Adolf Galland

Adolf Galland
19 March 1912(1912-03-19) – 9 February 1996(1996-02-09) (aged 83)
Adolf Galland
Nickname	Keffer, Dolfo[1]
Place of birth	Westerholt
Place of death	Remagen
Resting place	Remagen
Allegiance	Germany (1932)  Nazi Germany (1933–1945)  Argentina (1947–1954)
Service/branch	Reichswehr Luftwaffe
Years of service	1932–1945
Rank	Generalleutnant
Unit	Condor Legion, LG 2, JG 27, JG 26, JV 44
Commands held	JG 26, JV 44
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Polish Campaign Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Britain Channel Front (WIA) Operation Cerberus Defence of the Reich (WIA)
Awards	Spanish Cross In Gold with Swords and Diamonds Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten
Relations	Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland
Other work	Aircraft consultant

General Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland (19 March 1912 – 9 February 1996)^[2] was a German Luftwaffe flying ace and commander who served throughout World War II 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 the 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.

Galland, born in Westerholt, Westphalia. Galland became a glider pilot before he joined Lufthansa. Galland graduated as a pilot in 1932 before applying to join the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic later in the year. Galland was accepted, but never took up the offer. In February 1934 he transferred to the Luftwaffe. Serving first as an instructor, he then volunteered for the Condor Legion in 1937 and flew missions in support of the Nationalists under Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War as a strike aircraft pilot, finishing his tour in 1938. Galland was then employed in the Air Ministry writing doctrine and technical manuals about his experiences as a ground-attack pilot. During the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, he flew ground attack missions. In early 1940 Galland managed to persuade his superiors to allow him to become a fighter pilot. Galland flew Messerschmitt Bf 109s during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. By the end of 1940 his tally of victories had reached 57. In 1941 Galland stayed in France and fought the Royal Air Force (RAF) over the English Channel area. By the end of 1941 his tally had increased to 96, by which time he had earned the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub and Schwertern). In November 1941, Werner Mölders, General der Jagdflieger (General of the Fighter Force), was killed in a flying accident and Galland succeeded him which meant he was forbidden to fly combat missions.

Until January 1945, Galland commanded the German Fighter Force (Jagdwaffe). In January 1942, Galland planned the air superiority cover for the Kriegsmarine Operation Cerberus which was a major success. It earned him the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. In the following months and years, Galland’s position as General der Jagdflieger caused his relationship with Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring to deteriorate. The Luftwaffe fighter force was under severe pressure by 1944 and Galland was blamed by Göring for the failure to prevent the Allied strategic bombing of Germany in daylight. The relationship collapsed altogether in January 1945 when he was relieved of his command following constant criticism of the Luftwaffe leadership. A group of senior pilots confronted Göring during the "Fighter Pilots Conspiracy" in respect of his dismissal and Galland was put under house arrest soon afterwards. In March 1945, he returned to operational flying in "disgrace". Galland formed a jet fighter unit called Jagdverband 44 and flew missions over Germany until the end of the war in May. After the war Galland was employed by Argentina's Government and acted as a consultant to the Argentine Air Force. Later he returned to Germany and managed his own business. Galland also befriended many former enemies, such as RAF aces Robert Stanford Tuck and Douglas Bader. Adolf Galland died in February 1996.

Early life

Galland was born in Westerholt, Westphalia on 19 March 1912 to a family of Huguenot ancestry. The first Galland in Westerholt was a refugee from France in 1792. He became a bailiff to the count von Westerholt, beginning a tradition that was handed down from father to son.^[3][4] Adolf Galland (junior) was the second of four sons of the land manager or bailiff to the Count von Westerholt Adolf Galland (senior) and his wife Anna, née Schipper.^[5] Galland's older brother was Fritz and his two younger brothers were Wilhelm-Ferdinand and Paul. Their father had pet names for all his family members. His wife Anna was called "Anita". Fritz, his older brother, was called "Toby", Adolf was "Keffer", Wilhelm-Ferdinand was nicknamed "Wutz" and Paul was called "Paulinchen" or since they were expecting a girl, occasionally "Paula".^[4]

His two younger brothers also became fighter pilots and aces. Paul scored 17 victories and was shot down and killed by a Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire on 31 October 1942,^[6] and Wilhelm-Ferdinand, a 54 victory ace, was shot down on 17 August 1943.^[7] Adolf Galland 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 was among 20 who were accepted to the aviation school of Germany's national airline, Lufthansa.^[8]

Early military career

Pilot training

During the final years of the Weimar Republic life was hard for the Galland family economically, and jobs were scarce. Adolf had some experience of flying gliders so he applied to the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule or DVS (German Commercial Flying School). Galland was one of 100 chosen out of 4,000 applicants. The school was heavily subsidised by Lufthansa, the National German Airline. After ten days of evaluations, Adolf was among the 18 selected for flight training. Adolf was then assessed on performance. Those that did not reach the standard were sent home. Galland's first flight was in a Albatros L101. Galland's early career went badly. On one flight he made a heavy landing and damaged the undercarriage of his aircraft. Later, while leading a three aircraft formation, two of the machines collided. No one was killed, but Galland was judged to have employed poor formation tactics. So badly did these incidents affect him, he applied to join the Army, convinced he would soon be sent home. In the meantime he carried on with his flight training. Galland did not receive a reply from the Army, and settled down to continue his training. Flights in an Albatros L75 and the award of a B1 certificate for aircraft over 2,500 kg (5,512 lbs) meant Adolf had regained his confidence. The Army then, out of the blue, accepted his application. However, owing to his improvements, the flying school refused to release him. By Christmas, 1932 he had obtained a B2 certificate for flying 150 hours.^[9]

Early in 1933, Galland was sent to the Baltic Sea coast training base at Warnemuende for training on flying boats. Galland disliked learning what he perceived to be "seamanship", but logged 25 hours in these aircraft. Soon afterwards Galland was ordered to attend an unusual interview. Adolf, with several others, were ordered to the Zentrale der Verkehrsflieger Schule (ZVS; Central Airline Pilot School). They were interviewed by military personnel in civilian uniforms. They were told a secret military training program was being built that involved piloting high performance aircraft. All the pilots, and Adolf, accepted the invitation to join the organisation.^[10]

Into the Luftwaffe

A FW44J. Galland trained on this type

Galland transferred to the new and technically illegal air force (Luftwaffe) in 1933. The Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany from having military aviation forces at all. However, in May 1933 Galland was ordered to Berlin as one of 12 civilian pilots among 70 other airmen who came from other clandestine programmes. At this meeting he met Hermann Göring for the first time. Galland was impressed and he believed Göring to be competent leader of the new German air arm. In July 1933 Galland travelled to Italy and trained with the Italian Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force). Initially the Germans were treated as inferior, but after Galland had flown some daring and impressive low-level manoeuvres, the German contingent won their neighbours' respect.^[11]

