NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Adolf Galland

Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland^[1] (19 March 1912-9 February 1996) was a World War II German fighter pilot and commander of Germany's fighter force (General der Jagdflieger) from 1941 to 1945. He claimed a total of 103 victories in 705 missions and was awarded the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz) with oakleaves, swords and diamonds, one of only 27 recipients of the highest German military decoration. His victory claims were all against the Western Allies. is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links Adolf_Galland_portrait. ... Westerholt is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany. ... Remagen is a city in Germany in Rhineland-Palatinate, in the district of Ahrweiler. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or (German: air force, literally Air Weapon, pronounced lufft-va-fa, IPA: ) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Hermann GÃ¶ring delivering an honour (likely to be the Spanienkreuz, Spanish Cross) to a member of the Legion Condor (April 1939) The Condor Legion was a unit of Nazi Germanys air force which was sent as volunteers to support the right wing Nationalists (i. ... Jagdgescwader 27 (JG 27) Afrika was a World War II Luftwaffe wing. ... Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) SchlÃ¤chter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated exclusively in Western Europe againt Great Britain, France and the United States. ... JV 44 Protection Squadron - Screenshot from http://www. ... Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) SchlÃ¤chter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated exclusively in Western Europe againt Great Britain, France and the United States. ... JV 44 Protection Squadron - Screenshot from http://www. ... A stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Bundeswehr, Germanys Armed Forces. ... is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... An A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-86 Sabre, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang fly in formation during an air show at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... A stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Bundeswehr, Germanys Armed Forces. ...

Early life

Born in Westerholt, Westphalia, Galland was the second of four sons of a land manager. Two of his brothers also became fighter pilots. Paul Galland died in action in 1942, and Wilhelm Galland in 1943. He developed an early interest in aviation, flying home-built gliders (at the time the only type of aircraft allowed in Germany under the terms of the Versailles Treaty) from an improvised field near his hometown. Galland graduated from Hindenburg Gymnasium (high school) in Buer in 1932 and joined the aviation school of Germany's national airline, Lufthansa, before transferring to the new and technically illegal air force (Luftwaffe) in 1933. Despite a bad crash, he completed his training in Italy in 1935 and was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen, then based at Döberitz airfield near Berlin. Westerholt is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany. ... Westphalia (German: Westfalen) is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Bielefeld, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, MÃ¼nster, and OsnabrÃ¼ck and included in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. ... Woodrow Wilson with the American Peace Commissioners The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 is the peace treaty created as a result of six months of negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 which put an official end to World War I between the Allies and Central Powers. ... In demonology, Buer is a Great President of Hell, having fifty legions of demons under his command. ... The Luftansa headquarters in Cologne, Germany. ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or (German: air force, literally Air Weapon, pronounced lufft-va-fa, IPA: ) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... Jagdgeschwader Nr. ... This article is about the capital of Germany. ...

Condor Legion and Spanish civil war

During the Spanish Civil War, Galland was appointed Staffelkapitän of a Legion Condor squadron, 3. Staffel J/88,^[2] on the Nationalist side at Ferrol from mid-1937, flying ground attack missions in Heinkel He 51s. In Spain, Galland first displayed his dashing style—flying in swimming trunks, clenching a cigar between his teeth, flying an aircraft gaily decorated with a Mickey Mouse figure. But he was no mere show off; he flew over 300 missions in Spain, developed early gasoline and oil bombs, suggested the quartering of personnel on trains to aid in relocation and was awarded with the Spanish Cross in Gold with Diamonds following the Nationalist victory. It has been suggested that Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War be merged into this article or section. ... StaffelkapitÃ¤n is a Luftwaffe position (not a rank) that is the equivalent of Royal Air Force/US Air Force Squadron Leader. ... The Condor Legion (Legión Cóndor in Spanish) was a unit of Nazi Germanys air force which was sent as volunteers to support the Nationalists (i. ... The Maritime Pine so typical of Ferrol Ferrol 43Â°28â€²N 8Â°15â€²W is an Atlantic-facing city in the provice of A CoruÃ±a in Galicia in north-western Spain . ... The Heinkel He 51 was a single-seat biplane which was produced in a number of different versions. ... Here are a few online examples of variations of the Spanish cross award, (http://www. ...

