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Wilhelm Ferdinand Galland

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Nickname(s)
  
Wutz

Unit
  
JG 26

Siblings
  
Adolf Galland

Rank
  
Major

Service/branch
  
Luftwaffe

Years of service
  
1935–43

Place of burial
  
Belgium

Allegiance
  
Nazi Germany

Name
  
Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland


Born
  
23 October 1914 Bochum (
1914-10-23
)

Buried at
  
Lommel, Belgium (Block 21-grave 290)

Died
  
August 17, 1943, Maastricht, Netherlands

Awards
  
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Battles and wars
  
World War II, Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission

Wilhelm-Ferdinand "Wutz" Galland (born 23 October 1914 in Bochum – killed in action 17 August 1943) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He is credited with 55 aerial victories achieved in 186 combat missions. All his victories were claimed over the Western Front and included seven four-engine bombers and 37 Supermarine Spitfires.

Contents

Biography

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was one of four Galland brothers to serve in the Luftwaffe. The eldest brother Fritz Galland served in a fighter and reconnaissance unit and survived the war. Wilhelm-Ferdinand's older brother, Lt. General Adolf Galland was one of the most renowned German fighter pilots and leader of German fighter operations; and also survived the war. His younger brother Paul Galland, a flying ace with 17 victories, served with JG 26 and was killed in action on 31 October 1942.

Galland scored his first victory on 23 July 1941, shooting down a Spitfire near Hesdin. By the end of 1941 his victory total was three. On 5 May 1942 Galland was promoted to Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 26, with eight victories at the time. His score was 21 by the end of 1942. Hpt. Galland was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26 in January 1943. Galland was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in May 1943 for 35 victories.

Galland was killed in action on 17 August 1943 during the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission. II./JG 26 took off on a bomber intercept mission and engaged the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber formation but the German aircraft were intercepted by escorting Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters from the 56th Fighter Group, United States Army Air Forces. It is assumed that Galland was shot down by the American ace Walker "Bud" Mahurin of the 56th Fighter Group.

Awards

  • Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
  • Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (12 October 1942)
  • German Cross in Gold on 28 January 1943 as Hauptmann in the II./JG 26
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 May 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./JG 26 "Schlageter"
  • References

    Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland Wikipedia