In September 1933 Galland returned to Germany. He flew in some minor competitions as a glider pilot and won some prizes. Soon afterwards he returned to the ZVS to learn instrument flying and receive training in piloting heavy transport aircraft. Galland logged another 50 hours. As a part of his traning, Galland flew Lufthansa airliners beginning in October 1933. He flew Junkers G24 from Stuttgart to Barcelona in Spain, via Geneva and Marseilles. In December 1933 Galland was recalled to the ZVS headquarters and was offered the chance to join the new Luftwaffe. Galland found the choice hard. He wanted the adventure of a military flying career, but as an airline pilot, Galland had enjoyed the life style of flying and visiting exotic places and was reluctant to give it up. Nevertheless, he decided to officially join the Luftwaffe.^[12]

After training in the Army for a brief time as part of his basic training Adolf was discharged from his barracks in Dresden in October 1934. In February 1935 Galland was now part of 900 airmen waiting to be inducted to the new ReichsLuftwaffe. In March Galland was ordered to report to Jagdgeschwader 2 (Fighter Wing 2). Galland arrived at its headquarters in Jueterbog-Damm on 1 April 1935.^[13] In October 1935, during his training, he crashed his Focke-Wulf Fw 44 biplane ^[14] and was in a coma for three days, suffering from a damaged eye, fractured skull and broken nose.^[15] When Galland recovered, he was declared unfit for flying by the doctors. A friend, "Major Rheital" kept the doctors report secret to allow Adolf to continue flying. The expansion of the Luftwaffe and his own Geschwader flooded the administration officers and Galland's medical report was overlooked. Within a year Galland showed no signs of injury from his crash.^[16] In October 1936 he crashed an Arado Ar 68 and was hospitalized again, aggravating his injured eye.^[8] It was at this point his medical report came to light again and Galland's unfit certificate was discovered. Major Rheital was rumoured to have suffered courts martial, but the investigators dropped the charges. Galland, however, was grounded. Galland admitted having fragments of glass in his eye, but convinced them he was fit for flight duty. Galland was due to undergo eye tests to validate his claims. One of Galland's brothers visited and managed to acquire the letter charts. Using his good eye Adolf memorised them. No doctor had thought to change the sequence. Galland passed and was permitted to fly again.^[17]

Condor Legion

During the Spanish Civil War, Galland was appointed Staffelkapitän of a Condor Legion unit, 3. Staffel (Squadron) Jagdgruppe 88 (Fighter Group 88m or J/88),^{[Notes 1]} on the Nationalist side at Ferrol from mid-1937. Galland flew ground attack missions in Heinkel He 51s. In Spain, Galland first displayed his unique style; flying in swimming trunks with a cigar between his teeth in an aircraft decorated with a Mickey Mouse figure.^[18] When asked why he developed this style he gave a simple answer:

I like Micky Mouse. I always have. And I like cigars, but I had to give them up after the war.^[19]

Galland flew his first combat in Spain with the J/88 commander Gotthard Handrick, on 24 July 1937, near Brunete. During the course of his combat career in Spain, Galland analysed the combats, evaluated techniques and devised new methods for ground-attack tactics which were passed back to Germany. Galland's experiences in pin-point ground assaults were used by Ernst Udet, a proponent of the dive bomber and leading supporter of the Junkers Ju 87 to push for Stuka wings. Wolfram von Richthofen, an opponent of Udet's way, used them to push for the opposite; Schlachtflieger (Slaughter Flyer) dual combination fighter-bombers. After trials with Henschel Hs 123s, Bf 109s and Ju 87s, the Junkers was selected for trials in the dive bomber role.^[20]

Galland flew over 300 missions in Spain. During this period he developed early gasoline and oil bombs, suggested the quartering of personnel on trains to aid in relocation, and was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Diamonds for his contribution following the Nationalist victory.^[19] On 24 May 1938 Galland's war in Spain ended, and he was replaced by the younger Werner Mölders. Before Galland left Spain, he made ten flights in the Bf 109; and he was deeply impressed with the performance of the aircraft. It was the Bf 109 that made Adolf want to change from a strike pilot to a fighter pilot.^[21]

Staff post in the RLM

From May to August 1938, Galland took leave and visited Spanish Morroco. When he returned to Germany, he was ordered to the headquarters of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM - Reich Air Ministry). Galland was tasked with preparing recommendations on the subject of close air support. Galland favoured the virtual simultaneous attack of air forces before the Army's advance leaving the enemy no time to recover. While this reasserted the lessons of the First World War, some of the Officer Corps were still pessimistic as to whether that kind of coordination possible. Galland also adopted the Italian suggestion of heavy armament and criticised the light machine guns in early German fighter aircraft and pointed to the advantages of multi-gun configurations (combining machine guns with cannon). These proved successful in the Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190. He also recognised the innovation of drop tanks to extend the range of aircraft as well as the need for specialised tactics for escorting bomber fleets; Galland did not subscribe to the prevailing idea in the Luftwaffe (and RAF) that the bomber "would always get through" (alone).^[22] Galland was to be proved right; close cooperation was key to the Luftwaffe's success in 1939—1941.

Unluckily for Galland, his excellence at evaluation earned him a place at Tutow training facility where he was asked to test fly prototype reconnaissance and strike aircraft. This was not what he wanted, and he hoped to be returned to a fighter unit to fly the Bf 109. During his time there, he gave positive evaluations on types such as the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 and Henschel Hs 129. During his test piloting career at Tutow Galland received unwelcome news; he was to become Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander) of II.(Sch.)/Lehrgeschwader 2 (II Group Learning Wing 2). It was not a fighter unit, but a special mixed Geschwader of ground attack aircraft.^[23]

Combat career (1939–1941)

Polish Campaign

The Hs 123. Galland flew these in Poland

Just before the outbreak of war, Galland was promoted to Hauptmann (Captain). During the Invasion of Poland. He flew with 4 staffel (Squadron), II./Lehrgeschwader 2. Equipped with the Henschel Hs 123, a "biplane Stuka," from 1 September 1939 onwards supporting the German Tenth Army. On 1 September Galland flew alone in a Fiesler Fi 156 Storch on a reconnaissance mission and was nearly shot down. The next day he flew ground attack missions in support of the 1st Panzer Division advancing to the Warte river. Galland's Geschwader flew intensive sorties in support of the Division and XVI Army Corps at Krakow, Random, Deblin, Tarnow and L'vov. The German Army had reached the Vistula river near Warsaw by 7 September. The Luftwaffe had been executing the kind of close air support operations Galland had been advocating. Galland participated in the maximum effort by the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Bzura, without personal incident. On 11 September Adolf Hitler arrived at LG 2 headquarters and had lunch with the staff. Hitler had been on one of his visits to the front line. Such was the state of the Polish Air Force and Polish Army, that by 19 September 1939 German air units were withdrawn from the campaign. Galland ceased combat operations on this date. He had flown 87 missions.^[24] After over nearly 360 missions in two wars, Galland received the Iron Cross Second Class. The citation of the award is dated 13 September 1939.^[25]