World War II

Front line service

Just before the outbreak of World War II, Galland was promoted to Hauptmann and took part in 50 ground-attack missions during the Invasion of Poland with 4.(S)/LG 2^[3] equipped with the Henschel Hs 123, a "biplane Stuka", from 1 September 1939 onwards. He was transferred to the fighter unit Jagdgeschwader 27 in February 1940, as Adjudant. On 12 May 1940, near Liege, Galland scored his first aerial victory. His wingman on this mission was Gustav Rödel^[4]. By the end of the French campaign, he had 14 victories. On 1 August, Galland became the third fighter pilot to receive the Ritterkreuz. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Hauptmann (German: ) is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officers rank in the German Army. ... Combatants Poland Germany Soviet Union Slovakia Commanders Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Fedor von Bock (Army Group North), Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group South), Mikhail Kovalev (Belorussian Front), Semyon Timoshenko (Ukrainian Front), Ferdinand ÄŒatloÅ¡ (Field Army BernolÃ¡k) Strength 39 divisions, 16 brigades, 4,300 guns, 880 tanks, 400 aircraft Total... Henschel 123 in flight The Henschel Hs 123 was a single seat biplane close-support attack aircraft flown by the Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War and the early part of World War II. By 1944 the last examples were withdrawn from service. ... Junkers Ju 87 Dive-Bombers The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was the most famous Sturzkampfflugzeug (German dive bomber) in World War II, instantly recognisable by its inverted gull-wings and fixed undercarriage. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Some of the most famous Luftwaffe aces attached to JG 27 Wilhelm Balthasar Ludwig Franzisket Fritz Gromotka Max Ibel Erbo Graf von Kageneck Willi Kientsch Hans-Joachim Marseille Gustav RÃ¶del Herbert Schramm Werner Schroer Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Liege or LiÃ¨ge has several meanings: A LiÃ¨ge is a classic sporting car, designed for personal assembly, by Peter Davis in Evesham, UK, and often used in Classic Trials and other long distance motoring events A liege is the person or entity to which one has pledged allegiance. ... A wingman is a pilot who supports another in a potentially dangerous flying environment. ... Oberst Gustav RÃ¶del (born 24 October 1915 in Merseburg â€“ died 6 February 1995 in Bonn-Bad Godesberg) was a German World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. ... Combatants France United Kingdom Canada Czechoslovakia Poland Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Germany Italy Commanders Maurice Gamelin, Maxime Weygand (French) Lord Gort (British Expeditionary Force) Leopold III (Belgian) H.G. Winkelman (Dutch) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group A) Fedor von Bock (Army Group B) Wilhelm von Leeb (Army Group C) H.R... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1813 Iron Cross 1870 Iron Cross The Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz) was established in 1813 as a military honor by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia. ...

From June 1940 on, Galland flew as a Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 26, fighting the Battle of Britain flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 "Emils" from bases in the Pas de Calais. In July, Galland was promoted to major. By mid August, Luftwaffe commander Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring's dissatisfaction with the performance of the fighter arm led him to replace several of his pre-war Jagdgeschwader Commanders with the current wave of younger high-achievers.^[5] Thus on 22 August Galland replaced Major Gotthard Handrick and became Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26. A month later, on 25 September, Galland was awarded the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz for 40 kills. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 425 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (638 Ã— 900 pixel, file size: 132 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 425 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (638 Ã— 900 pixel, file size: 132 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... Grupppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position (not a rank) that is the equivalent of a Royal Air Force Wing Commander or USAF Group Commander. ... Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) SchlÃ¤chter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated exclusively in Western Europe againt Great Britain, France and the United States. ... Combatants United Kingdom Including combatants from:[1] Poland New Zealand Canada Czechoslovakia Belgium Australia South Africa France Ireland United States Jamaica Palestine Rhodesia Germany Including combatants from Italy Commanders Hugh Dowding Hermann GÃ¶ring Strength 754 single-seat fighters 149 two-seat fighters 560 bombers 500 coastal 1,963 total... German Airfield, France, 1941 propaganda photo of the Luftwaffe, Bf 109 fighters on the tarmac The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt in the early 1930s. ... Pas-de-Calais is a dÃ©partement in northern France named after the strait which it borders. ... Major is a military rank the use of which varies according to country. ... The original uniform of the Reichsmarschall Hermann GÃ¶ring shown in the Luftwaffe-Museum in Berlin. ... Hermann Wilhelm GÃ¶ring ( ) (also Goering in English) (January 12, 1893 â€“ October 15, 1946) was a German politician and military leader, a leading member of the Nazi Party, second in command of the Third Reich, and commander of the Luftwaffe. ... is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Karl Hermann Gotthard Handrick (born 25 October 1908; died 30 May 1978) was a German Olympic athlete and fighter pilot. ... Geschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position(not rank) that is the equivalent of a Royal Air Force Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. ... is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

