Adolf Galland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Generalleutnant Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Nickname(s)	Keffer, Dolfo
Born	(1912-03-19)19 March 1912 Westerholt, Province of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	9 February 1996(1996-02-09) (aged 83) Oberwinter, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Buried	Cementerio, Oberwinter, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (1932)  Nazi Germany (1933–45)  Argentina (1947–55)
Service/branch	Reichsheer  Luftwaffe Argentine Air Force
Years of service	1932–55
Rank	Generalleutnant
Unit	Condor Legion LG 2, JG 27, JG 26, JV 44
Commands held	JG 26, JV 44
Battles/wars	See battles Spanish Civil War World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Britain Channel Front (WIA) Defence of the Reich (WIA)
Awards	Spanish Cross In Gold with Swords and Diamonds Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Relations	Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland Paul Galland
Other work	Aircraft consultant
Signature

Adolf Josef Ferdinand Galland (born March 19, 1912 – died February 9, 1996) was a German Luftwaffe general and a top pilot, known as a flying ace. He served during World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions and fought on the Western Front and in the defense of Germany. He was shot down four times but survived each time. He was credited with shooting down 104 enemy aircraft, all against the Western Allies.

Galland was born in Westerholt, Germany. He became a glider pilot in 1929. In 1932, he finished pilot training and joined the German military. In 1937, he volunteered for the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. He flew missions to attack targets on the ground. After this, he worked for the Air Ministry, writing manuals about ground-attack flying. In 1939, he flew ground attack missions again during the German invasion of Poland. In early 1940, Galland convinced his leaders to let him become a fighter pilot.

Galland flew Messerschmitt Bf 109 planes during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. By the end of 1940, he had shot down 57 enemy planes. In 1941, he continued fighting the Royal Air Force (RAF) over the English Channel and Northern France. By November 1941, his total reached 96 victories. He earned the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. In November 1941, Werner Mölders, who led the German Fighter Force, died in a plane crash. Galland took his place until January 1945. As the leader of the fighter force, Galland was not allowed to fly combat missions.

In early 1942, Galland planned and led the Luftwaffe's air cover for a major German navy operation called Operation Cerberus. This was a big success and earned him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Over the next few years, Galland often disagreed with Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring about how to fight the Allied air forces bombing Germany. By 1944, the Luftwaffe fighter force was struggling. Göring blamed Galland for failing to stop the Allied bombing. Their relationship completely broke down in January 1945. Galland was removed from his command because he kept criticizing the Luftwaffe leadership. He was then put under house arrest after a group of senior fighter pilots, known as the Fighter Pilots' Revolt, confronted Göring about the air war.

In March 1945, Galland returned to flying combat missions. He was allowed to form a jet fighter unit called Jagdverband 44. He flew missions over Germany until the war ended in May. After the war, Galland worked for Argentina's government as an advisor to the Argentine Air Force. Later, he returned to Germany and started his own business. Galland also became friends with many former enemies, like RAF aces Robert Stanford Tuck and Douglas Bader. Adolf Galland died on February 9, 1996.

Early Life and Flying Dreams

Adolf Galland was born in Westerholt, Germany, on March 19, 1912. His family had French roots. His father was a land manager, a job passed down through generations. Adolf was the second of four sons. His two younger brothers, Wilhelm-Ferdinand and Paul, also became fighter pilots and aces. Paul died in combat in 1942, and Wilhelm-Ferdinand in 1943.

In 1927, Galland became very interested in flying. A glider club started near his home. He traveled 30 kilometers (about 18 miles) to help prepare gliders. By age 19, he was a glider pilot. In 1932, he completed his pilot training.

After World War I, Germany was not allowed to have an air force. So, flying gliders became a way for young pilots to start their careers. Galland became an excellent glider pilot and even an instructor.

Joining the Military

In February 1932, Galland finished high school. He was one of 20 people accepted into the aviation school of Germany's national airline, Luft Hansa. Jobs were hard to find back then. Galland was one of 18 chosen for flight training out of 4,000 applicants.

His first flight was in an Albatros Al 101. He had a few accidents, including a crash that damaged his plane. Thinking he had failed, Galland applied to join the German Army. But the flying school refused to let him go. By Christmas 1932, he had flown 150 hours.

In 1933, Galland was sent to a base to train on flying boats. He didn't like learning about "seamanship" but still flew 25 hours. Soon, he and other pilots were invited to join a secret military training program for high-performance aircraft. They all accepted.

Becoming a Luftwaffe Pilot

In May 1933, Galland met Hermann Göring for the first time in Berlin. Galland was impressed by Göring. In July 1933, Galland went to Italy to train with the Italian Air Force.

He returned to Germany in September 1933 and won some glider competitions. He then trained for instrument flying and flying large transport planes. From October 1933, Galland flew Lufthansa airliners from Stuttgart to Barcelona. In December 1933, he was asked to join the new Luftwaffe. He chose the adventure of a military flying career over being an airline pilot.

After basic army training, Galland joined Jagdgeschwader 2 (Fighter Wing 2) on April 1, 1935. His performance was good enough for an operational role.

In October 1935, he crashed a Focke-Wulf Fw 44 biplane during training. He was in a coma for three days and had other injuries, including a damaged eye. Doctors said he was unfit to fly. But a friend, Major Rheital, kept the report secret. Galland continued flying. A year later, in October 1936, he crashed an Arado Ar 68 and was hospitalized again, hurting his eye. His old medical report was found, and he was grounded. Galland admitted having glass in his eye but convinced doctors he could fly. He memorized eye charts to pass a test and was allowed to fly again.

