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General Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland fought in the great Battles of Poland, France and Britain, leading the famous JG26 Abbeville Boys. He flew in combat against the RAFs best including Douglas Bader, Bob Stanford Tuck and Johnnie Johnson. In 1941, at the age of 29, he was promoted to Inspector of the Fighter Arm. In 1942 Hitler personally selected Galland to organise the fighter escort for the Channel Dash. He became the youngest General in the German High Command but open disagreements with Goering led to his dismissal at the end of 1944. He reverted to combat flying, forming the famous JV44 wing flying the Me262 jet fighter, and was the only General in history to lead a squadron into battle. With 104 victories, all in the West, Adolf Galland received the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Born 19th March 1912, died 9th February 1996. Born in 1911, Adolf Galland learned to fly at a state-sponsored flying club in the early 1930s. In 1933 he was selected to go to Italy for secret pilot training. Galland flew for a brief time as a commercial airline pilot prior to joining the clandestine Luftwaffe as a Second Lieutenant. In April of 1935 he was assigned to JG-2, the Richtofen Fighter Wing, and in 1937 he joined the ranks of the Condor Legion flying the He-51 biplane fighter in support of General Franco during the Spanish Civil War. Despite flying 280 missions, Galland attained no aerial victories, a rather inauspicious start for a pilot would go on to attain more than 100 aerial victories - the highest for any pilot who flew on the Western Front. During Germanys invasion of Poland, Galland was assigned to an attack squadron and he flew over fifty ground sorties. He was promoted to Captain for his efforts, but Galland was anxious to return to a fighter squadron, and he got his wish in October of 1939 when he was transferred to JG-27. It was with JG-27 that Galland first learned to fly the Bf-109. In May of 1940 JG-27 flew in support of the invasion of Belgium, and Galland achieved his first combat victory on May 12. Two months later his score had risen to more than a dozen, and at this time he was once again transferred to JG-26 situated on the Channel Coast. Engaging the RAF on a daily basis during the Battle of Britain, Gallands score rose steadily until it exceeded 40 victories by September. After a short leave Galland rejoined JG-26 in Brittany, where the squadron played a defensive role. Following Germanys invasion of Russia in June of 1941, JG-26 became one of only two German fighter squadrons left on the Channel Coast. This resulted in plenty of flying, and by late in 1941 Gallands victory totals had reached 70. Following a near brush with death when the fuel tank of his 109 exploded, Galland was grounded for a time, and sent to Berlin where he was made the General of the Fighter Arm, reporting directly to Goring and Hitler. Galland spent most of the next few years carrying out inspection tours, and was at odds with his superiors about the need for an adequate fighter defense to negate ever-increasing Allied bombing of Germanys cities. He continued to fly combat missions when the opportunity presented itself, despite Gorings orders to the contrary. In January of 1945 almost 300 fighters were lost in an all-out attack on Allied airfields in France, a mission Galland did not support. He was dismissed as General of the Fighter Arm for his insubordination, but reflecting his flying abilities Hitler ordered Galland to organize JV-44, Germanys first jet-equipped fighter squadron. By March of 1945 Galland had recruited 45 of Germanys best surviving fighter pilots, and this new squadron was given the difficult task of trying to counter the daily onslaught of 15th Air Force bombers coming at Germany from the South. Gallands final mission of the War occurred on April 26 when he attained his 102nd and 103rd confirmed aerial victories prior to crash landing his damaged Me262. Several days later the War was over for both Galland and Germany. General Galland died in 1996.