By the end of 1940, he had 58 victories. Promoted to Oberstleutnant, Galland continued to lead JG 26 through 1941 against the RAF fighter sweeps across northern Europe. In early 1941 most of the fighter units of the Luftwaffe were sent east to the Eastern Front, or south to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, thus leaving JG 26 and Jagdgeschwader 2 Richthofen as the sole single-engine fighter Geschwader in France. Oberstleutnant is the German Army (Bundeswehr) equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst. ... RAF is an three letter acronym for: Royal Air Force -- the Air Force of the United Kingdom (see also Air Ministry) Red Army Faction (Rote Armee Fraktion) -- a German terror organisation Rigas Autobusu Fabrika -- a factory making buses in Riga, Latvia Rapid Action Force in India RaÄunarski Fakultet RAF... Combatants Soviet Union,[1] Poland, Tannu Tuva (until 1944 incorporation with USSR), Mongolia Germany,[2] Italy (to 1943), Romania (to 1944), Finland (to 1944), Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Spain (to 1943, unofficial) Commanders Joseph Stalin, Aleksei Antonov, Ivan Konev, Rodion Malinovsky, Ivan Bagramyan, Kirill Meretskov, Ivan Petrov, Alexander Rodimtsev, Konstantin Rokossovsky... This pages deals with the United States militarys Mediterranean Theater of Operations. ... Jagdgeschwader Nr. ...

By this time, JG 26 were starting to re-equip with the new Bf 109F, normally equipped with a 15mm (or later a 20mm) cannon firing through the propeller hub and two cowl mounted 7,9mm MG17. Galland felt the model was grossly under-armed and so tested a series of 109 "specials;" one with a unique armament of a MG 151/20 cannon and two cowl mounted 12.7mm MG 131 machine guns, and another with integral wing mounted 20mm MG-FF cannons.

For the next two years, these two Geschwader were the main adversaries to the RAF’s day offensives over occupied Europe. Galland's careful husbanding of his resources and astute tactical awareness meant JG 26 kept their losses to a minimum while inflicting maximum damage on the RAF's tactical fighters through 1941. This became even more evident with the arrival of the potent Focke-Wulf Fw 190A to units in late 1941 - early 1942, which completely outclassed the current Spitfire Mark Vb in service with the RAF. â€œRAFâ€ redirects here. ... The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 WÃ¼rger (shrike), often called Butcher-bird, was a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft of Germanys Luftwaffe, and one of the best fighters of its generation. ... The Supermarine Spitfire was an iconic British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. ...

On the morning of 21 June 1941, Galland was first shot up by a 303 Squadron Spitfire and had to crash land, then in the afternoon, shot down by a 145 Squadron Spitfire, this time bailing out, suffering slight injuries. The Schwerter (Swords) award to the Ritterkreuz followed the same month. is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... No. ... The Supermarine Spitfire was an iconic British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. ...

