Adolf Galland

ADOLF GALLAND autograph d1996. German Luftwaffe general and flying ace who served throughout WW2 in Europe. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He flew 705 combat missions and fought on the Western and Defence of The Reich fronts. On four occasions he survived being shot down and he was credited with 104 aerial victories, all of them against the Western Allies. He flew Messerschmitt BF 109s during the Battleof France and Battle of Britain. By the end of 1940 his tally of victories had reached 57. In 1941, he stayed in France and fought the RAF over the English Channel and in Northern France. By November 1941 his tally had increased to 96, by which time he had earned the Knights Cross of The Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. In November 1941, Werner Molders who commanded the German Fighter Force was killed in a flying accident. Galland succeeded him and was forbidden from flying combat missions, staying in the position until January 1945. In March 1945, he returned to operational flying and was permitted to form a jet-fighter unit which he called Jagdverband 44. He flew missions over Germany until the end of the war in May. After the war he was employed by Argentinas Government and acted as a consultant to their Air Force. Later he returned to Germany and managed his own business. He was to befriend many former enemies including RAF aces ; Robert Stanford Tuck and Douglas Bader. Adolf Galland died in February 1996 aged 83.