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The Greatest Day by Robert Taylor. Sunday 15 September 1940 and Luftwaffe supremo Hermann Goering believed victory over the RAF was at hand. Today, he decreed, would be the day that his 'glorious' Luftwaffe would finally break the back of Fighter Command's stubborn resistance. Or so he believed. In response to a massed formation of enemy aircraft detected heading for London, Air Vice Marshal Keith Park commanding 11 Group scrambled his squadrons. He also requested that 12 Group bring Douglas Bader's 'Big Wing' down from Duxford. Every available pilot and machine was committed. Prime Minister Winston Churchill turned to Park and asked "What other reserves have we" "There are none", Park replied. Bader now had five squadrons racing south, meeting what remained of the enemy on the outskirts of London. With a successful morning behind them the RAF fighters raced back to re-fuel and re-arm. Just after 14.00 hrs another enemy battle group was observed and this time the formations were even larger. Bader's Wing was scrambled once more. |
Most Memorable Day by Robert Taylor. Adolf Galland and his wingman Bruno Hegenauer break through the fighter escort of No. 303 Squadrons Spitfires to attack Blenheim bombers of No. 21 Squadron over northern France, 21 June 1941. In two missions that day Galland claimed two Blenheims and one Spitfire, survived a forced crash-landing, and later a parachute escape from his blazing Me109. That evening he learned he was to become the first recipient of the Knights Cross with oak leaves and swords - Germanys highest award for heroism. |
Return from Schweinfurt by Robert Taylor. B-17 Fortresses of the American 8th Air Forces 1st Wing, fighting their way back from Schweinfurt on 17th August 1945. |
Running the Gauntlet by Robert Taylor. Though some 1400 of Germanys remarkable Me262 jet aircraft were built, fewer than 300 ever saw action during its short 10 month combat career, the 550 mph fighter-bomber arriving in service too late to make any impression on the course of the war. Most famous of all Me262 units was Jagdverband 44, commanded by General Adolf Galland. Instructed by Hitler to set up a small defensive fighter unit to make the most of the new Me262, Gallands JV44 attracted other top-scoring pilots, including top aces Macky Steinhoff and Walter Krupinski, and the unit soon became dubbed Gallands Squadron of Experts. Though doing their best to repel daylight attacks on jet production plants in Southern Germany, JV44 were fighting a losing battle. During a raid on 9 April 1945 the unit lost nine aircraft - a pattern that was to continue. Also, American fighter pilots, unable to catch the 262 in the air, found success taking the jets out as they took off or landed, catching them while at their most vulnerable. With the Allies driving deeper and deeper into Germany, production of aircraft, spares, fuel, and ammunition, steadily dried up. The point came when JV44, Gallands now legendary Squadron of Experts, finally ground to a halt. Running the Gauntlet shows Me262s of JV44 returning to base in southern Germany, having come under attack from P-51 Mustangs of the 353rd Fighter Group. Almost out of fuel and ammunition, the Me262s have little option but to complete their landing sequence, hoping fervently they are not bounced by American fighters loitering in the area. They are out of luck on this occasion, and although Galland has organised a unit flying Focke-Wulf Fw190D-9s to provide air cover in the area of the airfield, they too have been caught by the 353rd Fighter Groups surprise attack. At the relatively slow speed required on final approach, the Me262s handling is sluggish and the pilot is having enough trouble without the attentions of a bunch of P-51 pilots. At this point the JV44 Me262 remains unscathed, and with the arrival of the Fw190s, there is the possibility this particular jet pilot will survive the day. |
Dawn Eagles Rising by Robert Taylor. September 1940: The Battle of Britain reaches a crescendo as Me109s of the 1./JG52, their bright yellow noses glinting in the sun, gather speed and altitude as they form up after take-off from their base at Coquelles, near Calais. Led by Hauptmann Wolfgang Ewald, the Scharwm settle into their loose, finger-four formation, the pilots alert for danger and ready for yet another raid on England, just a few miles across the Channel. |
Air Armada by Robert Taylor. In just six weeks Hitler's forces had overrun western Europe as once proud armies swiftly fell before the might of the German blitzkrieg. It was a devastating defeat, and now only Britain stood alone. Few thought she could survive. As Churchill pledged that Britain would never surrender, a German invasion seemed inevitable. But before any invasion could take place the Luftwaffe must neutralise the RAF and win control of the skies over southern England. Awaiting them was a small but resilient band of young men, the pilots of RAF Fighter Command. First the Germans attacked the coastal convoys, hoping to draw the RAF en-masse into battle. They failed. And then on 12th August, they turned their full attention to the forward fighter bases and radar stations, hoping to obliterate them once and for all. From Norway in the north, through the Low Countries and northern France to Brittany in the west, the Luftwaffe threw every available aircraft into the attack. For the young men of Fighter Command the next seven days of fighting would leave them exhausted and all but spent. They were to be the hardest days of the Battle of Britain, culminating on Sunday 18th August. This painting recreates a moment on that day as Heinz Bar, the Luftwaffe's top-scoring NCO Ace of the Battle of Britain and one of the greatest Aces in history, climbs away from his airfield near Calais with the other pilots of 1./JG51 to escort the Dornier Do17s of KG76 for yet another deadly attack on the RAF. Away in the distance, Me110s from EPRG210 also prepare to join the epic encounters that lie ahead. |