On 2 July 1941, Galland led JG 26 into combat against a formation of Blenheims. A Spitfire of the bomber escort (probably from 308 Squadron) managed to hit Galland's plane with a 20 mm shell. The armour plate mounted on the fighter just days earlier saved Galland's life. Galland landed at base, where he was hospitalised for the second time in a few days. Experiences like this taught Galland to respect his opponents. is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ...

High command

In November 1941, following his 94th official victory, he was chosen by Hermann Göring to command Germany's fighter force as General der Jagdflieger, succeeding renowned ace Oberst.Werner Mölders who had just died in an air crash (having himself just succeeded another German aviation legend, Ernst Udet). In November 1942 a promotion to Generalmajor made Galland the youngest officer to attain General rank in Germany. Galland was now responsible for deciding the ongoing tactical and operational doctrine of the Luftwaffe's fighter strategies. No longer flying operationally, one of his first tasks was organising the successful air protection for the Channel Dash of the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, and the cruiser Prinz Eugen. Werner MÃ¶lders (March 18, 1913 - November 22, 1941) was a German Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. ... Ernst Udet during World War I Ernst Udet (April 26, 1896 - November 17, 1941) was the second-highest scoring German flying ace of World War I. He was one of the youngest aces and was the highest scoring German ace to survive the war. ... Operation Cerberus (German: Zerberus) was the name given to the escape during World War II of the Kriegsmarines ships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Prinz Eugen and a number of smaller ships from Brest to ports in Germany and Denmark via the English Channel. ... Gerhard von Scharnhorst was a Prussian general. ... August von Gneisenau was a Prussian general. ... USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser (really an uprated guided missile destroyer), launched in 1992. ... The German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen fought as part of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was named after Prince Eugene of Savoy (Prinz Eugen in German). ...

In 1942, Galland flew an early prototype of the Messerschmitt Me 262, the world's first operational jet fighter. After the flight, he described his experience: "It was as if an angel is pushing you..." and he became an enthusiastic supporter of this aircraft, realizing its potential to be that of a fighter rather than a "Blitzbomber". The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (German: Swallow) was the worlds first operational turbojet fighter aircraft. ... Jet aircraft are aircrafts with jet engines. ...

During 1943, Galland became more involved with the organization of the air defence of the Reich against the increasing USAAF day bombing offensive. As General der Jagdflieger, he had at his disposal a small staff flight operating Fw 190s. In order to experience the operational conditions under which his pilots flew, Galland flew a dozen or so combat missions through 1942–44 and probably gained two more victories over USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers sometime during early 1944, although on one occasion, flying with Hannes Trautloft, he narrowly avoided being shot down by the USAAF escort fighters. USAAF recruitment poster. ... Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in flight. ... The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed for the US Army Air Corps (USAAC). ... The B-52 Stratofortress, a heavy bomber. ... Hannes Trautloft (3 March 1912 - 11 January 1995) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1932 until the end of the war. ...

By mid 1944, the catastrophic aircrew losses suffered by the Luftwaffe prompted Galland to carefully husband a last reserve of 1,000 pilots and fighter planes in order to strike a potentially decisive single blow at the Allied bomber streams. However the daring operation, planned for late 1944, never came about, as the reserves were squandered in the ill-fated Operation Bodenplatte. Operation Bodenplatte, launched on 1st January 1945, was an attempt to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries of Europe. ...

Conflict with the Luftwaffe leadership

Typically open, blunt and a consistent critic of his superiors, as the war progressed, Galland soon became distanced from the Nazi hierarchy, who no longer tolerated his outspoken views. While a patriotic German, he increasingly found himself at odds with them over how they ran the war as it began to turn against Germany. In January 1945, he was finally relieved of his command and put under house arrest following the "Fighter Pilots Revolt". Galland's high standing with his fighter pilot peers led to a group of the most decorated Luftwaffe leaders loyal to Galland (including Obersts Johannes Steinhoff and Günther Lützow) confronting Göring with a list of demands for the survival of their service, coupled with their concern over the Reichsmarschall's lack of understanding and unwillingness to support his pilots against accusations of cowardice and treason. The Fighter Pilots Conspiracy refers to the verbal rebellion of the leading German Luftwaffe officers against the incompetence of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht. ... Johannes Steinhoff (September 15, 1913 - February 21, 1994) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace of World War II and a senior West German air force officer after the war . ... GÃ¼nther LÃ¼tzow (4 September 1912 - 24 April 1945) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and a leader in the Fighter Pilots Revolt. LÃ¼tzow was credited with 110 victories achieved in over 300 combat missions. ...