Fighting in Spain

During the Spanish Civil War, Galland was made a squadron leader in the Condor Legion. This unit supported the Nationalist side under Francisco Franco from mid-1937. Galland flew ground attack missions in Heinkel He 51 planes.

In Spain, Galland showed his unique style. He flew in swimming trunks with a cigar in his mouth. His plane was decorated with a Mickey Mouse figure.

He flew his first of 300 combat missions in Spain on July 24, 1937. During his time there, Galland studied battles and created new ground-attack tactics. These tactics were later used by the Luftwaffe. He also suggested using early gasoline and oil bombs. After the Nationalist victory, he received the ‘Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds’. On May 24, 1938, Galland left Spain. Before leaving, he flew the Messerschmitt Bf 109 ten times. He was very impressed and decided to become a fighter pilot instead of a ground-attack pilot.

Working at the Air Ministry

From May to August 1938, Galland took a break and visited Spanish Morocco. When he returned to Germany, he was ordered to the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM – Ministry of Aviation). His job was to make recommendations about close air support. Galland believed the air force should attack just before the army, giving enemies no time to recover.

He also thought German fighter planes needed heavier weapons. He pointed out the benefits of having multiple guns, which worked well in the Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190. He also saw the need for drop tanks to make planes fly farther. Galland believed fighters were needed to protect bombers. All his ideas were used and helped in early German campaigns from 1939 to 1941. While at the RLM, he trained ground-support units for the planned invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938, which did not happen.

Galland's skill at evaluating aircraft led him to a test flying job at Tutow. He tested new reconnaissance and attack planes. This wasn't what he wanted; he hoped to return to a fighter unit to fly the Bf 109. He gave good reviews for planes like the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 and Henschel Hs 129. He was then made commander of a special mixed unit of ground attack aircraft.

Combat in World War II

Invasion of Poland

Just before World War II began, Galland was promoted to Captain. During the invasion of Poland in September 1939, he flew with his unit, equipped with Henschel Hs 123 planes. These planes were nicknamed "biplane Stukas." They supported the German Tenth Army. On September 1, Galland flew a reconnaissance mission alone and was almost shot down. The next day, he flew ground attack missions to support the 1st Panzer Division.

His unit flew many missions to support German forces. By September 7, the German Army reached the Vistula River near Warsaw. The Luftwaffe provided the close air support Galland had suggested. Galland took part in the intense air fighting during the Battle of Bzura. By September 19, some German air units were pulled out because the Polish Air Force and Army were largely defeated. Galland stopped combat operations that day, having flown 87 missions. On September 13, he received the Iron Cross Second Class.

After the campaign, Galland claimed to have rheumatism and said he couldn't fly open-cockpit planes like the Hs 123. He suggested he would be better in a single-engine plane with a closed cockpit. His request was accepted, and he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—Fighter Wing 27) on February 10, 1940. This job kept him from flying combat missions.

Battles in Western Europe

At JG 27, Galland met Werner Mölders again. Mölders was a famous ace and shared his experience with Galland, teaching him about air leadership, tactics, and organization. Galland learned Mölders' tactics, like using spotter planes to find enemy formations. Galland then brought these ideas back to JG 27.

On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded the Low Countries and France. JG 27 supported German forces in the Battle of Belgium. On May 12, 1940, Galland claimed his first two aerial victories. He shot down two Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricanes near Liège, Belgium. These Hurricanes were protecting bombers. Galland said, "My first kill was child's play. An excellent weapon and luck had been on my side."

He claimed his third Hurricane later that day. On May 19, Galland shot down a French plane. He ran out of fuel and had to land near a hill. With help from soldiers, he pushed his Bf 109 up the hill and then glided down to an airfield. The next day, he claimed three more planes, bringing his total to seven. For this, he received the Iron Cross First Class on May 22.

After Belgium was defeated, JG 27 moved to support the invasion of France. During the Battle of Dunkirk, Galland first encountered the Supermarine Spitfire. He was very impressed by these planes and their pilots. On May 29, Galland claimed a Bristol Blenheim over the sea. The Luftwaffe faced its first serious setback over Dunkirk. Galland noted that these air battles showed weaknesses in the Luftwaffe's structure. On June 3, he claimed another French plane, a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, for his 12th victory.

On June 6, 1940, Galland took command of III./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (III./JG 26). He was now a Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander). His group had 39 Bf 109Es. On June 26, Major Gotthard Handrick took over command of JG 26. Galland was happy, as he had served under Handrick in the Condor Legion.

Battle of Britain

From June 1940, Galland led III./JG 26 in the Battle of Britain. On July 19, 1940, he was promoted to Major. JG 26 moved to the Pas de Calais in France.

On July 24, 1940, nearly 40 Bf 109s from Galland's unit flew over the English Channel. They met 12 Spitfires. The Spitfires forced the Bf 109s into a turning fight, which used up the Germans' fuel. Galland was impressed by the Spitfire's ability to outmaneuver the Bf 109 at low speeds. He had to use a special maneuver called a "Split S" to escape back to France. Galland was shocked by the aggressive British pilots and realized the battle would not be easy.