Horrido! by Robert Taylor. Of the many outstanding Luftwaffe fighter Wings of World War II, JG52 became the most successful. Many of the most famous Aces flew with this legendary wing, including one-time Squadron Commander Adolf Galland. JG-52 was home to the only fighter Aces in history to destroy more than 300 enemy aircraft - Erich Hartmann and Gerhard Barkhorn. The wings top ten scoring Aces amassed a staggering 2286 aerial victories and, by the end of the war, JG-52s pilots had recorded over 10,000 aerial victories; sixty-seven of their number were awarded the coveted Knights Cross or higher decorations, but the cost to the Wing was high: 678 of its aircrew perished in combat, while many others were taken prisoner following combat. Appropriately, Robert Taylor has chosen the Me109s of JG52 as his subject to represent the fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe in his tribute to these courageous flyers, with his breathtaking painting Horrido! With the traditional battle cry ringing in their ears, Squadron Commander Hptm Wolfgang Ewald leads pilots of I./JG52 into combat. Based at Coquelles/Calais in September 1940, the JG-52 Me109s hurtle down in a high-speed dive to engage the enemy during the ferociously fought Battle of Britain. Robert eloquently depicts these sleek and deadly fighters high over the Channel, glinting and menacing against an ominous backdrop of heavy cumulous clouds. |
Fighter General by Robert Taylor. Having completed a successful bomber interception high above Salzburg, the Me262s of JV44 led by Adolf Galland, are returning towards Munich-Riem at full throttle, hugging the deck to avoid the attentions of USAAF escort fighters. Below the crew of a B-24, brought down in the air-fighting, has survived a dramatic crash-landing amid spectacular surroundings. |
JG-52 by Robert Taylor. It was the foundation upon which the Luftwaffe was built and flew throughout WWII. It was flown by some of the greatest fighter Aces of all time, and credited with more air victories than any other fighter in history. It was the Messerschmitt Bf109. One of the finest fighter aircraft ever to take to the skies, the Bf109 was flown by the Luftwaffe's greatest Aces - men like Hartmann, Galland, Rall, Reinert and Krupinski. |
Jet Hunters by Robert Taylor. On 10th April 1945, thirteen hundred bombers of the Mighty Eighth set out to destroy the last of the Luftwaffe's jet force. But, unknown to the bomber crews and their fighter escort, the enemy jets were already airborne and waiting to spring their deadly trap. As the war in mainland Europe entered its final, bloody phase, the German Armies defending Berlin fought on with a savage determination, slowly disintegrating before the mighty weapon of war unleashed against them. What remained of the Luftwaffe was mercilessly pounded from the air, their airfields hammered relentlessly. Aircraft, fuel, spare parts, ammunition and pilots all in short supply but still they fought on, with deadly effect. At the forefront of the German offensive and pivotal during the defence of the Reich, were the highly advanced jet fighters of the Luftwaffe, and in particular the legendary Me262. B17s of the First Air Division with streaming contrails in the cold clear air as they turn for home. Several Me262s have already torn through the massed formation, but a P-51 from the escorting 356th Fighter Group has quickly spotted his target and presses home his attack. The hunter becomes the hunted as the Mustang pilot, Wayne Gatlin, skillfully positions himself behind the Me262 ready for the kill. Throughout the final stages of the war there were many examples of the determination and skill of Allied pilots flying slower piston-engined fighters triumphing over the cream of the Luftwaffe in their highly advanced but often temperamental jet fighters. |
The Eagles Divide by Robert Taylor. P-51 Mustangs of the 357th Fighter Group clash with Me109s in close combat as they struggle for air superiority over the heart of Germany, during the desperate days of 1945. It had begun - the end game was inexorably in play. The final defeat of Germany and the end of Nazi tyranny was almost within sight but in the skies over Germany the defiant remnants of the Luftwaffe fought on with savage determination. Ever since the long-range American P-51 escort fighters had first appeared, the skies over the Reich had witnessed grim encounters with the Mustangs taking on the Luftwaffe as they tried to stop the heavy bombers of the USAAF reaching their targets. By early 1945 it was a losing battle, but still the Luftwaffe fought on and, in the resulting maelstrom of combat, the Mustang pilots still had their work cut out against these battle hardened, expert pilots. Robert Taylor's superb drawing dramatically reconstructs one such clash in early 1945 as P-51 Mustangs of the 357th Fighter Group have spotted a group of Bf109s heading their way. Without hesitation they dive head-on in an attempt to break-up the enemy formation and for the pilots on both sides the explosive encounter of close combat is suddenly upon them. Limited edition prints of this classic Robert Taylor Master Drawing have been signed over the last few years by some of the most respected USAAF P-51 and distinguished Luftwaffe pilots who duelled in those merciless skies over Europe. Since signing the prints some of these legendary names have very sadly passed away, making it one of the most collectible editions of recent years. |