The Oberkommando der Luftwaffe appointed the more politically acceptable Gordon Gollob to succeed him as General der Jagdflieger. Although professional contemporaries, Gollob and Galland had a mutual dislike, and after Galland had removed the Austrian from his personal staff earlier in the war Gollob started to gather evidence to use against Galland, detailing his gambling, womanizing and private use of Luftwaffe transport. The Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL) was the Airforce High Command of the Third Reich. ... Gordon MacGollob (16 June 1912 - 8 September 1987) was an Austrian fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe from 1938 to 1945) during World War 2. ...

Return to front line service with JV 44

Galland was returned to front line duties in disgrace, and was initially assigned to command a Staffel of JG 54, at that time stranded behind Soviet lines in the Courland pocket. He never took up this command, however, but was tasked to form JV 44 (Jagdverband) in March 1945. He was allowed to handpick a number of formidable experten for the unit, including such highly-decorated men as Johannes Steinhoff, Heinrich Bär and Gerhard Barkhorn. Achieving seven kills over the USAAF, Galland led JV 44 until his last mission on 26 April 1945, when he was wounded in a dogfight with an American P-47 Thunderbolt and sustained a knee injury crash-landing his Me 262. Command was transferred to Bär, but Galland was concerned about his men and tried to negotiate a separate surrender for the JV 44 pilots to Allied forces in early May. Soviet redirects here. ... Coat of arms of Courland Courland (Latvian: ; German: ; Latin: Curonia / Couronia; Lithuanian: ; Estonian: ; Polish: ; Russian: ) is an historical Baltic province now part of Latvia. ... JV 44 Protection Squadron - Screenshot from http://www. ... Johannes Steinhoff (September 15, 1913 - February 21, 1994) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace of World War II and a senior West German air force officer after the war . ... Heinz Pritzl BÃ¤r (21 March 1913 - 28 April 1957) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace who served through the whole of World War II. He had a total of 221 victories,[1] fighting in all the major German theaters of war, including ETO, MTO and the Eastern Front. ... Gerhard Gerd Barkhorn (20 March 1919 - 8 January 1983) was the second most successful fighter ace of all time after fellow Luftwaffe pilot Erich Hartmann. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The American Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as Jug, was the largest single-engined fighter of its day. ...

Galland's 103 victory claims included seven with the Me 262.^[6] His claims for aircraft destroyed include 55 Spitfires, 30 Hurricanes, and five French Armee de L'air aircraft. All seven of his Me 262 kills were against American aircraft, two of them heavy bombers. The Supermarine Spitfire was an iconic British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. ... The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter aircraft designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. ... The French Air Force is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. ...

Postwar

Galland was captured by the US Army on 14 May 1945 and remained a prisoner of war until 1947. His first job after captivity was to lecture on tactics for Britain's Royal Air Force. From 1948 to 1955, he and other ex-Luftwaffe experts worked as consultants to the Argentine Air Force and the nascent Argentine aircraft industry. Following the termination of Argentina's attempt to establish an indigenous aeronautical industry, Galland returned to Germany and had a successful career running his own aviation firm and consultancy. Through the postwar years Galland built up lasting respect and friendship with many of his former adversaries, particularly Robert Stanford Tuck, Johnnie Johnson and Douglas Bader. The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... â€œRAFâ€ redirects here. ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or (German: air force, literally Air Weapon, pronounced lufft-va-fa, IPA: ) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza AÃ©rea Argentina or FAA) is the national aviation branch of the armed forces of Argentina. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Air Vice Marshal James Edgar Johnnie Johnson CB, CBE, DSO and two Bars, DFC and Bar (9 March 1915â€“30 January 2001) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot who during World War II shot down 38 Luftwaffe aircraft, thus becoming the British flying ace with the most kills during... Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader, CBE, DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar, FRAeS, DL, RAF (21 February 1910â€“5 September 1982); surname pronounced ) was a successful fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. ...