After the Polish Campaign Adolf claimed he was suffering from rheumatism and therefore unfit for flying open-cockpit aircraft, such as the Hs 123. Galland tactfully suggested a transfer to a single-engine type with a closed cockpit would improve his condition. His request was accepted and on medical grounds. Galland was removed from his post as a direct ground support pilot. Galland never explained whether open cockpits had caused the complaint or some other cause; given his performance with the eye specialists a certain amount of suspicion is reasonable.^[26] He was transferred to the fighter unit Jagdgeschwader 27 (Fighter Wing, or JG 27) on 10 February 1940, as adjutant, restricting him from flying. Galland had to sneak away to fly combat missions using various tricks and ruses.^[26][27]

Western Europe

Bf 109Es, 1940. Galland flew the Bf 109 in air-to-air combat for the first time over France and Belgium.

After his transfer to JG 27, Galland met Mölders again. Due to his injuries Galland could never match Werner's sharp eyesight; the shards of glass in his eyes denied him that ability. However Mölders, by that time a recognised ace (a pilot with five or more aerial victories), shared what experiences he could with Galland; leadership in the air, tactics and organisation. Mölders was Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 at the time of their meeting. Mölders offered Adolf the chance to join his unit which was flying patrols along the French border in order for Galland to gain experience on the Bf 109E, which Galland lacked. During these sorties Galland learned tactics which Mölders used, such as using spotter aircraft to indicate the position of enemy formation; a type of rudimentary early warning system. Galland learned to allow the Staffel to operate freely in order to seize the initiative and surprise. Galland took these findings back to JG 27 and its commander Max Ibel. He agreed to their implementation. Galland gained further experience as a combat leader by relieving Gruppenkommandeur as they went on leave.^[28]

On 10 May 1940 the Wehrmacht (German armed forces) invaded Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium and France under the codename Fall Gelb (Case Yellow). On the third day of the offensive, 12 May 1940, near Liege, Belgium, Galland scored his first aerial victories, over two RAF Hawker Hurricanes. His wingman on his first mission was Gustav Rödel.^[29] These aircraft were of No 87. Squadron RAF, who lost two aircraft. Galland claimed a third later in the day.^[30][31] On 19 May claimed a French "Potez" aircraft shot down. During the flight he ran out of fuel, along with Rodel. They landed not far from a German-held airfield and had to push their Bf 109s up a hill to glide down to the airfield of Charleville-Mézières in the valley below. Just a day later three more victories made it a total of seven. Galland received the Iron Cross First Class from Erhard Milch on 22 May.^[32] During the next few days the Battle of Dunkirk began and Galland met Supermarine Spitfires in combat for the first time. Galland expressed a high opinion of RAF pilots from that point on. On 29 May Galland shot down a Bristol Blenheim. The pilot was experienced and skilfully evaded Galland, only to eventually fall to his fire. On 3 June he claimed a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 for his 12th victory (during Unternehmen Paula, or Operation Paula).^[33]

On 6 June 1940 Galland took over the command of III./Jagdgeschwader 26 and attained the rank of Gruppenkommandeure (Group Commander). Under his command, the list of Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) included Joachim Müncheberg and Wilhelm Balthasar. Under Galland's command was 7, 8 and 9 Staffel. The III./JG 26 total allocation of fighters was 39 Bf 109s. During the last phase of the Western Campaign, Fall Rot (Case Red) JG 26 undertook all types of missions. During one incident, late in the campaign, Galland was mistakenly engaged by Balthasar, Staffelkapitän of 7 staffel. Galland, being on the same radio frequency, was able to shout a warning before Balthasar fired. The remainder of the campaign passed without incident. On 26 June Gotthard Handrick took over command of JG 26. Galland was pleased, having served under him during his Condor Legion days.^[34]

Battle of Britain

Galland's Messerschmitt Bf 109-E

From June 1940 on, Galland flew as a Gruppenkommandeur of III./Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26), fighting in the Battle of Britain with Messerschmitt Bf 109 "Emils" from bases in the Pas de Calais. On 19 July 1940, Galland was promoted to Major and JG 26 moved to the Pas de Calais, where Galland was to fight for the next 18 months, and the Geschwader would stay for the next four years. JG 26's airfields were Audembert, Marquise and III./JG 26 was based at Caffiers.^[35]

On 24 July 1940 Galland's III./JG 26 was ready for action. Nearly 40 Bf 109s took off for operations over the English Channel. They were met by 12 Spitfires from No. 54 Squadron RAF. The Spitfires forced the larger number of Bf 109s into turning battles that ran down the Germans' fuel. Galland recalled being impressed by the Spitfire's ability to out-manoeuvre Bf 109s at low speed and turning on to the Bf 109s within little airspace. Only executing a "Split-S"; a long curving dive that the Spitfire could not follow, could the Germans escape back to France at low altitude without fear of a stern attack. II./Jagdgeschwader 52 covered their retreat, but lost two Bf 109s to Spitfires from No. 610 Squadron RAF. All in all two Spitfires were shot down for the loss of four Bf 109s. Galland was shocked by the aggression shown by the relatively inexperienced and outnumbered enemy. Adolf realised at that point there would be no quick and easy victory.^[36]

As the battles over the Channel continued, Galland scored another victory on 25 July and 28 July, both were Spitfires. On 1 August 1940 Galland was awarded the Knight's Cross for his 17 victories. Galland continued to make fighter sweeps over southern England before the main assault opened. On 11 August 1940 Galland's unit engaged No. 74 Squadron RAF led by 'Sailor' Malan. In a brief dogfight one Spitfire was lost. During this time Galland came to suspect a high level of organisation was at work in vectoring RAF fighters as it seemed they had a habit of knowing where and when to send their units ito battle. The cloudy British skies made it a dangerous place against an enemy that had an effective ground control system. Galland resolved to fly higher, where he could see most things and where the Bf 109 performed at its best.^[37]

By 15 August, Galland had increased his own score to 22 in two weeks of action over Britain. This put him to within three of Mölders, who was wounded and grounded with a damaged knee.^[38] 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 as veteran commanders were not delivering the rapid victory he required.^[39]

