From left to right: Generaloberst Dr.-Ing. h.c. Ernst Udet (Generalluftzeugmeister und Chef des Planungsamts der Luftwaffe), Oberstleutnant Adolf Galland (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter") and Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51). The picture was taken on 4 September 1940 in France by Karl H. Paulmann.
Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51) being congratulated for his 56th kills, 16 April 1941..jpg)
Brillanten award ceremony for Luftwaffe ace Werner Mölders, who became the first fighter pilot to amass 100 aerial victories in World War II after surpassed the C mark, claiming victories Nos. 100 and 101 on 15 July 1941. The ceremony were held at Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze, Rastenburg (East Prussia), on 24 July 1941. From left to right: Oberst Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51), SS-Oberführer Walther Hewel (Verbindungsbeamter des Auswärtigen Amtes
und Führerhauptquartier), SS-Gruppenführer Julius Schaub
(Chefadjutant Führer und Reichskanzler), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), SS-Oberführer Hans Baur (Chefpilot im Führerhauptquartier und im Stab des Reichsführers-SS und Chef der "Fliegerstaffel des Führers"), SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Karl Wolff (Verbindungsoffizier zischen dem Reichsführer SS und dem Führerhauptquartier), and Heinrich Hoffmann (Reichsbildberichterstatter der NSDAP).
Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring (Chef Luftflotte 2) and Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 51) in Russia during the Unternehmen Barbarossa, summer 1941. Behind them is the wing of the Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch" light transport plane, commonly used by Wehrmacht high ranking officers to travel.
Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2009/01/generalleutnant-adolf-galland-1912-1996.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Galland
Source :
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/adolf-galland-walter-dahl-remmelt-469406839
A candid view of Oberst Adolf Galland (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter") reviewing documents with Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe), surrounded by other Luftwaffe officers. The picture was taken on 5 December 1941. After the Luftwaffe were resoundingly beaten in the Battle of Britain’s “war of attrition”, Galland was extremely critical of the Luftwaffe leadership’s strategies and tactics during the battle. The leader he constantly and publicly disparaged was Reichsmarschall Göring, the Luftwaffe’s supreme commander. His critiques and opinions; while often logical, insightful and right were never popular; and he made an influential and lasting enemy! In the twilight of the Battle of Britain defeat, Göring asked a group of his senior squadron and group commanders what they needed to turn the situation around and win the battle. Galland’s immediate reply was “I should like an outfit of Spitfires for my squadron.” This response was said to have caused Göring to be speechless with rage for several hours!Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/adolf-galland_B154B649B8
https://commentarythoughts.home.blog/2020/04/20/did-mickey-mouse-fly-with-the-luftwaffe/
Adolf Galland (19 March 1912 - 9 February 1996) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #96 on 29 July 1940 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) "Schlageter". The following wartime excerpt (dated 30 August 1940) describes why Galland received the Ritterkreuz: “Major Galland has distinguished himself as a Gruppe commander in a Jagdgeschwader as a result of his exceptional aggressiveness. By now he has shot down 14 enemy aircraft. Under his leadership the Gruppe executed numerous successful ground attack attacks as well, which included one mission (19 June 1940) where he eliminated 3 Anti-Aircraft batteries.”
Galland received the Eichenlaub #3 for his Ritterkreuz on 24 September 1940 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) "Schlageter". The medal was awarded for his 40 confirmed aerial victories.
Galland received the Schwerter #1 for his Ritterkreuz on 21 June 1941 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26)
"Schlageter". The medal was awarded for his 69 confirmed aerial victories.
Finally, Galland received the Brillanten #2 for his Ritterkreuz on 28 January 1942 as Oberst and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26)
"Schlageter". The medal was awarded for his 94 confirmed aerial victories.
Source :
https://www.alexautographs.com/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/215/Galland-Adolf-Dolfo-Keffer.htm
Adolf Josef Ferdinand Galland
Date of Birth: 19.03.1912 - Westerholt, Recklinghausen, Westfalen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 09.02.1996 - Oberwinter, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Nickname: Dolfo, Keffer
Victories: 104 kills from 705 mission
Promotions:
01.05.1934 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
01.09.1934 Fähnrich
01.01.1935 Leutnant
01.08.1937 Oberleutnant
01.10.1939 Hauptmann
19.07.1940 Major
01.11.1940 Oberstleutnant
04.12.1941 Oberst
01.11.1942 Generalmajor
01.11.1944 Generalleutnant
Career:
00.00.1932 - 00.00.1934 Pilot-Training at the Commercial-Flying-School Braunschweig
01.04.1934 - 30.09.1935 Entered the Army as Fahnenjunker in the 10th Infantry-Regiment
01.10.1935 - 06.05.1937 Transferred to Luftwaffe Service as Flight-Teacher at the Flying-School Schleißheim then in Fighter-Wing Richthofen, then Group Bernburg
07.05.1937 - 00.08.1937 Leader of Staff-Company J 88 (Legion Condor)
00.08.1937 - 00.06.1938 Staffelkapitän 3.Staffel / Jagdgruppe 88 – Legion Condor
00.06.1938 - 31.08.1938 Detached to the 3rd Department, Staff S in the RLM
01.09.1938 - 31.10.1938 Adjutant Jagdgeschwader 'Richthofen'
01.11.1938 - 31.01.1939 Staffelkapitän in I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 'Richthofen'
01.02.1939 - 30.09.1939 Staffelkapitän inJagdgeschwader 52
01.07.1939 - 30.09.1939 Staffelkapitän 4.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Lehrgeschwader 2
01.10.1939 - 31.03.1940 Adjutant Jagdgeschwader 27
01.04.1940 - 05.06.1940 Officer with Special Duties with the Staff of the Jagdgeschwader 27, Detached to I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 27
06.06.1940 - 21.08.1940 Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 'Schlageter'
22.08.1940 - 04.12.1941 Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 'Schlageter'
05.12.1941 - 31.01.1945 General der Jagdflieger (L In 3) RLM
01.02.1945 - 26.04.1945 Kommandeur Jagdverband 44 (JV 44) (Me 262)
26.04.1945 - 06.05.1945 Wounded, in Hospital
06.05.1945 - 10.05.1947 In US Captivity
10.05.1947 Released
Awards and Decorations:
00.00.193_ Flugzeugführerabzeichen
00.00.193_ Medalla de la Campaña de España
00.00.193_ Medalla Militar Individual de España con Diamantes
06.06.1939 Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Brillanten
00.00.19__ Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV.Klasse
00.00.1939 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
15.09.1939 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
22.05.1940 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
29.07.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes #96, as Major and Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) “Schlageter”. The following wartime excerpt (dated 30.08.1940) describes why Galland received the Ritterkreuz: “Major Galland has distinguished himself as a Gruppe commander in a Jagdgeschwader as a result of his exceptional aggressiveness. By now he has shot down 14 enemy aircraft. Under his leadership the Gruppe executed numerous successful ground attack attacks as well, which included one mission (19.06.1940) where he eliminated 3 AA batteries.”
