The Life of Adolf Galland

This page of the Adolf Galland web-site outlines his life's activities....

Early Years and Growing Up

· March 19, 1912: Born in Westerholt, Wesfalia. Second of 4 boys to Adolf and Anne Galland
· February 12, 1932: Graduated from Hindenburg High School in Buer
· February 27, 1932: As a glider pilot, establishes a local soaring record of more than 2 hours aloft
· February 15, 1934: Assigned to Infantry Regiment 10 in Dresden for Basic Training
· March 12, 1935: Transfered to the 1st Fighter Wing in Doberitz

Spanish Civil War

· May 8, 1937: Arrives in El Ferrol, Spain and commands 3 / J88, the Mickey Mouse Squadron
· June 6, 1939: Awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Diamonds for achievements in air warfare
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World War II

· October 1, 1939: Promoted to Captain
· June 10, 1940: Transfered to JG-26 as Captain, and took command of the III group
· July 18, 1940: Promoted to Major and awarded the Knights Cross
· August 1, 1940: Awarded the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross
· August 22, 1940: Became Kommodore of Fighter Wing 26
· September 25, 1940: Awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross
· November 1, 1940: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
· June 21, 1941: Shot down 3 planes, crashed 2....smoked a cigar on the operating table
· June ~26, 1941: Awarded the Swords to the Knights Cross
· December 4, 1941: Promoted to Colonel
· January 28, 1942: Received the Diamonds to the Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knights Cross
· February 11 to 13, 1942: Planned arial coverage for the "Channel Dash" by the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
· May 22, 1942: Galland first prototypes the Me-262
· December 1942: Promoted to General Major (Brigadier General)
· November 1944: Promoted to General Lieutenant (Major General)
· January 1945: Facilitated a meeting between Goring and the senior "Komodores" to air greivances. This became known as the Fighters Revolt, and Galland was fired as General of the Fighters.
· March 1945: Hitler allows Galland to form JV44 - using Me-262 turbojets. Galland recruits all Knights Cross winners into his elite unit.
· April 26, 1945: Galland's last mission of WWII, in an Me-262. He shoots down a B-26 Maurader
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Post WWII to 1959

· May 14 1945: Begins 2 years as prisoner of war. Heavily interrogated as former General of the Fighter Arm
· March 4, 1948: Unable to fly, begins work as a forest ranger
· ~1948 - 1952: Employed by Argentina as an airforce consultant
· February 8, 1951: Presents General Peron of Argentina their first homebuilt fighter - the Pulqui II
· Fall 1952: Meets Sylvinia Countess von Donhoff
· Summer 1953: Returns to Germany
· February 12, 1954: Marries Sylvinia Countess von Donhoff
· February 7, 1955: Argentina says farewell with an Honorary Military Pilot's title and wings
· April 26, 1955: Receives special permission from military authorities to fly a Piaggio 149 jet in an Italian air show/rally. Wins 2nd Place
· ~Fall 1955: Passed over by German Defense Ministry as the chief of the new German Air Force
· ~1957: Moves to Bonn and opens an office as independent aerospace consultant
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1960 to 1975

· March 19, 1962: Adolf turns 50, and buys himself a Beechcraft Bonanza. Names it "The Fat One"
· November 7, 1966: Son Andreas-Hubertus was born
· July 1969: Daughter Alexandra-Isabella was born

1976 to 1996

· February 10, 1984: Marries Heidi Horn
· February 9, 1996: Dies at home of a heart ailment at age 83
· He was buried in the cemetery near St. Laurentius' Church in Remagen-Oberwinter. Galland's Tombstone

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