Galland was summoned to Karinhall. Göring insisted that the Bf 109 fighters escort the Bf 110s in combat. The Bf 110 could not survive against single-engine fighters. The Reichsmarschall was now asking the Bf 109s to escort other fighters when the Luftwaffe already lacked the relative numbers of fighters to bombers. Moreover, the destruction of RAF forces, not its supporting structure by bombing, was now the priority. To do that the first priority of fighter operations was the protection of the bombers. They had to be allowed to destroy RAF airfields with acceptable losses. As high-scoring aces, both Galland and Mölders met with Göring throughout the battle. Both shared their concerns that close escort of Bf 110s and bombers robbed fighter pilots of their freedom to roam and engage the enemy of their own terms. They also pointed to the fact that German bombers flew at medium altitudes and low speed, the best height area and speed for the manoeuvrability of the Spitfire to prove a telling disadvantage to German fighter pilots. Galland resented his pilots having to attempt of task unsuited to their equipment. Göring would not move from his position.^[40] Galland returned to action on 22 August and replaced Gotthard Handrick as Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Leader) of JG 26.^[41]

During the Battle of Britain, in a front line General Officer briefing on Luftwaffe tactics, the Reichsmarshall asked what his pilots needed to win the battle. Werner Mölders replied that he would like the Bf 109 to be fitted with more powerful engines. Galland replied: "I should like an outfit of Spitfires for my squadron." Göring was speechless with rage.^[42] Galland still preferred the Bf 109 for offensive sweeps, but he perceived the Spitfire to be a better defensive fighter, owing to its manoeuvability.^{[43][Notes 2]}

During the Battle of Britain the question of killing enemy pilots while in their parachutes was raised. In another conversation with Göring, Galland recalled:

Göring wanted to know if we had ever thought about this. "Jawohl, Herr Reichsmarschall!" He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "What would you think of an order to shoot down pilots who were bailing out? "I should regard it as murder, Herr Reichsmarschall", I told him, "I should do everything in my power to disobey such an order". "That is just the reply I had expected from you, Galland".^[44]

Galland went on to say that he thought Göring may have been asking him this question so as to have an answer if the question was ever posed to him, as opposed to the implication that Göring would be in favour of such an action.^[45]

On 20 September, Mölders downed his 39—40 victories. He became the first member of the Wehrmacht to be awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross. Galland sent a note to Mölders with a bottle of Champagne and warned him he would be closing on his total soon. Galland achieved the same score just four days later. On 25 September he was summoned to Berlin to receive the award from Hitler.^[46] The battle continued over Britain with large-scale dogfights well past the 31 October 1940, the official end of the campaign. On 5 December 1940 Galland achieved 57 aerial victories. This made him the most successful fighter pilot of the war at that point, putting him ahead of his college, friend and rival Werner Mölders.^[47]

Channel Front

Galland and Mölder attending Theo Osterkamp's birthday

By the end of 1940, Galland had 57 victories. Promoted to Oberstleutnant, he continued to lead JG 26 through 1941 against RAF fighter sweeps across northern Europe. In early 1941 most of the fighter units of the Luftwaffe were sent to the Eastern Front, or south to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), thus leaving JG 26 and Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) as the sole single-engine fighter Geschwader in France. By this time, JG 26 were being re-equipped with the new Bf 109F, normally equipped with a 15 mm (or later a 20 mm) cannon firing through the propeller hub and two cowl-mounted 7.9 mm MG 17. Galland felt the model was grossly under-armed and so tested a series of 109 "specials" — one with a unique armament of an MG 151/20 cannon and two cowl-mounted 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, and another with integral wing-mounted 20 mm MG-FF cannons.^[48]

In an unusual event, on 15 April 1941, Galland took off with lobster and champagne to celebrate General Theo Osterkamp's birthday at Le Touquet, France. He made a detour with his wingman towards England, looking for RAF aircraft. Off the cliffs of Dover he spotted a group of Spitfires. Galland attacked and claimed two confirmed and one unconfirmed Spitfire victories. The engagement resulted in the destruction of one Spitfire (P7901), its pilot Warrant Officer W.E. Coope survived. Another two Spitfires, P8014, and P7544 piloted by Sgt H Whewell and Sgt R.G.V Barraclough were damaged and both men were wounded. Both pilots force landed and their aircraft were repaired.^[49] During the combat Galland's undercarriage dropped, and this caused one of the RAF pilots (Irish ace F/L Paddy Finucane of No. 65 Squadron RAF) to claim Galland's aircraft as destroyed. Galland however landed without incident at Le Touquet and presented Osterkamp with his gifts.^[50]

On the morning of 21 June 1941, Galland's Bf 109 was damaged by a No. 303 Squadron RAF Spitfire (probably flown by P/O Drobinski) and, trailing coolant, had to force land at Calais-Marck.^[51] His wingman meantime was shot down by Wing Commander of the Northolt Polish Wing, W/C John A. Kent. At 16:00 that same afternoon, Galland shot down a No. 611 Squadron RAF Spitfire, but watching his victim for too long, he was then shot down by a No. 145 Squadron RAF Spitfire flown by Sgt. R.J.C. 'Reg' Grant.^[52] Galland bailed out. As he was falling he tugged at what he thought was his parachute ripcord. Galland was actually pulling at his parachute release harness. With a "sickening" feeling, he composed himself and pulled the ripcord. It opened. Theo Osterkamp drove over to the hospital where Galland was being treated for his wounds and inforrmed him his 70 victories had now earned him the Swords to his Oak Leaves and Knight's Cross.^[53]

On 2 July 1941, Galland led JG 26 into combat against a formation of No. 226 Squadron RAF Blenheims. A Spitfire of the bomber escort (probably from the Polish No. 308 Squadron RAF) managed to hit Galland's fighter with a 20 mm shell. The armour plate mounted on the fighter just days earlier saved Galland's life. Galland suffered a head wound and landed at base, where he was hospitalised for the second time in a few days. Just earlier that week, when the armour plate was installed, he severely berated his mechanic, Gerhard Meyer, who welded it in when he hit his head on the canopy upon entering his aircraft (due to the slightly restricted cockpit space). That same mechanic received "a grateful slap on the back". Galland had been "shot up" twice and shot down twice (twice in one day) in the space of four weeks.^[54]

On 9 August 1941, RAF ace Douglas Bader bailed out over St Omer, France. The cause of the RAF aces' demise is disputed, however, Bader was well known to the Luftwaffe and at the time of his capture had been credited with 22 aerial victories. Galland himself claimed two Spitfires on that date. Galland and JG 26 entertained Bader over the next few days. Owing to the significant stature of the prisoner, Galland permitted Bader, under escort, to sit in the cockpit of a Bf 109. Bader, in a semi-serious way, asked if they wouldn't mind if he took it on a test flight around the airfield. Galland replied that he feared Douglas would attempt to escape and they would have to give chase and shoot at each other again, and declined the request. The two men would not meet again until after the war.^[55]

In autumn 1941, Galland was to add another 26 victories. His 96th victim, a Spitfire was claimed on 18 November 1941. It proved to be his last official victory for three years as he was about to be forbidden to fly combat missions.^[56]

High command (1941–1945)

Overview

Galland (front honour guard, left) at Ernst Udet's funeral.

