With the inexorable advance of the Allied forces through Germany, many of the fighter units moved into Alpine regions in their effort to stay operational. Among the most feared of the Luftwaffe's remaining combat units were those equipped with the remarkable Me262 fighter jet. With their huge speed advantage, the 262s were a difficult target in aerial combat even for the fastest Allied fighters, but the German jets were especially vulnerable to attack during take-off and landing. The American long range fighter pilots were quick to spot this weakness, and scored many successes by catching the jet pilots as they returned low on fuel and ammunition.

Commanding JV-44, General Adolf Galland countered the threat by employing the Fw190 "Dora" 9s to fly top cover, their task being to sweep the sky as the jets returned from combat. Nicholas Trudgian's new painting Mountain Wolf depicts the colourful Fw190 of Hptm Waldermar Wubke of JV-44 as he prepares to scramble "Red Three" at Ainring airfield in May 1945. The brightly coloured paint schemes brought about the staffel's radio call sign Papagei, the German for Parrot!