Galland married Sylvinia von Donhoff in February 1954. In 1984, he married his second wife, Heidi Horn, who remained with him until his death.

In his private home museum, Galland had many souvenirs of his dogfights (such as pieces of American aircraft he shot down) and his service in the war, including German newsreels from that time. He also had two almost identical oil painting portraits that were made of him during the war. They feature Galland in his Luftwaffe uniform, but in the first painting he was holding one of his ubiquitous cigars. Hitler was adamantly opposed to smoking and ordered the second portrait made without the cigar.

His autobiography, The First and the Last (Die Ersten und die Letzten), was published in 1954 and is widely regarded as the most insightful World War II aviation memoir from the Axis side and one of the best overall. The English translation of this very successful book was reprinted in 2005 by Cerberus Press.

In 1969 Galland served as technical advisor for the film Battle of Britain. Battle of Britain is a 1969 film directed by Guy Hamilton, and produced by Harry Saltzman and S Benjamin Fisz. ...

Awards

Here are a few online examples of variations of the Spanish cross award, (http://www. ... The Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe (German: Frontflugspange) was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. ... A black version of the Badge A silver version A gold version Wound Badge (Das Verwundetenabzeichen) is a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organisations (after March 1943 due to the increasing number of allied bombings â€” also for civilians). ... A stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Bundeswehr, Germanys Armed Forces. ... The Iron Cross (German: Eisernes Kreuz) is a military decoration of Germany which was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813. ... is the 210th day of the year (211th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

The German Luftwaffe (air force) of World War II had a distinct organization and command structure. ... On 26 July 1944 Leutnant Alfred Schreiber shoots down a No 540 Sqn Mosquito PR XVI, a reconnaissance aircraft, while flying Me 262 A-1a WNr. ... Len Deighton (left) teaches Michael Caine how to break an egg on the set of The IPCRESS File. ... Fighter: The True Story of the Battle of Britain (ISBN 0712674233) is a Second World War military history book by English author Len Deighton. ...