As Channel battles continued, Galland shot down Spitfires on July 25 and 28. On August 1, 1940, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his 17 victories. He continued flying missions over southern England. On August 11, his unit fought 74 Squadron. Galland suspected the RAF had a good ground control system. He decided to fly higher, where the Bf 109 performed best.

By August 15, Galland had 21 victories. On this day, he claimed three Spitfires. This put him close to Mölders, who had the most victories. Galland was called to Karinhall on August 18, missing a big air battle. During the meeting, Göring insisted that Bf 109 fighters must protect Bf 110s. Both Galland and Mölders worried that this would stop fighter pilots from fighting freely. They also noted that German bombers flew at heights and speeds that made them easy targets for Spitfires. Galland did not like his pilots having to do a job unsuited for their planes.

Leading the Wing

Galland returned to action on August 22, 1940, becoming the Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) of JG 26. His predecessor, Major Handrick, was not an effective leader. Göring was frustrated with some of his fighter commanders and replaced Handrick with Galland.

Galland found his pilots unhappy. He couldn't change Göring's orders about escorting bombers, but he worked to improve morale. He replaced less effective commanders with younger, more aggressive, and successful officers. He also increased the wing's staff flight from two planes to four. Galland led from the front, flying difficult missions to encourage his men and earn their respect.

His new role didn't stop his success. From August 25 to September 14, Galland claimed victories 23 to 32. This included three claims on August 31, bringing his total to 27. On September 6, Galland claimed his 30th victory.

During the battle, Göring criticized fighter pilots for the increasing bomber losses. In a meeting, Göring asked what his fighter pilots needed to win. Werner Mölders asked for more powerful engines for the Bf 109. Galland famously replied: "I should like an outfit of Spitfires for my squadron." This made Göring speechless with anger. Galland still preferred the Bf 109 for attacking, but he thought the Spitfire was better for defense because it was more maneuverable.

The question of shooting down enemy pilots who had bailed out was discussed. Galland recalled Göring asking him about it. Galland said he would see it as murder and would do everything to disobey such an order. Göring said that was the answer he expected. In practice, this mercy was not always given. German airmen who bailed out became prisoners, but British airmen could fight again.

On September 15, known as Battle of Britain Day, Galland claimed his 33rd victory over a Hurricane. He fought eight Hurricanes and lost altitude. He then spotted two more Hurricanes below and attacked them by surprise. His wingman claimed the other.

On September 23, Galland became the third person in the Wehrmacht to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. This was for his 39th and 40th aerial victories. On September 25, he met Adolf Hitler to receive the award. Galland told Hitler that the British were tough opponents and that German fighter pilots were losing morale. Hitler said he regretted the war with the "Anglo-Saxons" but would fight until total destruction.

Morale and tiredness became a problem in September. The Luftwaffe didn't have enough pilots and planes. Commanders demanded three to four missions per day from experienced pilots. Galland saw that his pilots were very tired. Göring's interference with tactics and the British adapting quickly made things worse.

Galland found a way to deal with Göring's order for close escort. He created a flexible escort system that allowed his pilots to change altitude, speed, and direction. This improved results. By the end of the Battle of Britain, JG 26 was known for protecting bombers with low losses.

The fighter-bomber mission was also a problem. Göring wanted one-third of all fighter wings to carry bombs. Galland accepted this but it hurt morale. Galland developed tactics to mix bomb-carrying Bf 109s with fighter escorts to confuse the enemy. This slowed down losses, but pilots still felt their skills were wasted.

The Battle of Britain continued past October 31. Galland claimed eight more victories in October, bringing his total to 50. On November 15, he flew his 150th combat mission. The next day, he claimed his 53rd and 54th victories. In November, he claimed six more, reaching 56 victories, putting him ahead of Helmut Wick. On December 5, Galland recorded his 57th victory, making him the most successful fighter pilot at that time.

Channel Front Battles

In March 1941, Göring held a meeting for units in the west. He secretly told Galland and Mölders that the Luftwaffe would move to the Eastern Front. Only two fighter wings, JG 26 and Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2), remained in France. The best equipment, like the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, was sent to the west first.

Now a Lieutenant Colonel, Galland continued to lead JG 26 against RAF fighter sweeps. JG 26 was getting new Bf 109F planes. Galland felt these planes didn't have enough weapons. He tested special 109s with more powerful cannons and machine guns.

On April 15, 1941, Galland flew towards England looking for RAF planes. He spotted Spitfires and claimed two shot down. One Spitfire was destroyed, and two were damaged. Galland's success that day brought his total to 60 and 61 victories.

On May 10, 1941, Göring called Galland. He asked Galland to intercept a Messerschmitt Bf 110 flown by Rudolf Hess that was heading for Scotland. Galland couldn't launch a full fighter sweep, and Hess's plane was too far north.

Galland continued his successes in the summer. On June 13, he led Bf 109s and attacked two Hurricanes, claiming both shot down. This brought his total to 63. From this point, the RAF launched a constant offensive over France. Galland wanted to inflict maximum damage on the British while keeping his own losses low. He used his units in small groups, scrambling quickly to gain height and use the sun and clouds to attack. Many JG 26 pilots became aces using these tactics. On June 16, JG 26 claimed 15 enemy aircraft. Galland claimed a Hurricane, his 64th victory. On June 17, he claimed two more Hurricanes. The next day, he claimed a Spitfire, bringing his total to 67, the highest against the Western Allies at that time.