In November 1941, following his 96th official victory, he was chosen by Hermann Göring to command Germany's fighter force as General der Jagdflieger, succeeding renowned pilot Werner Mölders who had just died in an air crash while on route to attend the funeral of Ernst Udet. Galland was not enthusiastic about his promotion, seeing himself as a combat leader and not wanting to be "tied to a desk job".^[57] Although not keen on a staff position, soon after Galland's appointment, he planned and executed the German air superiority plan for the Kriegsmarine's (German Navy, or War Marine) Operation Cerberus. The German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen sailed from their port at Brest, France and through the English Channel, despite the Royal Navy's supremacy at sea. The operation caught the British off guard. The RAF attempted to intercept with the forces available, but the German fighter defences were able to shoot down 43 RAF aircraft causing 247 British casualties. The Luftwaffe had prevented any damage on the ships by air attack. Soon afterwards, Galland was awarded the Diamonds to his Knight's Cross, Oak Leaves and Swords.^[58]

A strong proponent of the day fighter force and the defence of Germany, Galland used his position to improve the position of the Jagdwaffe. The need was now pressing, as the US had entered the war, on 11 December 1941, and Galland was keen to build up a force that could withstand the resurgence of the Western Allied Air Forces in preparation for what would become known as the Defence of the Reich campaign.^[59] Galland was outspoken, something that was not often tolerated by Göring. Yet, by earning and cultivating the support of other powerful personalities in the Luftwaffe, like Erhard Milch and Günther Korten, and personalities in the industrial sector such as Albert Speer and even Adolf Hitler himself, Galland was able to survive in his position for three years.^[60]

Unofficial combat missions

After his appointment, Galland was strictly confined to operational matters. Galland was not allowed to fly tactical or combat missions. As the war continued Galland flew missions in violation of these restrictions against the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) bombing raids during the Defence of the Reich. Galland was keen to familiarise himself with all types of German fighter aircraft and flew the Fw 190 on these interception missions. He would actively engage American bombers on some raids. On at least one mission he shot down an USAAF heavy bomber.^[61] It is likely two USAAF bombers were claimed in 1944 whilst flying Fw 190s. One of them might have been claimed on 8 March 1944.^[62]

Conflict with leadership

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

Galland's position as General der Jagdflieger brought him into gradual conflict with Göring as the war continued. In 1942—1944 the German fighter forces on all fronts in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) came under increasing pressure and Galland's relationship with Göring began to turn sour. During the late summer, 1943, the USAAF fighters operated over German air space for the first time. Several aircraft crashed near Aachen on the cusp of Germany's west border. Galland presented these wrecks as proof that the Luftwaffe was facing an enemy that could soon escort its heavy bombers with fighter aircraft to industrial targets. Galland submitted his findings to Göring. Göring was livid with Galland and the fighter force. The Reichsmarschall called the report the "rantings of a worn-out defeatist", and gave Galland an "order", that no Allied fighters had crossed into Germany.^[63][64] Göring explained the only possible reason could have been that short range fighters ran out of fuel at high altitude and had simply drifted eastward. Galland and Erhard Milch, responsible for production, denied this and argued that they must increase production to reach a three of fourfold advantage over the attackers immediately to prepare for this new threat.^[65] Galland's efforts to produce a fighter force fit for an attritional war conflicted with Göring's bias in favour of bombers, an attitude the Reichsmarschall had even as late as the autumn, 1943.^[66]

By October 1943, the fractious relationship came to the surface again. Göring met Galland for a meeting at Schloss Veltenstein. During the conversation the need for new and improved interceptor aircraft arose. The demands made by Göring, that heavily cannon-armed fighters be used in mass numbers to defeat bomber formations were unreasonable to Galland. Göring, prompted by the desires of Hitler, wanted cannons of some 2,000 lb in weight which fired at a rate of one shell per minute. Galland explained that such a weapon could not be used effectively in an aircraft; the cannon would be prone to jamming and the aircraft would be to be difficult manoeuvre. Galland also asserted the use of inappropriate weaponry such as the Messerschmitt Me 410, a favourite of Hitler's, had caused heavy losses.^[67] Galland argued such measures were deplorable and irresponsible.^[68] Göring ignored Galland's reasoning and continued his frequent attacks on the fighter force, accusing them of cowardice. Galland, as he always did, defended them, risking his career, and near the end of the war, his life in doing so. Galland stated that he could not agree to follow Göring's plans and requested to be dismissed from his post and sent back to his unit. Göring accepted, but two weeks later he apologised to Galland and attributed his behaviour to stress. Galland continued in his post.^[69]

Innovations

Galland at Rechlin's testing airfield, inspecting new aircraft types

To retrieve the situation for the fighter force, Galland looked to employ new technology in the air war. On 23 May 1943, Galland flew an early prototype of the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. After the flight, he described his experience:

For the first time I was flying by Jet propulsion! No engine vibrations. No torque and no lashing sound of the engine propeller. Accompanied by a whistling sound, my jet shot through the air. Later when asked what it felt like, I said, "It was as though angels were pushing."^[68]

Galland became an enthusiastic supporter of this aircraft, realising its potential to be that of a fighter rather than a "Blitzbomber".^[70] Galland hoped that the Me 262 would compensate for the numerical superiority of the Allies:

In the last four months [January - April 1944] our day fighters have lost 1,000 pilots...we are numerically inferior and will always remain so...I believe that a great deal can be achieved with a small number of technically and far superior aircraft such as the [Me] 262 and [Me] 163... I would at this moment rather have one Me 262 in action rather than five Bf 109s. I used to say three 109s, but the situation develops and changes.^[71]