External links

Categories: 1912 births | 1996 deaths | People from North Rhine-Westphalia | Luftwaffe generals and leaders | German World War II flying aces | German people of the Spanish Civil War | Recipients of the Knight's Cross | Recipients of the Spanish Cross | German military personnel of World War II | Luftwaffe pilots Peter Ledger (Sydney, Australia on 25 Oct. ... Karl Hermann Gotthard Handrick (born 25 October 1908; died 30 May 1978) was a German Olympic athlete and fighter pilot. ... Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) SchlÃ¤chter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated exclusively in Western Europe againt Great Britain, France and the United States. ... is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 339th day of the year (340th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... The penultimate expression of the award: the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with golden Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... Werner MÃ¶lders (March 18, 1913 - November 22, 1941) was a German Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gordon MacGollob (16 June 1912 - 8 September 1987) was an Austrian fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe from 1938 to 1945) during World War 2. ... Hans-Joachim Marseille (13 December 1919 - 30 September 1942) was a Luftwaffe pilot and flying ace during World War II. He was nicknamed the Star of Africa. Marseille scored all but seven of his 158 victories against the British Commonwealths Desert Air Force over North Africa. ... Category: ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( ) (15 November 1891 â€“ 14 October 1944) was one of the most famous German field marshals of World War II. He was the commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps and also became known by the nickname â€œThe Desert Foxâ€ (WÃ¼stenfuchs, ) for the skillful military campaigns he... One of Nazi Germanys most successful U-Boat aces, Wolfgang LÃ¼th (15 October 1913â€“13 May 1945) was the youngest German ever appointed captain, and the youngest to ever command the German Naval Academy. ... Walter Nowi Nowotny (December 7, 1920 - November 8, 1944) was a Sudeten German fighter ace of World War II with 258 confirmed victories in 442 missions, 255 victories over Russian pilots. ... Adelbert Schulz (1900 to 1/28/1944) was a Generalmajor and Division Commander in the German Wehrmacht in WWII. He was one of only 27 people to be awarded the Knights Cross with oakleaves, swords, and diamonds. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Hans-Ulrich Rudel (July 2, 1916 â€“ December 18, 1982) was a Stuka dive-bomber pilot during World War II. Rudel is famous for being the most highly decorated German serviceman of the war (Hermann GÃ¶ring was nominally more highly decorated, but he did not achieve his Grand Cross of... Generalleutnant der Reserve & SS-BrigadefÃ¼hrer Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von GroÃŸ-Zauche und Camminetz, 1943 Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von GroÃŸ-Zauche und Camminetz (July 30, 1893 -April 25, 1968) was a Silesian officer and panzer ace. ... Herbert Otto Gille (March 8, 1897 in Gandersheim - December 27, 1966) was a German general, and the highest decorated member of the Waffen SS. Military Career He started his military career as a first lieutenant during the First World War . ... General der Panzertruppen Hans-Valentin Hube Hans-Valentin Hube (29 October 1890 - 21 April 1944) was a general who served in the German Army during the First and Second World Wars. ... Albrecht von Kesselring (August 8, 1881 - July 16, 1960) was a Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. One of the most respected and skillful generals of Nazi Germany, he was nicknamed Smiling Albert or Smiling Kesselring. At least one source claims that Kesselring was born on August 8, 1881 [1]. However... German Night-fighter pilot. ... SS-ObergruppenfÃ¼hrer Sepp Dietrich Josef Sepp Dietrich also known as Ujac (May 28, 1892â€“April 21/22, 1966) was a German Waffen-SS general, an SS-OberstgruppenfÃ¼hrer, and one of the closest men to Hitler. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Erich Alfred Bubi Hartmann (April 19, 1922 - September 20, 1993), also nicknamed The Blond Knight Of Germany by friends and the Black Devil by his enemies, was the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial combat. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Hermann-Bernhard Gerhard Ramcke (January 24, 1889 - July 04, 1968) is a winner of the Knights Cross with Swords, Oak Leaves, and Diamonds, one of only 27 people in the German military to do so. ... Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (February 16, 1922-1950) was the top night fighter ace of all time. ... Albrecht Brandi (1914-1966) was a famous German U-boat commander. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Ferdinand SchÃ¶rner (December 5, 1892 - February 7, 1973) was a general and later Field Marshal in the German Wehrmacht during World War II. // Early life He was born in Munich, Bavaria. ... Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel (January 14, 1897 â€” September 24, 1978) was a German soldier and politician of the 20th century. ... Theodor Tolsdorff (November 3, 1909 to May 25, 1978) was lieutenant general and one of 27 carriers of Oak Leaves with Swords and Diamonds to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross in the Second World War . ... Dr. Karl Mauss (May 17, 1898 - February 9, 1959) was one of the most distinguished tank commanders of the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a lieutenant general and commander of The 7th Panzer Division, and one of only 31 ever to receive the Knights Cross with Oakleaves... Dietrich von Saucken (1892â€“1990) was a General in the German Army (Wehrmacht) during World War II. He was born in East Prussia in 1892 and personified all the aristocratic Prussian militarists who despised the braune Bande of Nazis. ... The penultimate expression of the award: the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with golden Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds. ... A colour photograph of Oberst der Reserve Dr.med. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Heinz Pritzl BÃ¤r (21 March 1913 - 28 April 1957) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace who served through the whole of World War II. He had a total of 221 victories,[1] fighting in all the major German theaters of war, including ETO, MTO and the Eastern Front. ... Erich BÃ¤renfÃ¤nger was a German officer during World War II. He was born on 12 January 1915 in Menden, Germany, and was the son of an upper post office secretary. ... Gerhard Gerd Barkhorn (20 March 1919 - 8 January 1983) was the second most successful fighter ace of all time after fellow Luftwaffe pilot Erich Hartmann. ... Wilhelm Willi Batz (born 21 May 1916 in Bamberg â€“ died 11 September 1988 in Mauschendorf in Unterfranken) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace. ... Werner Baumbach (1916-1953) was a bomber pilot in the German Luftwaffe during World War 2 and commander of the secret bomber wing KG 200. ... General Fritz Bayerlein Fritz Bayerlein (January 14, 1899 - January 30, 1970) was a German Panzer general during the Second World War. ... Wilhelm Bittrich Wilhelm Willi Bittrich (February 26, 1894 â€“ April 19, 1979) was a General of the German SS during World War II. Born in the town of Wernigerode in the Harz mountains of Germany, Bittrich served as an army officer during World War I. He joined the SS-VerfÃ¼gungstruppe... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Major Alwin Boerst (born 20 October 1910 in Osterode â€“ Killed in action 30 March 1944 near IaÅŸi) was a German World War II Luftwaffe Stuka ace[1]. Boerst participated in the Battle of Crete and assisted in the sinking of HMS Kelly and HMS Kashmir[2]. Together with his... Georg Freiherr von Boeselager (August 25, 1915 â€“ August 27, 1944) was a German nobleman and officer of the Wehrmacht, who ultimately served as Colonel (Oberst) of Cavalry. ... Albrecht Brandi (1914-1966) was a famous German U-boat commander. ... Kurt BÃ¼hlingen (born 13 December 1917 in GranschÃ¼tz, Thuringia, died 11 August 1985 in Nidda, Hesse) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until the end of hostilities 8 May 1945. ... Eduard Dietl (Born 21 July 1890, Bad Aibling, Died 23 June 1944, Styria) Lieutenant General Eduard Dietl commanded the German 3rd Mountain Division that participated in the German invasion of Norway on April 9 and 10, 1940. ... General Sepp Dietrich Josef Sepp Dietrich (May 28, 1892–April 21/22, 1966) was a German Waffen-SS general, an SS-Oberstgruppenführer, and one of the closest men to Hitler. ... Oberst Alfred Druschel (born 4 February 1917 in Bindsachsen, BÃ¼dingen, Hesse; Killed in action on 1 January 1945 near Aachen in Unternehmen Bodenplatte) was a German Luftwaffe combat pilot and Flying ace during World War II. He was the first combat pilot to be honored with the Knights... ObergruppenfÃ¼hrer Hermann Otto Fegelein (30 October 1906 â€“ c. ... Herbert Otto Gille (March 8, 1897 in Gandersheim - December 27, 1966) was a German general, and the highest decorated member of the Waffen SS. Military Career He started his military career as a first lieutenant during the First World War . ... Gordon MacGollob (16 June 1912 - 8 September 1987) was an Austrian fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe from 1938 to 1945) during World War 2. ... Anton Toni Hackl (born 25 March 1915 in Regensburg, died 10 July 1984 in Regensburg) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords during World War II. Anton Hackl flew about 1000 combat missions and... Erich Alfred Bubi Hartmann (April 19, 1922 - September 20, 1993), also nicknamed The Blond Knight Of Germany by friends and the Black Devil by his enemies, was the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial combat. ... Paul Papa Hausser (October 7, 1880 - December 21, 1972) was an officer in the German Army, achieving the high rank of Lieutenant General in the inter-war Reichswehr, after retirement from regular Army he became the father (thus the nickname â€œPapaâ€) of the Waffen-SS and one of its most... Gotthard Heinrici. ... Oberst Joachim Helbig (born 10 September 1915 in BÃ¶rln, Torgau-Oschatz; killed in car accident on 5 October 1985 while on vacation in Spain) was a bomber pilot in the German Luftwaffe during World War II and recipient of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. ... Traugott Herr (1890-1976), was a German general of the Panzer troops, serving during World War II. Wound Badge in Black 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class (14 September 1914) 1st Class (21 October 1915) House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords Bavarian Military Merit Cross (3. ... Hajo Herrmann grew up in Kiel and as he was growing up always wanted to be a sailor. ...

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