On June 21, he claimed two Bristol Blenheims but was shot down by Spitfire escorts. He crash-landed near Calais. Later that afternoon, Galland shot down a Spitfire but was then shot down himself by another Spitfire. He bailed out and pulled the wrong cord at first, but then managed to open his parachute. While he was recovering, he was informed that his 69 victories had earned him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

On July 2, 1941, Galland's plane was hit by a 20mm round from an escort fighter. Armor plate, installed just days before, saved his life. Wounded in the head, he landed and was hospitalized again. This Blenheim brought his total to 70.

On August 9, 1941, RAF ace Douglas Bader bailed out over St Omer, France. Bader was well known to the Luftwaffe. Galland and JG 26 hosted Bader for a few days. Galland allowed Bader to sit in a Bf 109 cockpit. Bader, who had lost his artificial legs, jokingly asked if he could take the plane for a test flight. Galland refused, saying he feared Bader would escape.

Throughout the summer, Galland claimed 14 more Spitfires. On July 23, he claimed three Spitfires, bringing his total to 73. On August 7, two more brought him to 75. On August 19, he claimed two Spitfires and one Hurricane, surpassing Manfred von Richthofen's total of 80 victories from World War I. Galland also flew the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in autumn 1941. On October 21, he claimed three Spitfires, reaching 92 victories.

His 96th victim, a Spitfire, was claimed on November 18, 1941. This was his last official victory for three years, as he was soon forbidden from flying combat missions.

Leading the Fighter Force

In November 1941, Göring chose Galland to lead Germany's fighter force as General der Jagdflieger (General of Fighters). He replaced Werner Mölders, who had died in a plane crash. Galland was not happy about this promotion. He saw himself as a combat leader, not someone tied to a desk. He was the youngest General in the armed forces.

On January 28, 1942, Galland received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds for his leadership of JG 26. Soon after his appointment, Galland planned and carried out the German air cover plan (Operation Donnerkeil) for the German navy's Operation Cerberus. This operation involved German battleships sailing up the English Channel. The British were surprised. The RAF tried to stop them, but German fighters shot down 43 RAF planes. The Luftwaffe prevented any damage to the ships from air attacks.

Galland strongly supported the day fighter force and the defense of Germany. He used his position to improve the Jagdwaffe (German fighter arm). This was urgent because Germany had declared war on the United States in December 1941. Galland wanted to build a force that could stand against the growing Allied air forces. He often spoke out, which Göring usually didn't tolerate. But Galland gained support from other powerful people in the Luftwaffe, like Erhard Milch and Günther Korten, and even Albert Speer and Adolf Hitler. This helped him keep his job for three years.

The first major challenge for Galland's command came in 1943. Galland had been supporting operations in the Mediterranean. The defeat in Tunisia led to a reorganization of Axis air forces in the south. Galland went to Sicily to control fighter operations.

When he arrived, Galland found the German air forces in bad shape. Units were tired, lacked spare parts, and were often attacked. The 130 fighters on the island were targets. It was impossible to fully rebuild the squadrons. The available resources couldn't stop Allied air forces from flying freely. Göring threatened to court-martial pilots who returned without claims or with undamaged aircraft, accusing them of cowardice. Galland repeated Göring's criticism, which caused tension with commanders like Johannes Steinhoff.

Many reinforcements arrived. The number of fighters increased from 190 in mid-May to 450 in early July 1943. Nearly 40 percent of all fighter production went to the Mediterranean. However, this only led to more German losses. From May 16 to July 9, Allied forces flew many missions and lost fewer planes than the Axis. The weak German bomber force could not support the defense of Sicily.

Losses were high. In the first nine days of July 1943, Galland's command lost about 70 fighters. On the fourteenth day, he was called to Berlin to explain the collapse of air defenses. As Galland left, the last few operational Axis planes left Sicily on July 22. Since the Allied invasion of Sicily, Galland had lost 273 German and 115 Italian aircraft, while the Allies lost only about 100.

Disagreements with Göring

Galland's role as General der Jagdflieger led to increasing disagreements with Göring as the war went on. Galland often disagreed with Göring and Hitler on how to fight the air war. From 1942 to 1944, German fighter forces faced more and more pressure. Their relationship began to worsen in spring 1943. Galland suggested that the fighter forces defending Germany should limit interceptions. This would allow time to regroup and save planes and pilots. Göring found this unacceptable. He demanded that every raid be met with maximum force, no matter how many Allied fighters were present.

The lack of new planes and constant losses left Galland with few resources to defend Germany. By early October, German intelligence reported that American fighters were escorting bombers as far as Hamburg.

When American fighter planes crashed near Aachen, Galland showed these wrecks as proof that the Luftwaffe would soon face enemy fighters escorting heavy bombers deep into Germany. Galland presented his findings to Göring. Göring was furious. He called the report "the rantings of a worn-out defeatist." He ordered that no Allied fighters had crossed into Germany. Göring believed that short-range fighters ran out of fuel and glided a long distance before crashing. Galland questioned why an Allied pilot would glide east instead of west. Both men also argued that fighter production needed to increase quickly. Göring, however, still favored bombers.

