31 Facts About Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland

Wilhelm-Ferdinand "Wutz" Galland was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland is credited with 55 aerial victories achieved in 186 combat missions.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland joined the military service in the Wehrmacht in 1935, initially serving with the anti-aircraft artillery of the Luftwaffe.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland claimed his last aerial victory on 12 August 1943.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was born on 23 October 1914 in Bochum in the Province of Westphalia.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was the third of four sons of Adolf Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland and his French wife Anna, nee Schipper.

At the time, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland served with Flak-Lehr-Regiment, an anti-aircraft artillery training regiment, and participated in the Battle of France.

Staffel, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland claimed his first aerial victory on 23 July 1941 in defense of a Royal Air Force "Circus" mission flown by No 11 Group.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland shot down a Supermarine Spitfire fighter northwest of Hesdin, which according to Caldwell was unconfirmed.

On 6 November, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland claimed a Royal Australian Air Force Spitfire from No 452 Squadron shot down in the area of Calais, his last claim in 1941.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland accounted for one of the six German claims, taking his total to four aerial victories.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was credited with shooting down a Spitfire at 18:50 in the vicinity of Cap Gris-Nez.

That day, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland flew with the Gruppenstab under the command of Hauptmann Joachim Muncheberg.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland claimed a 340 Squadron Spitfire shot down 5 kilometres west of Etaples.

One victory was credited to Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland who shot down a Spitfire near Cap d'Albert.

The next day, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland claimed his eighth aerial victory, a No 41 Squadron Spitfire providing escort for "Circus" No 157's Douglas A-20 Havoc "Boston" bombers.

At 15:46, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland accounted for a No 118 or No 501 Squadron Spitfire claimed in the area of Guines.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland's opponents were fighters from either No 121 or No 332 Squadron.

Staffel headed by Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was scrambled from Abbeville at 06:30.

At 07:49, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland led his Staffel on the second mission of the day and encountered fighters from the North Weald Wing just north Dieppe.

At 07:55, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was credited with the destruction of a Spitfire, the aircraft coming from either No 242, No 331 or No 332 Squadron.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland then spotted another vessel which tried to escape north but was sunk by strafing gunfire.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland's opponent was shot down at 13:45 northwest of the Somme Estuary.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland claimed his 21st and last aerial victory of 1942 on 31 December 1942.

On 2 January 1943, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II.

In consequence, the former Gruppenkommandeur Meyer was transferred to a training unit and Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland appointed his successor.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland claimed his first aerial victory in 1943 over a Spitfire from the 340 Squadron on 9 January.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 May 1943.

On this mission, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland claimed a B-17 bomber shot down east of Apeldoorn.

In defense of this attack, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland claimed his last aerial victory, a B-17 bomber.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was temporarily succeeded by Hauptmann Johannes Naumann until Oberstleutnant Johannes Seifert took command on II.