However due to persistent problems with its turbojet engines and later, Hitler's determination to use it as a bomber, the Me 262 was not developed as a fighter fast enough.^[72][73] Göring refused Galland's requests to have equal numbers of Me 262 fighter and bomber variants built. However, Galland's close relationship with Albert Speer, the German armaments minister, enabled him to retain a small operational number. Even this was difficult, as Hitler had taken personal control of turbo-jet production and checked where each batch of fighters were being deployed.^[74] It was not until September 1944 that Hitler rescinded his directive that the Me 262 be used as a fighter-bomber.^[75] In the meantime, Galland pursued innovations with existing designs. The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft was formed into several Geschwader (Wings) with distinctly upgraded firepower. Called the Sturmbock (Storm fighter) these machines could inflict heavy damage on unescorted bomber formations. Galland supported the creation of Jagdgeschwader 300 (Fighter Wing 300), a purpose built bomber-destroyer unit. Galland himself flew on unauthorised interception flights to experience the combat pressures of the pilots. Galland witnessed USAAF bombers being escorted by large numbers of the North American P-51 Mustang long range escort fighter.^[76] Nevertheless, on occasions the Sturmbock tactics worked. For example, on 7 July 1944 Eighth Air Force bombers belonging to the 492nd Bomb Group were intercepted unescorted. The entire squadron of 12 B-24s were shot down. The USAAF 2nd Air Division lost 28 Liberators that day, the majority to the Sturmbock attack.^[77] The Sturmbock were heavily armed and armoured which meant they were therefore unmanoeuvrable and vulnerable without protection from escorting Bf 109s. Still, the tactics quickly became widespread and were one of the few success stories in 1944. Galland said after the war, had it not been for the Allied landing in Normandy, each Geschwader in the Luftwaffe would have contained a Gruppe of Sturmbock by September 1944.^[78]

Dismissal and revolt

Galland and Albert Speer. The two men had a mutual respect.

Despite Göring's apology after their previous dispute, it did not improve the relationship between the two men. Göring's influence was in decline by late 1944 and he had fallen out of favour with Hitler.^[79] Göring became increasingly hostile to Galland, blaming him and the fighter pilots for the situation.^[80] In 1944, the situation worsened. A series of USAAF raids termed Big Week won air superiority for the Allies in February. By the spring 1944, the Luftwaffe could not effectively challenge the Allies over France or the Low Countries. Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of German-occupied Europe took place in June 1944. According to a report made by Adolf Galland, in the previous four months 1,000 pilots had been killed. Galland reported that the enemy outnumbered his fighters between 6:1 and 8:1 and the standard of Allied fighter pilot training was "astonishingly high".^[81]

To win back some breathing space for his force and German industrial targets, Galland formulated a plan which he called the "Big Blow" (German: Großer Schlag). It called for the mass interception of USAAF bomber formations by approximately 2,000 German fighters. Galland hoped that the German fighters would shoot down some 400—500 bombers. Acceptable losses were to be around 400 fighters and 100—150 pilots.^[82] However, the operation never took place. Instead, the fighter force was committed to the disastrous Unternehmen Bodenplatte (Operation Baseplate), designed to support German forces during the Battle of the Bulge. In its aftermath, on 13 January 1945, he was finally relieved of his command after protesting against the operation and being particularly critical of Göring.^[83]

On 17 January, a group of senior pilots took part in a "Fighter Pilots Revolt". Galland's high standing with his fighter pilot peers led to a group of the most decorated Luftwaffe combat leaders loyal to Galland (including Johannes Steinhoff and Günther Lützow) into confronting Göring with a list of demands for the survival of their service. Göring initially suspected Galland had instigated the unrest.^[80] Reichsführer-SS (State Leader of the SS, or Schutzstaffel, meaning Protection Squad) Heinrich Himmler had wanted to put Galland on trial for treason himself. The SS and Gestapo (Secret Police) had already began investigations into who he associated with.^[84] The Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKW) appointed the more politically acceptable Gordon Gollob, a Nazi supporter, to succeed him as General der Jagdflieger on 23 January.^[85] 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 false accusations of his gambling, womanising and his alleged private use of Luftwaffe transport aircraft.^[85]

For his own safety, Galland went to a retreat in the Harz Mountains.^[86] He was to keep the RLM informed of his whereabouts. Galland was effectively under house arrest.^[87] Hitler, who personnally liked Galland, had not heard of the events. However, when he learned of them he ordered that "all this nonsense" [the treatment of Galland], was to stop immediately.^[68] Hitler was informed by Albert Speer, who in turn had been informed of events by one of Galland's friends.^[88] In the end, Göring contacted Galland and invited him to Carinhall. In light of his service to the fighter arm, he promised no further action would be taken against him and offered Galland the chance to command a unit of Me 262 jets.^[68] Galland accepted on the understanding Gollob had no jurisdiction over him or his unit.^[89]

Self appraisal

Galland did not pretend to have been error free. After the war, he was candid about his own mistakes as General der Jagdflieger. Production and aircraft procurement were not his responsibility but Galland identified four major mistakes by the OKL during the war, and accepted partial responsibility for the first three:

• Fighter pilots received no instrument training until very late in the war, after the training course had already been curtailed because of fuel shortages and the need to produce pilots more quickly to replace losses. Galland also did not make sure all-weather flying was incorporated into pilot training, which was of decisive importance in an effective air defence force.^[90]

• Attrition by 1942 had created a shortage of experinced combat leaders. No special training was made available for this role. Galland set up a course in late 1943, but it only lasted a few months. Galland was quoted as saying he thought they could learn the skills whilst on operations, as he had. This ignored his own talents, and blithly expected other pilots to reach his high standards.^[90]

• The Me 262, while not a war winner, might have extended the Defence of the Reich campaign. The problems with the engines, failures of production priorities and Hitler's meddling are well known, but the inexcusable delay between operational testing, tactical and doctrinal development and training were largely Galland's fault.^[90]

• The German pilots were increasingly lacking in quantity and quality. Galland recognised this but could not correct it without stepping outside his own authority. Galland noticed that the highly educated engineers and trainees were selected for the bomber arm in the early war years. Most of the brightest youth were pulled by expert campaigners, toward the Waffen SS and Kriegsmarine. The Luftwaffe did not match this effort.^[90]

Return to front line service

Last combats

Galland was initially assigned to command a Staffel (squadron) of JG 54, at that time stranded behind Soviet lines in the Courland Pocket pocket. Galland never took up this command but was given the task of forming Jagdverband 44 (JV 44). Galland was allowed to handpick a number of experienced fighter pilots and aces for the unit, including such highly-decorated men as Johannes Steinhoff, Erich Hohagen, Heinrich Bär and Gerhard Barkhorn. Erich Hartmann was also asked but would not leave his unit or trade his Bf 109. The unit was officially formed on 22 February 1945. Galland did everything he could to introduce the Me 262s to the wing as quickly as possible. Goring showed sympathy for Galland's efforts, which thus far had only 16 operational jets in February. General Josef Kammhuber was asked to assist Galland. Kampfgeschwader 51 (Bomber Wing 51), KG 6 and KG 27 were behind their training shedules on jets, and they were to hand over their pilots and Me 262s to JG 7 and KG 54. Galland added a suggestion that all experience fighter pilots flying with Bf 109 or Fw 190 units should be made to join the Me 262 unit. If this could be done Galland believed he could get 150 jets in action against the USAAF fleets. The general chaos and impending collapse prevented his plans from being realised.