By October 1943, their arguments became more open. Galland met Göring at his estate. They discussed the need for new fighter planes. Göring, influenced by Hitler, wanted fighters with very heavy cannons. Galland explained that such weapons would not work well in aircraft; they would jam, and the planes would be hard to fly. Galland also argued that using unsuitable planes, like the Messerschmitt Me 410, had caused heavy losses. Göring ignored Galland's points and continued to accuse the fighter force of cowardice. Galland always defended his pilots, risking his career and even his life. Galland said he could not agree with Göring's plans and asked to be dismissed. Göring accepted, but two weeks later, he apologized and blamed his behavior on stress. Galland stayed in his position.

The arguments continued, mostly about getting new planes and weapons for Germany's defense against Allied bombing. In November 1943, Galland announced new weapons, like heavily armed Fw 190s, to destroy Allied bombers. He also passed on Göring's demand that commanders press their attacks. For the first time, Göring ordered his units to use ramming methods, risking the pilot's life.

Galland found the presence of American fighters alarming. German losses were so heavy that Galland held a special meeting with his division commanders on November 4, 1943. They decided that single-engine fighters must protect heavier fighters, like the Messerschmitt Bf 110, from escorts. This would allow the heavier fighters to attack bombers. By the end of December, Galland and his staff concluded that their new tactics had failed due to bad weather, German weakness, and scattered attacks.

The situation got worse in February 1944 with Big Week, a major Allied bombing campaign. By the end of March, the bombing had put huge pressure on the Luftwaffe. It caused terrible losses. American air forces continued their attacks throughout the war. There was no hope for Germany's daylight fighter forces to recover, and the Allies were close to winning air superiority over Europe. In May 1944, Galland reported that his fighter force had lost many pilots. He said the enemy outnumbered his fighters by 6 to 8 times, and Allied pilot training was "astonishingly high."

To gain some relief, Galland planned the "Big Blow." This involved a mass attack by about 2,000 German fighters against USAAF bomber formations. Galland hoped to shoot down 400–500 bombers. He was willing to accept losses of about 400 fighters and 100–150 pilots. By November 1944, Galland's staff had 3,700 aircraft, with 2,500 saved for this operation.

Hitler rejected Galland's plan. He wanted a decisive victory on the Western Front. Hitler did not trust Galland's ideas and thought he was afraid. Hitler was also doubtful that the Luftwaffe could stop the American air offensive. He did not want German resources sitting idle. Göring and Hitler gave the forces Galland had saved to Dietrich Peltz, who was put in charge of almost all fighter forces in the west.

The "Big Blow" never happened. Instead, the fighter force was used in the disastrous Operation Bodenplatte, which supported German forces during the Battle of the Bulge. Galland's influence was almost gone. He was shocked by the losses and criticized Gordon Gollob, who was put in charge of the offensive. Gollob complained to Heinrich Himmler, the powerful head of the SS. Himmler saw this as a chance to weaken Göring and gain control of the Luftwaffe. Göring did not support Galland when Himmler was involved. On January 13, 1945, Galland was finally removed from his command.

On January 17, a group of senior pilots, loyal to Galland, confronted Göring. This was called the "Fighter Pilots Revolt." Göring suspected Galland had started it. Himmler wanted to put Galland on trial for treason. The official reason for Galland's removal was his health. Göring wanted the leaders of the revolt to face a Court-martial.

For his safety, Galland went to the Harz Mountains. He was under house arrest. Hitler, who liked Galland, learned of the revolt and ordered it to stop. After Hitler's intervention, Göring contacted Galland and apologized. He offered Galland command of a unit of Me 262 jets. Galland accepted, on the condition that Gollob had no power over him.

Jet Fighter Innovations

On May 23, 1943, Galland flew an early prototype of the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. He said it felt "as though angels were pushing." Galland became a strong supporter of the aircraft, seeing its potential as a fighter. He hoped the Me 262 would help against the Allies' large numbers of planes.

Galland's excitement didn't account for the difficulties of making the jet. The Me 262 was not the top priority for its designer, Willy Messerschmitt. There were also problems with the engines, and production was hard because design changes were still being made.

Galland convinced Erhard Milch to stop the Me 209 program to build 100 Me 262s by the end of 1943. However, due to engine problems and Hitler's decision to use it as a bomber, the Me 262 was not developed as a fighter until late in the war.

By spring 1944, the Me 262 was ready for service. Galland faced disagreements within the Luftwaffe command about how to use it. Dietrich Peltz wanted to use it as a fast bomber against a future Allied landing in France. Peltz thought highly trained bomber pilots could fly them. Galland argued against this. He thought the bomber corps should be disbanded and its pilots trained as fighters. Göring chose Peltz's idea to impress Hitler.

Galland did not give up. He kept asking for Me 262 fighter planes. Göring refused Galland's requests for equal numbers of fighter and bomber versions. However, Galland's good relationship with Albert Speer, the German armaments minister, allowed him to keep a small number of jets. Even this was hard, as Hitler personally controlled jet production.

It wasn't until September 1944 that Hitler changed his order about the Me 262. Galland had already ignored the order and formed Eprobungskommando 262 to test the Me 262 against Allied reconnaissance planes. Hitler found out and ordered Göring to stop it. Galland continued the experiments. They had some successes until the commander, Werner Thierfelder, was shot down and killed by P-51 Mustangs on July 18, 1944. On August 20, Hitler finally allowed one in every 20 Me 262s to go to the fighter force, letting Galland build all-jet units.