00.08.1940 Gemeinsames Flugzeugführer- und Beobachter-Abzeichen in Gold mit Brillanten
16.08.1940 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
24.09.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #3, as Major and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) “Schlageter”. Awarded after 40 aerial victories.
25.09.1940 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
02.11.1940 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
18.04.1941 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
21.06.1941 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern #1, as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) “Schlageter”. Awarded after 69 aerial victories.
22.06.1941 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
30.10.1941 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
28.01.1942 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten #2, as Oberst and Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) “Schlageter”. Awarded after 94 aerial victories.
15.02.1942 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
00.00.194_ Frontflugspange für Jäger in Gold mit Anhänger und Einzatszahl "400"
00.00.1945 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
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Adolf Galland was born on 19th March 1912 and started flying, the same way as many other German pilots of that time, as a glider pilot. He began his flying career with Lufthansa, but then he had to join the army where he was recruited into the 10. Infanterie-Regiment stationed in Dresden. Galland soon transferred to the Luftwaffe and on 12th March 1935 he was appointed as a Lieutenant to the Jagdgeschwader 1 at Doberitz.
He received his combat experience in the Spanish Civil War, where he arrived on 8th May 1937 as commander of 3. / Jagdgeschwader 33 at El Ferrol. This unit flew the Heinkel He 51. During the Spanish Civil War he flew a total of 280 missions.
Just after the start of the Polish Campaign, on 1st October 1939, Galland was promoted to Captain. In the Polish Campaign he flew a Henschell Hs 123 in a ground support unit. During the Campaign in the West (Fall Gelb) he joined Jagdgeschwader 27 (27th Fighter Squadron) and in his Messerschmitt Bf-109 he shot down his first two enemy planes on 12th May 12th 1940, these were soon to be followed by another 10. On 10th June 1940 he was appointed commander of III. / Jagdgeschwader 26 and was promoted to Major on 18th July. During the Battle of Britain, Adolf Galland became one of the top aces with 57 enemy planes shot down. His leadership capabilities did not go unnoticed and he became commander of Jagdgeschwader 26 on 22nd August. After the death of Oberst Mölders on 22nd November 1941, Galland succeeded him as General of the German Fighter arm. But he was not promoted to General until 19th November 1942, becoming the youngest General in the entire German army.
On 22nd May 1942 Galland was the first to make a flight with the prototype of the new Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter. After being promoted to General-Lieutenant (November 1944) he organized a meeting between Göring and the most important Fighter unit Commanders. They criticized the German Fighter policy which resulted in the dismissal of Galland as General of the Fighter arm. Under the influence of Adolf Hitler himself, Adolf Galland was appointed as commander of a new fighter unit flying the Me-262. He succeeded in recruiting most of the Knights-Cross fighter pilots, making it the highest decorated German fighter unit. Galland flew his last wartime mission on 26th April 1945 when he shot down his last plane, a Martin B-26 Marauder.
After the war he had to withstand harsh interrogations for his role as General of the German Fighter Arm and he was released from captivity in 1947. This resulted in him not being allowed to fly again; afterwards he found a job as a Forest Ranger. In 1948 however, he was invited by the Argentine President, Peron, to become an Air Force advisor to the Argentine Air Force. He returned to Germany in the summer of 1953 to married Sylvinia, Countess von Dönhoff. The Argentine forces gave him a Royal farewell party on 7th February 1955 at which, he was highly decorated. At a flying show on 26th April 1955, Galland received special permission to fly an Italian Piaggio 149 and he subsequently won 2nd prize. At the end of 1955 he was invited to work for the German Government once again and he became the Commanding Officer of the newly formed German Air Force. He left the Air Force in 1957 to start his own aeronautical consultancy company.
Subsequently, he became a widower and on 10th February 1984 he married Heidi Horn. Adolf Galland died on 9th February 1996 and was buried at Remagen-Oberwinter.