On 31 March 1945 Galland flew 12 operational jets to Munich to begin operations. On 5 April 1945 Galland organised the interception of a USAAF raid. The Me 262s destroyed three B-17s. On 16 April Galland claimed two Martin B-26 Marauders. Within the space of six days, Galland's friend, Steinhoff was badly burned in a crash on 18 April, and then, on 24 April 1945, his friend Günther Lützow was posted missing. His remains have never been found. On 26 April Galland claimed his 103rd and 104th aerial victories against B-26s, escorted by the 27th Fighter Group and 50th Fighter Group. Galland again made a mistake; he stopped to make sure his second victory was going to crash and he was hit by a USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt piloted by James Finnegan. Galland nursed his crippled Me 262 to the airfield, only to find it was under attack by more P-47s. Galland landed under fire and abandoned his jet on the runway. The battle was his last operational mission. Soon afterwards he was sent to hospital for a knee wound sustained during his last combat.^[91][92]

In the 1970s, a San Jose State University graduate student came across Galland's memoirs The First and the Last while researching records of United States Army Air Force records and matching them to German victory claims. He found that James Finnegan, a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot of the 50th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, had made a "probable" claim on 26 April 1945, the day of Galland's last mission. The details of the engagement matched. Galland and Finnegan met for the first time at an Air Force Association meeting in San Francisco in 1979.^[93]

Surrender

By late April the war was effectively over. On 1 May 1945 Galland attempted to make contact with United States Army forces to negotiate the surrender of his unit. The act itself was dangerous. SS forces roamed the countryside and towns executing anyone who was considering capitualtion. The American's requested that Galland fly his unit and Me 262s to a USAAF controlled airfield. Galland declined citing poor weather and technical problems. In reality, Galland was not going to hand over Me 262 jets to the Americans. Galland had harboured the belief that the Western Alliance would soon be at war with the Soviet Union, and he wanted to join American forces and to use his unit in the coming war to free Germany from Communist occupation. Galland had soon realised there would be no such conflict. Galland replied, making his whereabouts known to the Americans, and offering his surrender once they arrived at the Tegernsee hospital where he was being treated. Galland then ordered his unit, which had then moved to Salzburg and Innsbruck, to destroy the Me 262s.^[94]

On 14 May 1945 Galland was flown to England and interrogated by RAF personnel about the Luftwaffe, its organisation, his role in it and technical questions. Galland returned to Germany on 24 August 1945 where he was imprisoned at Hohenpeissenberg. On 7 October 1945 Galland was returned to England for further interrogation. Galland was eventually released on 28 April 1947.^[95]

Combat record

Galland's 104 victory claims included seven with the Me 262.^{[Notes 3]} 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.

Post-war

Galland married Sylvinia von Dönhoff in February 1954. In 1963, he married his second wife, Hannelies, with whom he had two children: a son, Andreas Hubertus; and a daughter, Alexandra. In 1984, he married his third 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 strongly opposed to smoking and ordered the second portrait made without the cigar.

Galland's autobiography, The First and the Last (Die Ersten und die Letzten), was published in 1954. In 1969, he served as technical adviser for the film Battle of Britain,^[96], in which it is quite clear that the character Major Falke is loosely based on Galland^[97], and in 1973 was a significant on-screen contributor to the British television documentary series The World at War. Galland authorized reprints of The First and the Last and A Pilot's Life by Champlin Fighter Museum Press (Mesa, Arizona) in 1986.

Awards

• Spanish Medalla de la Campaña^[98]
• Spanish Medalla Militar^[98]
• Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds (6 June 1939)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "400"^[98]
• Wound Badge in Black^[98]
• Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds^[98]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (15 September 1939)^[99]
  • 1st Class (22 May 1940)^[99]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
  • Knight's Cross on 29 July 1940 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./JG 26 "Schlageter"^[100]
  • 3rd Oak Leaves on 24 September 1940 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26 "Schlageter"^[100]
  • 1st Swords (21 June 1941) as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26 "Schlageter"^[100]
  • 2nd Diamonds (28 January 1942) as Oberst and Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26 "Schlageter"^[100]
• Mentioned seven times in the Wehrmachtbericht

References in the Wehrmachtbericht

Notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

• Adolf Galland in the German National Library catalogue (German)
• Adolf Galland - Fighter General
• Adolf "Dolfo" Galland Generalleutnant
• Adolf Galland German fighter ace (b.1912, d.1996)
• (Adolf Galland and Peter Ledger with the Stormbird aviation print)
• Adolf Galland
• Adolf Galland at Find a Grave

Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Ernst-Günther Baade · Franz Bäke · Hermann Balck (Diamonds)  · Heinrich Bär · Erich Bärenfänger · Gerhard Barkhorn · Wilhelm Batz · Otto Baum · Werner Baumbach · Fritz Bayerlein · Hermann-Heinrich Behrend · Wilhelm Bittrich · Johannes Blaskowitz · Georg Bochmann · Alwin Boerst · Georg Freiherr von Boeselager · Albrecht Brandi (Diamonds)  · Hermann Breith · Josef Bremm · Kurt Bühligen · Karl Decker · August Dieckmann · Eduard Dietl · Josef Dietrich (Diamonds)  · Helmut Dörner · Hans Dorr · Alfred Druschel · Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim · Karl Eibl · Hermann Fegelein · Fritz Feßmann · Walter Fries · Adolf Galland (Diamonds)  · Waldemar von Gazen · Herbert Otto Gille (Diamonds)  · Gordon Gollob (Diamonds)  · Walter Gorn · Hermann Graf (Diamonds)  · Fritz-Hubert Gräser · Robert Ritter von Greim · Franz Griesbach · Anton Hackl · Heinz Harmel · Josef Harpe · Erich Hartmann (Diamonds)  · Walter Hartmann · Paul Hausser · Richard Heidrich · Ludwig Heilmann · Gotthard Heinrici · Joachim Helbig · Traugott Herr · Hajo Herrmann · Otto Hitzfeld · Hermann Hogeback · Hermann Hohn · Hermann Hoth · Hans Hube (Diamonds)  · Herbert Ihlefeld · Hans Jordan · Arthur Jüttner · Hans Källner · Albert Kesselring (Diamonds)  · Friedrich Kirchner · Otto Kittel · Ewald von Kleist · Günther von Kluge · Otto von Knobelsdorff · Alfons König · Wolfgang Kretzschmar · Otto Kretschmer · Hans Kreysing · Hans Kroh · Walter Krüger · Otto Kumm · Ernst Kupfer · Friedrich Lang · Heinz-Georg Lemm · Helmut Lent (Diamonds)  · Wolfgang Lüth (Diamonds)  · Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz · Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz · Günther Lützow · Hellmuth Mäder · Erich von Manstein · Hasso von Manteuffel (Diamonds)  · Hans-Joachim Marseille (Diamonds)  · Karl Mauss (Diamonds)  · Johannes Mayer · Egon Mayer · Eugen Meindl · Kurt Meyer · Walter Model (Diamonds)  · Werner Mölders (Diamonds)  · Dietrich von Müller · Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller · Werner Mummert · Joachim Müncheberg · Walther Nehring · Hermann Niehoff · Horst Niemack · Theodor Nordmann · Walter Nowotny (Diamonds)  · Hans von Obstfelder · Walter Oesau · Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski · Max-Hellmuth Ostermann · Joachim Peiper · Dietrich Peltz · Hans Philipp · Georg-Wilhelm Postel · Hermann Prieß · Josef Priller · Günther Rall · Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (Diamonds)  · Hermann Recknagel · Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert · Alfred-Hermann Reinhardt · Georg-Hans Reinhardt · Lothar Rendulic · Erwin Rommel (Diamonds)  · Hans-Ulrich Rudel (Diamonds & Golden Oak Leaves)  · Erich Rudorffer · Gerd von Rundstedt · Max Sachsenheimer · Dietrich von Saucken (Diamonds)  · Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein · Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (Diamonds)  · Fritz von Scholz Edler von Rarancze · Ferdinand Schörner (Diamonds)  · Werner Schröer · Hinrich Schuldt · Adelbert Schulz (Diamonds)  · Friedrich Schulz · Karl-Lothar Schulz · Gerhard Graf von Schwerin · Sylvester Stadler · Rainer Stahel · Leopold Steinbatz · Felix Steiner · Johannes Steinhoff · Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz (Diamonds)  · Werner Streib · Reinhard Suhren · Karl Thieme · Theodor Tolsdorff (Diamonds)  · Erich Topp · Erich Walther · Wilhelm Wegener · Otto Weidinger · Helmuth Weidling · Maximilian Wengler · Wend von Wietersheim · Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke · Theodor Wisch · Günther-Eberhardt Wisliceny · Michael Wittmann · Josef Wurmheller · Isoroku Yamamoto · Werner Ziegler in alphabetical order see also: List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients

German World War II flying aces with 100+ aerial victories 300+ Erich Hartmann (352) · Gerhard Barkhorn (301) 250–299 Günther Rall (275) · Otto Kittel (267) · Walter Nowotny (258) 200–249 Wilhelm Batz (237) · Erich Rudorffer (222) · Heinrich Bär (220) · Hermann Graf (212) · Heinrich Ehrler (208) · Theodor Weissenberger (208) · Hans Philipp (206) · Walter Schuck (206) · Anton Hafner (204) · Helmut Lipfert (203) 150–199 Walter Krupinski (197) · Anton Hackl (192) · Joachim Brendel (189) · Max Stotz (189) · Joachim Kirschner (188) · Kurt Brändle (180) · Günther Josten (178) · Johannes Steinhoff (176) · Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert (174) · Günther Schack (174) · Emil Lang (173) · Heinz Schmidt (173) · Horst Ademeit (166) · Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke (162) · Hans-Joachim Marseille (158) · Heinrich Sturm (158) · Gerhard Thyben (157) · Hans Beißwenger (152) · Peter Düttmann (152) · Gordon M. Gollob (150) 100–149 Fritz Tegtmeier (146) · Albin Wolf (144) · Kurt Tanzer (143) · Friedrich-Karl Müller (140) · Karl Gratz (138) · Heinrich Setz (138) · Rudolf Trenkel (138) · Franz Schall (137) · Walter Wolfrum (137) · Horst-Günther von Fassong (136) · Otto Fönnekold (136) · Karl-Heinz Weber (136) · Joachim Müncheberg (135) · Hans Waldmann (134) · Alfred Grislawski (133) · Johannes Wiese (133) · Adolf Borchers (132) · Adolf Dickfeld (132) · Erwin Clausen (132) · Wilhelm Lemke (131) · Gerhard Hoffmann (130) · Heinrich Sterr (130) · Franz Eisenach (129) · Walther Dahl (129) · Franz Dörr (128) · Rudolf Rademacher (126) · Josef Zwernemann (126) · Dietrich Hrabak (125) · Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) · Herbert Ihlefeld (123) · Wolfgang Tonne (122) · Heinz Marquardt (121) · Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (121) · Robert Weiß (121) · Friedrich Obleser (120) · Erich Leie (118) · Franz-Josef Beerenbrock (117) · Hans-Joachim Birkner (117) · Jakob Norz (117) · Walter Oesau (117) · Heinz Wernicke (117) · August Lambert (116) · Wilhelm Crinius (114) · Werner Schröer (114) · Hans Dammers (113) · Berthold Korts (113) · Helmut Lent (113) · Kurt Bühligen (112) · Kurt Ubben (110) · Franz Woidich (110) · Reinhard Seiler (109) · Emil Bitsch (108) · Hans Hahn (108) · Bernhard Vechtel (108) · Viktor Bauer (106) · Werner Lucas (106) · Günther Lützow (105) · Adolf Galland (104) · Eberhard von Boremski (104) · Heinz Sachsenberg (104) · Hartmann Grasser (103) · Siegfried Freytag (102) · Friedrich Geißhardt (102) · Egon Mayer (102) · Max-Hellmuth Ostermann (102) · Josef Wurmheller (102) · Werner Mölders (101) · Rudolf Miethig (101) · Josef Priller (101) · Ulrich Wernitz (101) List of German World War II aces · List of top World War II aces

German World War II jet aces Kurt Welter (20+) · Heinrich Bär (16) · Franz Schall (14) · Hermann Buchner(12) · Georg-Peter Eder (12) · Erich Rudorffer (12) · Karl Schnörrer (11) · Erich Büttner (8) · Helmut Lennartz (8) · Rudolf Rademacher (8) · Walter Schuck (8) · Günther Wegmann (8) · Hans-Dieter Weihs (8) · Theodor Weissenberger (8) · Alfred Ambs (7) · Heinz Arnold (7) · Karl-Heinz Becker (7) · Adolf Galland (7) · Franz Köster (7) · Fritz Müller (6) · Johannes Steinhoff (6) · Helmut Baudach (5) · Heinrich Ehrler (5) · Hans Grünberg (5) · Joseph Heim (5) · Klaus Neumann (5) · Alfred Schreiber (5) · Wolfgang Späte (5) See also List of German World War II aces