Galland also supported innovations with existing planes. The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was made into "Sturmbock" (Battering ram) units. These planes had heavy weapons and armor, making them powerful against unescorted bombers. Galland supported converting units like Jagdgeschwader 300 to this role. Sturmbock planes were hard to maneuver and needed protection from escorting Bf 109s. Still, these tactics became common and were one of the few Luftwaffe successes in 1944.

Galland himself flew unauthorized interception flights to understand the combat pressures. He saw USAAF bombers being escorted by many P-51 Mustangs. Still, the Sturmbock tactics sometimes worked. For example, on July 7, 1944, 12 unescorted B-24 bombers were all shot down by a Sturmbock attack.

Return to Front Line and End of War

Galland was given the task of forming Jagdverband 44 (JV 44), a new jet fighter unit. It was officially formed on February 22, 1945. Galland worked hard to get Me 262s into the unit quickly. Göring showed some sympathy, as Galland only had 16 operational jets in February.

On March 31, 1945, Galland flew 12 operational jets to Munich to begin missions. On April 5, his Me 262s destroyed three B-17s. On April 16, Galland claimed two Martin B-26 Marauder bombers shot down. On April 21, Göring visited him for the last time. Göring admitted that Galland's ideas about the Me 262 and using bomber pilots as jet fighters had been correct. As they parted, Göring told Galland he envied him for going into action.

Within six days, Galland's friend Steinhoff was badly burned in a crash on April 18. Then, on April 24, his friend Günther Lützow went missing. On April 21, Galland was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 103rd and last Luftwaffe pilot to reach this milestone.

On April 26, Galland claimed his 103rd and 104th aerial victories against B-26s. He made a mistake by watching his second victory too long and was hit by a USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt piloted by James Finnegan. Galland managed to land his damaged Me 262 on an airfield that was under attack by more P-47s. He abandoned his jet on the runway. This was his last operational mission. He was sent to the hospital for a knee wound.

In the 1970s, a student found Galland's book The First and the Last. He matched Galland's last mission details with records from James Finnegan. Galland and Finnegan met for the first time in 1979.

Surrender

By late April 1945, the war was almost over. On May 1, 1945, Galland tried to contact United States Army forces to surrender his unit. This was dangerous, as SS forces were executing anyone considering surrender. The Americans asked Galland to fly his Me 262s to a USAAF airfield. Galland refused, saying the weather was bad and there were technical problems. In reality, Galland did not want to give the jets to the Americans. He believed the Western Allies would soon fight the Soviet Union, and he wanted to join American forces to free Germany from Communist control. Galland told the Americans where he was, at a hospital, and offered to surrender there. He then ordered his unit to destroy their Me 262s. At the time of his surrender, Galland had claimed 104 Allied aircraft shot down, including seven with the Me 262.

On May 14, 1945, Galland was flown to England and questioned by RAF personnel. He returned to Germany on August 24 and was imprisoned. On October 7, he was sent back to England for more questioning. He was finally released on April 28, 1947.

Life After the War

Working in Argentina

After his release, Galland went to live with Baroness Gisela von Donner and her three children. He worked as a forestry worker and hunted for food. Soon, he found his love for flying again. Kurt Tank, the designer of the Fw 190, asked Galland to work for the Argentinian Government as a test pilot for new fighters. Galland accepted and flew to Argentina. He settled in Buenos Aires and enjoyed the relaxed life. He also started gliding again.

Galland spoke fluent Spanish, which helped him teach new pilots. In the Argentine Air Force (FAA), he flew the British Gloster Meteor. He thought it was a fine aircraft. He believed that if he could have put Meteor engines into the Me 262 airframe, he would have had the best fighter in the world. Galland continued training, lecturing, and advising the FAA until 1955. He also returned to Europe to test new planes and took part in an international air rally across Italy, finishing second.

Returning to Germany

In 1955, Galland left South America. He had started writing his autobiography, The First and the Last, which was published in 1954. It became a best-seller, selling three million copies in 14 languages. It was well-received by the RAF and USAF.

Galland returned to Germany. He was asked to join the new Bundeswehr (German armed forces) as West Germany was joining NATO. However, the United States government expressed disapproval, possibly due to concerns about his past associations.

In 1957, Galland moved to Bonn and started his own aircraft consulting business. He continued flying and took part in air shows. In 1956, he became honorary chairman of the Gemeinschaft der Jagdflieger (Association of Fighter Pilots). This connected him with former pilots from Britain and America. In 1961, he joined the Gerling Group, helping them develop their aviation business. On his 50th birthday in 1962, Galland bought his own plane, a Beechcraft Bonanza.

In 1969, he was a technical adviser for the film Battle of Britain. The character Major Falke was based on Galland. Galland was upset that real names weren't used. He also threatened to leave if a scene showed him giving a Nazi salute to Göring. In 1973, Galland appeared in the British TV documentary series The World at War.

Galland attended many events in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1974, he took part in a war game in the United Kingdom, re-enacting the planned German invasion of Britain in 1940. In 1975, he was a guest at the RAF Museum Hendon, where he met Prince Charles. In 1980, Galland's eyesight became too poor to fly, and he retired as a pilot. However, he continued to attend aviation events. In 1980, he was reunited with two shotguns that had been stolen from him in 1945. By the late 1980s, Galland's health began to decline.

Family and Final Years

Baroness Gisela von Donner had refused to marry Galland because of rules from her former husband's will. She left for Germany in 1954. Galland married Sylvinia von Dönhoff on February 12, 1954, but they divorced in 1963.

