig Shwerin during WW2. This is for a project to commemorate airmen serving in Israel in the 1940s. Can anyone please advise how to identify this man? He was said to have served in the Air Force, but the uniform in the portrait is khaki rather than blue - but shows his wing....
Sorry, Ron, to have followed up behind you! I posted the question on some RAF/Bomber Command Facebook pages and had replies: There was not much Bomber Command activity in that area at that time, so likely to have been in Fighter Command. The khaki uniform suggest he could have been in the South African Air Force or Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF). 2TAF was not formed until 1 June 1943. I have not ben able to find out if any part of it was posted to what was then Palestine. I will try to do some more digging.....!