The Long Short Days by Robert Taylor. It was known as the Jagdverbande, the fighter arm of the Luftwaffe, and by June 1940 it boasted some of the world's greatest fighter pilots. With tactics honed to perfection, these battle-seasoned veterans dominated the skies of Europe. But as the war progressed, the Luftwaffe fighter pilots faced another battle, the increasingly desperate war of attrition as the Allied air forces slowly, but inevitably, ground the German war machine into defeat. By early 1945 Allied air supremacy was overwhelming. And yet despite overwhelming odds, from within their ranks came the most successful air Aces ever to fly in combat - names such as Hans-Joachim Marseille, the top-scoring fighter pilot in the West, the legendary Erich Rudorffer who scored more multiple victories than any other pilot and of course the Fighter General, Adolf Galland, who achieved all of his 104 victories in the West. In total more than 100 Luftwaffe fighter pilots are known to have scored 100 or more victories, and 568 Jagdverbande flyers were holders of the Knight's Cross, Germany's highest awarded military honor. Robert Taylor's stunning painting, beautifully captures a group of Bf109Gs from III./JG26, as they return to their forward base after a long fighter sweep along the Channel coast in early 1944. In his unmistakable style, and with inordinate skill, Robert deftly evokes a moment of rare tranquility amidst the carnage of war as the lengthening sun glints across the frozen landscape during the short days of winter. |
Abbeville Boys by Robert Taylor. Adolf Gallands Fighter Wing JG-26 (Me109s) taking off to do combat with R.A.F. Spitfires and Hurricanes. If ever a fighter commander led the front, Adolf Galland did. He flew throughout the war, achieving over 100 air victories all on the Western Front aginst the top aces of the RAF and the USAAF, and when the end came he was still flying and fighting, leading a wing of Me262 jets. Perhaps the most memorable period of the war for Adolf Galland came after he took command of the III/JG-26 fighter wing in June 1940. In true fashion he scored two aerial victories on his first day and in no time transformed JG-26 Schlageter into an elite formation that became known as the Abbeville Boys. Robert Taylor has recreated a scene from those heady days in 1941, when the Abbeville boys were at the height of their reputation, doing daily combat with the Spitfires and Hurricanes of the RAF. Adolf Galland leads his pilots in a typical loose formation take-off, the Messerschmitt Bf109F fighters roaring across the runway for yet another clash with the foe. The Abbeville boys are on the Warpath! |
Aces on the Western Front by Robert Taylor. Returning from a combat mission over the English Channel, Me109s flying low over Mont St. Michel, northern coast of France, Spring 1941. |
Duel of Eagles by Robert Taylor. Douglas Bader is shown in combat with Adolf Galland. |
Eagle Attack by Robert Taylor. ADLERTAG (EAGLE DAY) - that was Hitlers code name for the start of the Luftwaffes great and decisive aerial offensive that was intended to bring the RAF to its knees, clear the skies of Spitfires and Hurricanes above the South Coast of England and prepare the way for the 250,000 German troops standing in readiness to cross the Channel. Like fighter pilots of any airforce the Me109 Geschwaders of the Luftwaffe were made up almost entirely of young men who simply wanted to fly. Primed and ready these combat-experienced pilots were eager for battle. The disadvantage of fighting at the extremity of their range - often allowing them no more than 10 minutes of actual combat - was balanced by well tried battle tactics, great leadership and undisputed courage. Aldertag saw twelve hours of almost continuous battle, and the uniquely talented aviation artist Robert Taylor takes up the story on this momentous 13th August 1940 when the Luftwaffe staged their most concentrated attacks. A swarm of Me109's peel off to attack a bunch of Spitfires which have dived out of the sun upon a large formation of HE 111 bombers. Already the lead pair of Me109s are bringing their guns to bear and moments later the two pilots in the foreground will flick-roll their fighters and follow into attack. |
Eagles High by Robert Taylor. SOLD OUT. |
Eagles out of the Sun by Robert Taylor. Supplied with companion print Night Hunters. |
Gathering of Eagles by Robert Taylor. SOLD OUT. |
JG52 by Robert Taylor. During WWII JG-52 was the most successful Fighter Wing of the Luftwaffe, and with it flew many of the great German Aces, including the world's leading Fighter Pilot Erich Hartmann. General Galland was at one time a Squadron Commander. The Wing spawned some of the most brilliant pilots, each in turn trained as they joined experienced aces who had won their spurs in the early air battles on the Western Front. JG-52 played a significant role in the history of WWII. |