On September 10, 1963, Galland married his secretary, Hannelies Ladwein. They had two children: a son, Andreas Hubertus (born 1966), and a daughter, Alexandra-Isabelle (born 1969). RAF ace Robert Stanford Tuck was the godfather of his son. Galland and Tuck remained friends until Tuck's death in 1987. Galland's marriage to Hannelies ended, and on February 10, 1984, he married his third wife, Heidi Horn, who stayed with him until his death.

In the 1980s, Galland often attended the funerals of friends like Tuck and Douglas Bader. In January 1983, he attended the funeral of Gerhard Barkhorn and his wife, who died in a car accident.

In early February 1996, Galland became very ill. He wanted to die at home and was released from the hospital. With his wife, son, and daughter present, he received his last rites. Adolf Galland died at 1:15 AM on Friday, February 9, 1996. He was buried at the Cementerio in Oberwinter on February 21. A memorial service was held on March 31.

Galland's Career Highlights

Aerial Victories

Adolf Galland was credited with 104 aerial victories. Records show 100 confirmed aerial victory claims, plus nine unconfirmed claims, all on the Western Front. This includes two four-engine bombers and six victories with the Me 262 jet fighter.

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Galland did not receive credit.      This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 – Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1	12 May 1940	10:10	Hurricane	10 km (6.2 mi) west of Liège	—	20 May 1940	20:50	Potez 63	south of Amiens
2	12 May 1940	10:20	Hurricane	18 km (11 mi) south of Liège	7	29 May 1940	12:59	Blenheim	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Gravelines
3	12 May 1940	15:50	Hurricane	7 km (4.3 mi) east-northeast of Tirlemont	8	29 May 1940	13:04	Blenheim	30 km (19 mi) northwest of Gravelines
4	16 May 1940	19:30	Spitfire	Seclin, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Lille	9	2 June 1940	09:28	Spitfire	west of Dunkirk
5	19 May 1940	20:50	Potez 63	north of Albert-Méaulte	10	9 June 1940	15:55	Curtiss	east of Rotoy
6	19 May 1940	21:45	Potez 63	southwest of Hirson	11	9 June 1940	16:10	Morane MS 406	13 km (8.1 mi) northwest of Meaux
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 – Battle of France – 10 May – 25 June 1940
12	14 June 1940	17:15	Blenheim	22 km (14 mi) southeast of Vernon	13	14 June 1940	17:28	Defiant	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Évreux
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 – At the Channel and over England – 26 June 1940 – 21 June 1941
14	24 July 1940	13:35	Spitfire	30 km (19 mi) northeast of Margate	18	14 August 1940	13:30	Hurricane	southwest of Dover
15	25 July 1940	16:17	Spitfire	Dover Harbour	19	15 August 1940	12:55	Spitfire	10 km (6.2 mi) east of Dover Dover/Folkestone
16?	28 July 1940	15:14	Spitfire	north-northeast of Dover	20	15 August 1940	16:01?	Spitfire	15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Folkestone
17	12 August 1940	12:41?	Hurricane	north-northwest of Margate	21	15 August 1940	16:07	Spitfire	20 km (12 mi) southeast of Dover
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" – At the Channel and over England – 26 June 1940 – 21 June 1941
22	25 August 1940	19:50	Spitfire	Dungeness/Folkestone	47	30 October 1940	12:55	Spitfire	east of London
23	28 August 1940	10:08	Defiant	Faversham east of Canterbury	48	30 October 1940	17:30	Spitfire	south of Eastchurch/Maidstone
24	31 August 1940	09:42	Curtiss	20 km (12 mi) southeast of Cambridge	49	30 October 1940	17:40	Spitfire	Canterbury/Maidstone
25	31 August 1940	18:50	Spitfire	Gravesend	50	1 November 1940	12:50	Spitfire	west of Ashford
26	31 August 1940	19:03	Hurricane	Maidstone	51	14 November 1940	15:28	Spitfire	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Dover
27	1 September 1940	14:55?	Spitfire	southeastern edge of London	52	15 November 1940	14:15?	Hurricane	Dover
28	3 September 1940	11:32	Hurricane	Chelmsford	53	17 November 1940	10:20	Hurricane	west of Harwich 20 km (12 mi) east of sunk lightship
29	6 September 1940	10:20	Hurricane	Tonbridge	54	17 November 1940	10:27	Hurricane	Thames Estuary
30	11 September 1940	16:20	Hurricane	northwest of Dungeness	55?	27 November 1940	17:00	Spitfire	5 km (3.1 mi) east of Detling
31	14 September 1940	17:03	Hurricane	southeastern edge of London	56	28 November 1940	15:40	Hurricane	Dartford
32	15 September 1940	15:30?	Hurricane	Thames Estuary	57	5 December 1940	12:30?	Spitfire	Dover/Dungeness
33	18 September 1940	13:35	Hurricane		58	4 April 1941	17:50	Spitfire	Dover/Canterbury
34	18 September 1940	13:52	Hurricane	west of Rochester	59	15 April 1941	17:50	Spitfire	Wittering 30 km (19 mi) west of Dover
