Gallands Luftwaffe

Battle Of Britain

On 18 July, 1940 Adolf Galland was promoted to Major. On 1 August he was awarded the Knights Cross ( Ritterkreuz) on 22 August and so became Gruppenkommandeur of 111/JG 26. His debut in this unit was very successful. He shot down two fighters on his first mission .

Get..Me..Spitfires..For ..My..Wing

Six weeks later, Galland had underlined his skills as a fighter pilot with 23 more kills, taking his tally to 40. On the 25th September Galland was awarded the Knight Cross with Oak Leaves by Hitler personaly. On a mission on 21 June, 1940 he shot down kill number 70. But when following that burning "Spitfire" down he was bounced and badly shot up. His plane caught fire and he was wounded. When he tried to bail out the canopy was jammed. After a dramatic fight with the canopy it opened and Galland jumped out at the last moment, with his parachute opening just before he hit the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

Obstlt.Galland taxies his Bf 109 December

23.1940 Abbeville

Returning from a Sortie

 

 

ACHTUNG......SPITFIRE

 

Goering checks the Kills on the rudder of Gallands 109.