JV44 by Robert Taylor. SOLD OUT. |
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Adolf Galland signing the print - Eagles Over the Steppes - by Graeme Lothian. |
| General Adolf Galland Aircraft details |
 Me109 Manufacturer : Messerschmitt Built : 33984 | Me109 Willy Messerschmitt designed the BF109 during the early 1930s. The Bf109 was one of the first all metal monocoque construction fighters with a closed canopy and retractable undercarriage. The engine of the Me109 was a V12 aero engine which was liquid-cooled. The Bf109 first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and flew to the end of World War II, during which time it was the backbone of the Luftwaffe fighter squadrons. During the Battle of Britian the Bf109 was used in the role of an escort fighter, a role for which it was not designed for, and it was also used as a fighter bomber. During the last days of May 1940 Robert Stanford-Tuck, the RAF ace, got the chance to fly an Me109 which they had rebuilt after it had crash landed. Stanford-Tuck found out that the Me109 was a wonderful little plane, it was slightly faster than the Spitfire, but lacked the Spitfire manoeuvrability. By testing the Me109, Tuck could put himself inside the Me109 when fighting them, knowing its weak and strong points. With the introduction of the improved Bf109F in the spring of 1941, the type again proved to be an effective fighter during the invasion of Yugoslavia and during the Battle of Crete and the invasion of Russia and it was used during the Siege of the Mediteranean island of Malta. The Bf109 was the main fighter for the Luftwaffe until 1942 when the Fw190 entered service and shared this position, and was partially replaced in Western Europe, but the Me109 continued to serve on the Eastern Front and during the defence of the Reich against the allied bombers. It was also used to good effect in the Mediterranean and North Africa in support of The Africa Korps. The Me109 was also supplied to several German allies, including Finland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovakia. The Bf109 scored more kills than any other fighter of any country during the war and was built in greater numbers with a total of over 31,000 aircraft being built. The Bf109 was flown by the three top German aces of the war war. Erich Hartmann with 352 victories, Gerhard Barkhorn with 301 victories and Gunther Rall with 275 kills. Bf109 pilots were credited with the destruction of 100 or more enemy aircraft. Thirteen Luftwaffe Aces scored more than 200 kills. Altogether this group of pilots were credited with a total of nearly 15,000 kills, of which the Messerschmitt Bf109 was credited with over 10,000 of these victories. The Bf109 was the most produced warplane during World War II, with 30,573 examples built during the war, and the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced up to April 1945. Bf109s remained in foreign service for many years after World War II. The Swiss used their Bf109Gs well into the 1950s. The Finnish Air Force did not retire their Bf109Gs until March 1954. Romania used its Bf109s until 1955. The Spanish Hispanos flew even longer. Some were still in service in the late 1960s. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Me262 Manufacturer : Messerschmitt Built : 1400 | Me262 The Messerschmitt Me-262 Swallow, a masterpiece of engineering, was the first operational mass-produced jet to see service. Prototype testing of the airframe commenced in 1941 utilizing a piston engine. General Adolf Galland, who was in charge of the German Fighter Forces at that time, pressured both Goring and Hitler to accelerate the Me-262, and stress its use as a fighter to defend Germany from Allied bombers. Hitler, however, envisioned the 262 as the aircraft which might allow him to inflict punishment on Britain. About 1400 Swallows were produced, but fortunately for the Allies, only about 300 saw combat duty. While the original plans for the 262 presumed the use of BMW jet engines, production Swallows were ultimately equipped with Jumo 004B turbojet engines. The wing design of the 262 necessitated the unique triangular hull section of the fuselage, giving the aircraft a shark-like appearance. With an 18 degree swept wing, the 262 was capable of Mach .86. The 262 was totally ineffective in a turning duel with Allied fighters, and was also vulnerable to attack during take off and landings. The landing gear was also suspect, and many 262s were destroyed or damaged due to landing gear failure. Despite its sleek jet-age appearance, the 262 was roughly manufactured, because Germany had lost access to its normal aircraft assembly plants. In spite of these drawbacks the 262 was effective. For example, on April 7, 1945 a force of sixty 262s took on a large force of Allied bombers with escort fighters. Armed with their four nose-mounted cannons, and underwing rockets the Swallows succeeded in downing or damaging 25 Allied B-17s on that single mission. While it is unlikely that the outcome of the War could have been altered by an earlier introduction or greater production totals for this aircraft, it is clear to many historians that the duration of the War might have been drastically lengthened if the Me-262 had not been too little too late. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General Adolf Galland Squadron details |