35	18 September 1940	13:55	Hurricane	west of Rochester	60	15 April 1941	18:00	Spitfire	Dover/Margate 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Margate
36	20 September 1940	12:05	Spitfire	south of Hornchurch	—	15 April 1941	18:00	Spitfire	Dover vicinity of Margate
37	21 September 1940	19:25	Spitfire	west of Ashford/Canterbury	61	13 June 1941	13:15	Hurricane	5 km (3.1 mi) west of Dover
38	23 September 1940	10:45	Hurricane	north of Rochester	62	13 June 1941	13:18	Hurricane	10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Ashford 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Dover
39	23 September 1940	10:45	Hurricane	north of Rochester	63	16 June 1941	16:35	Hurricane	west of Boulogne
40	24 September 1940	10:00	Hurricane	Rochester	64	17 June 1941	19:38	Hurricane	15 km (9.3 mi) west of Saint-Omer
41	30 September 1940	18:05	Hurricane	south of Guildford	65	17 June 1941	19:40	Hurricane	5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Boulogne
42	10 October 1940	10:20	Spitfire	south of Eastchurch	66	18 June 1941	18:18	Spitfire	1 km (0.62 mi) east of Ardres
43	11 October 1940	17:05	Spitfire	southeast of Chatham Dartford	67	21 June 1941	12:32	Blenheim	south of Saint-Omer
44	11 October 1940	17:12	Hurricane	Dartford/Rochester	68?	21 June 1941	12:36	Blenheim	Merville north of Saint-Omer
45	15 October 1940	13:50	Spitfire	south of Rochester	69	21 June 1941	16:37	Spitfire	north of Etaples
46	26 October 1940	17:30	Hurricane	Maidstone/south of London
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" – On the Western Front – 22 June 1941 – 31 December 1941
70	2 July 1941	12:30	Blenheim	Merville	83	7 September 1941	17:19	Spitfire	20 km (12 mi) west of Boulogne
71?	23 July 1941	13:35	Spitfire	40 km (25 mi) northwest of Gravelines	—	20 September 1941	16:45	Spitfire	Bergues/Bourbourg
72	23 July 1941	20:10	Spitfire	Fruges	—	20 September 1941	16:55	Spitfire	6 km (3.7 mi) northwest of Braye-Dunes
73	23 July 1941	20:15	Spitfire	Fruges	84	21 September 1941	16:23	Spitfire	Etaples/Montreuil
74	7 August 1941	11:23	Spitfire	Lumbres, southwest of Saint-Omer	85	21 September 1941	17:35	Spitfire	south of Dunkirk
75	7 August 1941	17:40	Spitfire	10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Saint-Omer	86	13 October 1941	14:17	Spitfire	Saint-Omer
—	7 August 1941	17:44	Spitfire	north of Ardres	87	13 October 1941	14:27	Blenheim	Samer
76	9 August 1941	11:32	Spitfire	northwest of Saint-Pol-sur-Mer	88	21 October 1941	12:54	Spitfire	west of Samer
77?	9 August 1941	17:44	Spitfire	Gravelines north of Ardres	89	21 October 1941	12:58	Spitfire	6 km (3.7 mi) west of Hardelot
78	12 August 1941	13:12	Spitfire	20–25 km (12–16 mi) west of Vlissingen	90	21 October 1941	18:16	Spitfire	15 km (9.3 mi) west of Boulogne
79	12 August 1941	13:18	Blenheim	west of Haamstede	91	27 October 1941	13:25	Spitfire	south of Dunkirk
—	19 August 1941	11:55	Spitfire	Bergues	92	8 November 1941	12:58	Spitfire	Montreuil
80	19 August 1941	19:32	Spitfire	northwest of Saint-Omer	93	8 November 1941	13:00	Spitfire	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Hazebrouck
81	19 August 1941	19:45	Hurricane	southeast of Gravelines	94	18 November 1941	12:32	Spitfire	20 km (12 mi) west of Boulogne
82	4 September 1941	17:30	Blenheim	north of Saint-Omer
– Stab of General der Jagdflieger –
—	9 October 1943	—	B-17	vicinity of Marienburg	—	8 March 1944	—	B-17
—	8 March 1944	—	B-17
– Jagdverband 44 –
95	3 April 1945	—	P-38		99	21 April 1945	—	B-17	vicinity of Munich
96	5 April 1945	—	B-24		100	26 April 1945	11:50+	B-26	vicinity of Neuburg
97	16 April 1945	—	B-26	vicinity of Lanberg	—	26 April 1945	11:55~	B-26	vicinity of Neuburg
98	16 April 1945	—	B-26	vicinity of Lanberg

Awards and Honors

• Medal for the Campaign of 1936−1939 (Spain)
• Military Medal (Spain) with Diamonds
• Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds (June 6, 1939)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "400"
• Wound Badge in Black
• Pilot/Observer Badge in Gold with Diamonds (August 1940)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (September 13, 1939)
  • 1st Class (May 22, 1940)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
  • Knight's Cross on July 29, 1940, as a Major and Group Commander of III./JG 26
  • 3rd Oak Leaves on September 24, 1940, as a Major and Wing Commander of JG 26
  • 1st Swords (June 21, 1941) as a Lieutenant Colonel and Wing Commander of JG 26
  • 2nd Diamonds (January 28, 1942) as a Colonel and Wing Commander of JG 26

Images for kids

• 

  Bruno Loerzer (left), Galland (right) and Hermann Göring (centre), September 1940

See also

In Spanish: Adolf Galland para niños