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Description
This original German oil painting on canvas (tacked to a wooden stretcher) depicts Luftwaffe Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) Ernst-Otto Hoevermann. View the Veteran's Information section for more details regarding Hoevermann's life and military service. The upper left area of the painting is marked “E. Bix., 20.6.47.”, most likely making this a commemorative piece commissioned by a grieving family member completed on June 20, 1947. It is one of just two known works by artist E. Bix., the other being a still-life sold at Dorotheum in 2023. The painting measures approximately 11 1/4 inches wide and 16 inches tall. Included is an original photograph of a young, Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer)Hoevermann and his original flight school calling card.
Provenance
In July of 2025, Gustafson's acquired the inventory of Circa1941. This piece was among those acquisitions.
Condition Report
Fair
Good
Excellent
This painting is in fair condition. It appears to have been wrapped in newspaper, as evidenced by remnants of inverted newsprint adhered to its surface throughout. There is some minor paint loss; however, no tears to the canvas.
Veteran's Information
Ernst-Otto Hoevermann was born on May 31, 1923, in Lichterfelde, Berlin. He graduated from Luftkriegsschule (Air War College) 3, formerly located at the Potsdam Wildpark, Werder an der Havel (the town Werder, upon the Havel River) in Brandenburg, Germany, and served as a pilot in the Luftwaffe. He received the following awards during the war: Eisernes Kreuz II 1939 (Iron Cross 2nd Class) and the Gold Grade, Long Range, Night Fighter Frontflugspange (Front Flight Clasp). Hoevermann belonged to the Stab III./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (Staffel, Night Fighter-Wing 2, Group 3). It was with this unit that he recorded at least three confirmed aerial victories; a 4-Mot. Flzg. was shot down on March 31, 1944, and two Halifax bombers were downed near Brussels on April 28, 1944. On October 15, 1944, Hoevermann met his own demise; he was flying his Junkers Ju 88G-1 over the Gütersloh airfield when Bransome Arthur “Branse” Burbridge, a legendary RAF night-fighter pilot returning from Operation Hurricane, shot him down. Interestingly, Burbridge was the most successful living British ace before his death in 2016; he held the Allied record of 21 aerial victories achieved at night during WWII. Burbridge’s medals, flight jacket, and flight logs were sold at then Dix Noonan Webb on March 25, 2013 for £155,000.00. Leutnant Hoevermann is buried at the Alter Stadtfriedhof cemetery in Gütersloh, Germany.