JG2 Country : Germany | JG2 Jagdgeschwader 2 was formed from parts of Jagdgeschwader 131 "Richthofen" on 1 May 1939 in Döberitz and its first commander was Oberst Robert Ritter von Greim. At the outbreak of the war JG 2 was tasked with defence of the Reich and based in the Berlin area under Luftgaukommando III. Stab and II. Gruppe were equipped with the Bf 109E and were located at Döberitz with 10.(N) staffel flying the Bf 109D in Straussberg. 10.(N) Staffel was one of the first night fighter units formed in the Luftwaffe. Later this staffel was expanded into IV.(N) Gruppe. This Gruppe gained the Luftwaffe’s first night kill over the RAF Bomber Command on the night of 25/26 on April 1940 when Ofw Förster shot down a Handley Page Hampden. The unit saw little combat until the Western offensive against France and the Low Countries from 10 May 1940 onwards. During the campaign against France, JG 2 was tasked with escorting raids and defending German airspace to the south of Heinz Guderian's Panzer forces which were encircling the French and the British Expeditionary Force further north. Leutnant Helmut Wick, who later became part of a trio of outstanding aces (including Adolf Galland from Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) and Werner Mölders from Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51)) in the Battle of Britain, attained his first and the Geschwader's second kill on 22 November 1939, a French Curtiss Hawk Model 75. The first victory for the JG 2 was scored by Oberfeldwebel Kley (3. Staffel) at the same day. JG 2 took part in the Battle of Britain, operating Bf 109Es over the South Coast of England and the English Channel from bases in Cherbourg and Normandy. Major Helmut Wick emerged as one of the Battle’s top Luftwaffe aces, claiming 31 kills for a personal total of 56, before being killed (MIA) in action versus Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron in November 1940. Wick was seen to bail out successfully but was not found by German Air/Sea Rescue attempts. The Spitfire who dispatched him was immediately shot down by Oberleutnant Rudolf Pflanz. Ofw. Schnell, Ofw. Machold and Olt. Hans "Assi" Hahn also claimed heavily during this period, with 16 kills each. Some 42 JG 2 pilots were killed or made POW during the battle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
JG26 Country : Germany | JG26 Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France and the United States but also saw service against Russia. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and executed by the French for sabotage in 1923. Commanders of II. Gruppe JG 26 Hptm. Werner Palm, 1 May 1939 – 27 June 1939 Hptm Herwig Knüppel, 28 June 1939 – 19 May 1940 Hptm Karl Ebbighausen, 20 May 1940 – 31 May 1940 Hptm. Erich Noack, 1 June 1940 – 24 July 1940 Hptm Karl Ebbighausen, 25 July 1940 – 16 August 1940 Hptm Erich Bode, 17 August 1940 – 3.10.40 Hptm Walter Adolph, 4 October 1940 – 18 September 1941 Hptm Joachim Müncheberg, 19 September 1941 – 21 July 1942 Hptm Conny Meyer, 22 July 1942 – 2 January 1943 Maj Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland, 3 January 43 – 17 August 1943 Hptm Hans Naumann, 18 August 1943 – 8 September 1943 ObLt Johannes Seifert, 9 September 1943 – 25 November 1943 Maj Wilhelm Gäth, 26 November 1943 – 1 March 1944 Hptm Hans Naumann, 2 March 1944 – 28 June 1944 Hptm Emil Lang, 29 June 1944 – 3 September 1944 Hptm Georg-Peter Eder, 4 September 1944 – 8 October 1944 Maj Anton Hackl, 9 October 1944 – 29 January 45 ObLt Waldemar Radener, 30 January 1945 – 22 February 1945 Hptm Paul Schauder, 23 February 1945 – 1 May 1945 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
JV44 Country : Germany | JV44 A special fighter unit of top German fighter ace pilots in the Luftwaffe during the last months of World War II. The main aircraft used by the unit was the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. They were known by various nicknames, including "Der Galland-Zirkus" (The Galland Circus). The commander of JV 44 was General Adolf Galland (103 victories) the former General der Jagdflieger who had recently been sacked from his command by Hermann Göring for attacking the operational policies and tactics used by the Luftwaffe High Command. It was hoped by Galland's superiors that a front line command would result in his death in action, thereby removing the problem of Galland's criticism. This unit was composed of highly experienced pilots who were from Galland's former staff or were otherwise co-opted by Galland from units which had been disbanded or were being re-equipped. It had relatively few operational planes available for any single sortie and was repeatedly forced to relocate due to the approach of Allied ground forces. At war's end the unit was disbanded and its brief history came to an end. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Known Victory Claims - Adolf Galland | |||||||
DATE | PILOT | UNIT | JG | CLAIMED | LOCATION | TIME | FRONT |
| 12/05/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Hurricane | 10km W. Lüttich | 10.1 | Western Front |
| 12/05/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Hurricane | 18km S. Lüttich | 10.2 | Western Front |
| 12/05/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Hurricane | 7km ENE Tirlemont | 15.5 | Western Front |
| 16/05/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Spitfire I | Seclin [5km S. Lille] | 19.3 | Western Front |
| 19/05/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Potez 63 | N. Albert-Méautle | 20.5 | Western Front |
| 19/05/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Potez 63 | SW Hirson | 21.45 | Western Front |
| 20/05/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Potez 63 | S. Amiens | 20.5 | Western Front |
| 29/05/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Blenheim | 15km N. Gravelines | 12.59 | Western Front |
| 29/05/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Blenheim | 30km NW Gravelines | 13.04 | Western Front |
| 02/06/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Spitfire | W. Dünkirchen | 9.28 | Western Front |
| 09/06/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Hawk-75A | E. Rotoy | 15.55 | Western Front |
| 09/06/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 27 | Morane 406 | 13km NW Meaux | 16.1 | Western Front |
| 14/06/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab III. | JG 26 | Blenheim | 22km SE Vernon | 17.15 | Western Front |
| 14/06/1940 | Hptm. Adolf Galland | Stab III. | JG 26 | Defiant | 10km S. Evreux | 17.28 | Western Front |
| 24/07/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab III. | JG 26 | Spitfire | 30km NE Margate: 3000-2200m | 13.35 | Western Front |
| 25/07/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab III. | JG 26 | Spitfire | Dover Hafen | 16.17 | Western Front |
| 28/07/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab III. | JG 26 | Spitfire | 10km NNE Dover: 6000m | 15.14 | Western Front |
| 12/08/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab III. | JG 26 | Hurricane | NNW Margate | 12.41 | Western Front |
| 14/08/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab III. | JG 26 | Hurricane | SW Dover | 13.3 | Western Front |
| 15/08/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab III. | JG 26 | Spitfire | 10km E. Dover | 12.55 | Western Front |
| 15/08/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab III. | JG 26 | Spitfire | 15km SE Folkestone | 16.01 | Western Front |
| 15/08/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab III. | JG 26 | Spitfire | 20km SE Dover | 16.07 | Western Front |
| 25/08/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | Dungeness-Folkestone: 3000m | 19.5 | Western Front |
| 28/08/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Defiant | Faversham: 2000m [E. Canterbury] | 10.08 | Western Front |
| 31/08/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Curtiss | 20km SE Cambridge | 9.42 | Western Front |
| 31/08/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | Gravesend | 18.5 | Western Front |
| 31/08/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | Maidstone | 19.03 | Western Front |
| 01/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | SE London | 14.55 | Western Front |
| 03/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | Chelmsford | 11.32 | Western Front |
| 06/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | Tonbridge | 10.2 | Western Front |
| 11/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | NW Dungeness | 16.2 | Western Front |
| 14/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | Südostrands London | 17.03 | Western Front |
| 15/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | Themesmündung | 15.3 | Western Front |
| 18/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | - | 13.35 | Western Front |
| 18/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | W. Rochester | 13.52 | Western Front |
| 18/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | W. Rochester | 13.55 | Western Front |
| 20/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | S. Hornchurch | 12.05 | Western Front |
| 21/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | W. Ashford-Canterbury | 19.25 | Western Front |
| 23/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | N. Rochester | 10.45 | Western Front |
| 23/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | N. Rochester | 10.45 | Western Front |
| 24/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | Rochester | 10 | Western Front |
| 30/09/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | S. Guildford | 18.05 | Western Front |
| 10/10/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | S. Eastchurch | 10.2 | Western Front |
| 11/10/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | SE Chatham | 17.05 | Western Front |
| 11/10/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | Dartford-Rochester: 2500m | 17.12 | Western Front |
| 15/10/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | S. Rochester | 13.5 | Western Front |
| 26/10/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | Maidstone-/S. London | 17.3 | Western Front |
| 30/10/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | E. London | 12.55 | Western Front |
| 30/10/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | S. Eastchurch-Maidstone | 17.3 | Western Front |
| 30/10/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | Canterbury-Maidstone | 17.4 | Western Front |
| 01/11/1940 | Major Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | W. Ashford | 12.5 | Western Front |
| 14/11/1940 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 10km S. Dover | 15.28 | Western Front |
| 15/11/1940 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | bei Dover | 10.28 | Western Front |
| 17/11/1940 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | W. Harwich | 10.2 | Western Front |
| 17/11/1940 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | 20km E. versengt Leucht: 1000-1500m [Themesmündung] | 10.27 | Western Front |
| 27/11/1940 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 5km E. Detling: 8000m | 17 | Western Front |
| 28/11/1940 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | Dartford: 6500m | 15.4 | Western Front |
| 05/12/1940 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | Dover-Dungeness: 2000m | 12.3 | Western Front |
| 04/04/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | zw. Dover/Canterbury: 1200m | 17.5 | Western Front |
| 15/04/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | Wittering 30km vor Dover: 3800m | 17.5 | Western Front |
| 15/04/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | Dover | 18 | Western Front |
| 15/04/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | zw. Dover u. Margate: 4500m | 18 | Western Front |
| 13/06/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | 5km W. Dover: 3500m | 13.15 | Western Front |
| 13/06/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | 10km NE Ashford: 2000m | 13.18 | Western Front |
| 16/06/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | W. Boulogne: 3000m | 16.35 | Western Front |
| 17/06/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | 15km W. St. Omer: 3500m | 19.38 | Western Front |
| 17/06/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | 5km SE Boulogne: 3500m | 19.4 | Western Front |
| 18/06/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 1½km E. Ardres: 6500m | 18.18 | Western Front |
| 21/06/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Blenheim | S. St. Omer: 3500m | 12.32 | Western Front |
| 21/06/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Blenheim | Merville/NW St. Omer: 3500m | 12.36 | Western Front |
| 21/06/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | N. Etaples: 5000m | 16.37 | Western Front |
| 02/07/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Blenheim | bei Merville: 4000m | 12.3 | Western Front |
| 23/07/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 40km NW Gravelines: 10m | 13.35 | Western Front |
| 23/07/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | bei Fruges: 7000m | 20.1 | Western Front |
| 23/07/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | bei Fruges: 6500m | 20.15 | Western Front |
| 07/08/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | Lumbres, SW St. Omer | 11.23 | Western Front |
| 07/08/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 10km NW St. Omer | 17.4 | Western Front |
| 07/08/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | N. Ardres | 17.44 | Western Front |
| 09/08/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | NW St. Pol | 11.32 | Western Front |
| 09/08/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | N. Ardres: 5000m | 17.44 | Western Front |
| 12/08/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 20-25km W. Vlissinghen: 200m | 13.12 | Western Front |
| 12/08/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Blenheim | Scheldemündung W. Haamstede | 13.18 | Western Front |
| 19/08/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | NW St. Omer | 19.32 | Western Front |
| 19/08/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Hurricane | SE Gravelines | 19.45 | Western Front |
| 19/08/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | Bergues | 11.55 | Western Front |
| 04/09/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Blenheim | N. St. Omer: 3000m | 17.3 | Western Front |
| 07/09/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 20km W. Boulogne | 17.19 | Western Front |
| 20/09/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | Bergues-Bourbourg | 16.45 | Western Front |
| 20/09/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 6km NW Bray-Dunes | 16.55 | Western Front |
| 21/09/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | SE Etaples/Montreuil | 16.23 | Western Front |
| 21/09/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | S. Dünkirchen | 17.35 | Western Front |
| 13/10/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | St. Omer | 14.17 | Western Front |
| 13/10/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Blenheim | Samer | 14.27 | Western Front |
| 21/10/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 15km W. Boulogne | 18.16 | Western Front |
| 21/10/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 6km W. Hardelot | 12.58 | Western Front |
| 21/10/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | W. Samer | 12.54 | Western Front |
| 27/10/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | S. Dünkirchen | 13.25 | Western Front |
| 08/11/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | Montreuil | 12.58 | Western Front |
| 08/11/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 10km S. Hazebrouck | 13 | Western Front |
| 18/11/1941 | Obstlt. Adolf Galland | Stab | JG 26 | Spitfire | 20km W. Boulogne | 12.32 | Western Front |
| 16/04/1945 | Genltn. Adolf Galland | JV 44 | B-26 | Raum Lanberg | - | Western Front | |
| 16/04/1945 | Genltn. Adolf Galland | JV 44 | B-26 | Raum Lanberg | - | Western Front | |
| 21/04/1945 | Genltn. Adolf Galland | JV 44 | B-17 | - | - | Western Front | |
| 26/04/1945 | Genltn. Adolf Galland | JV 44 | B-26 | Raum Neuburg | - | Western Front | |
| 26/04/1945 | Genltn. Adolf Galland | JV 44 | B-26 | Raum Neuburg | - | Western Front |
Known Claims : 105
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