adolf adolf joseph ferdinand march february general flying ace served second world war europe flew combat missions fought western defence fronts occasions survived shot credited aerial victories born pilot joined graduated pilot german applying join republic later year application accepted took offer february transferred luftwaffe spanish civil war volunteered flew ground attack missions support nationalists finishing tour employed writing technical experiences ground attack pilot period served instructor ground attack units german invasion poland september flew ground attack missions early managed persuade superiors allow fighter pilot flew end tally victories reached stayed france fought royal_air_force raf northern france november tally increased time earned oak leaves swords november commanded general der killed flying accident succeeded staying position january general der forbidden fly combat missions late january early february planned commanded luftwaffe air cover kriegsmarine operation major success earned knight oak leaves swords diamonds ensuing years disagreements best combat bombing germany caused relationship deteriorate luftwaffe fighter force severe pressure blamed failure prevent allied strategic bombing germany daylight relationship collapsed altogether early january relieved command constant criticism luftwaffe leadership house arrest following called revolt senior pilots tried save position having dismissed march returned operational flying permitted form jet fighter unit called flew missions germany end war war employed argentina government acted consultant later returned germany managed business friends enemies raf aces died february early life family born march family ancestry refugee france count beginning tradition handed father son adolf junior second sons senior french wife anna née family tradition senior worked land manager older brother younger brothers paul father pet names family members wife anna called older brother called toby adolf nicknamed paul called expecting girl occasionally younger brothers fighter pilots aces paul claimed victories shot killed october credited victories shot killed august youth lifelong interest flying started group aviation enthusiasts brought club heath east railway estate created interest flying young germans travelled foot horse drawn wagon kilometres father bought motorcycle help prepare flight treaty versailles germany denied air force allowed way fledgling pilots begin flying career sport popular set schools seven military districts germany military published magazine flight sport encourage interest aviation began series competitions country learned basic laws flight worked paper found work reality inexperience caused accidents taught techniques year old passed certificate certificates needed professional license eventually attained certificates father promised buy passed examinations succeeded outstanding pilot instructor passed february graduated gymnasium high school personnel accepted aviation school germany national airline early military career pilot training final years jobs scarce life hard family economically adolf experience flying applied heavily successful applicants days selected flight training adolf assessed performance reach standard sent home flight early career went badly flight heavy landing damaged aircraft later leading aircraft formation collided killed judged employed poor formation tactics incidents affected badly convinced soon sent home applied join german_army meantime carried flight training receive reply army settled continue training flights award certificate allowing fly large aircraft kilograms weight helped regain confidence time army accepted application owing successful training improved flying flying school refused release christmas logged hours flying obtained certificate early sent baltic_sea training base train flying boats disliked learning perceived logged hours aircraft soon afterward pilots ordered attend interview der group interviewed military personnel civilian clothing informed secret military training program built involved high performance aircraft pilots accepted invitation join organisation luftwaffe ordered meeting berlin civilian pilots airmen came clandestine programmes meeting time impressed believed competent leader july travelled italy train italian air_force initially germans treated inferior italians flown daring impressive low level manoeuvres german contingent won hosts respect september returned germany flew minor competitions pilot winning prizes soon returned learn instrument flying receive training heavy transport aircraft logging hours training beginning october flew flying barcelona spain geneva december recalled headquarters offered chance join new luftwaffe found choice hard wanted adventure military flying career airline pilot enjoyed life style flying visiting exotic places reluctant decided officially join luftwaffe basic training army discharged barracks dresden october february airmen waiting inducted new march ordered report fighter wing arriving headquarters april performance impressive position instructor evaluated deemed good operational posting october manoeuvre training crashed coma days injuries damaged eye fractured skull broken nose recovered declared unfit flying doctors friend major kept doctors report secret allow adolf continue flying expansion luftwaffe wing flooded administration officers medical report overlooked year showed signs injury crash october crashed hospitalised injured eye point previous medical report came light unfit certificate discovered major rumoured undergone court martial investigators dropped charges grounded admitted having fragments glass eye convinced doctors fit flying duty ordered undergo eye tests claims testing begin brothers managed acquire charts adolf charts passing test permitted fly legion spanish civil war appointed unit sent support nationalist franco flew ground attack missions spain displayed unique style flying swimming cigar teeth aircraft decorated figure asked developed style gave simple answer like like war flew combat mission spain commander july near time spain analysed engagements evaluated techniques devised new ground attack tactics passed luftwaffe experiences pin point ground assaults proponent dive bomber leading supporter push wings opponent push opposite dual combination fighter bombers trials selected undergo trials dive bomber role time spain developed early gasoline oil bombs suggested personnel trains aid relocation following nationalist victory awarded contributions left spain replaced leaving flights deeply impressed performance aircraft persuaded change strike pilot fighter pilot fellow student friend dresden later said good pilot excellent shot ambitious wanted noticed crazy hunting man staff post august took leave visited spanish morocco return germany ordered headquarters tasked preparing recommendations subject close air support favoured virtually simultaneous attack air force army advance leaving opponents time recover lessons world war kind coordination possible adopted italian suggestion heavy armament criticised light machine guns early german fighter aircraft pointed advantages multi gun configurations combining machine guns cannon proved successful recognised innovation drop tanks extend range aircraft need specialised tactics escorting bomber fleets prevailing idea luftwaffe raf bomber suggestions adopted proved successful early campaigns time instructed trained equipped ground support wings fall case green invasion czechoslovakia invasion place excellence evaluation earned place training facility asked test fly prototype reconnaissance strike aircraft wanted hoped returned fighter unit fly time gave positive types test career received news 2nd battle group 2nd demonstration wing fighter unit special mixed ground attack aircraft combat career polish campaign outbreak war promoted invasion poland september onward flew equipped nicknamed supporting september flew reconnaissance mission nearly shot day flew ground attack missions support 1st division advancing flew intensive sorties support division german_army reached river near warsaw september luftwaffe executing kind close air support operations advocating participated maximum effort luftwaffe battle september visits adolf hitler arrived headquarters lunch staff state september german air units withdrawn campaign ceased combat operations date having flown missions flying nearly missions wars averaging missions day september awarded iron cross second class claimed suffering unfit flying open cockpit aircraft suggested transfer single engine aircraft type closed cockpit improve condition request accepted medical grounds removed post direct ground support pilot explained open caused complaint cause given performance eye specialists certain suspicion reasonable transferred fighter wing february adjutant restricting flying western_europe transfer met injuries match sharp glass eyes denied capacity time recognised ace pilot aerial victories shared experiences leadership air tactics organisation time meeting order gain experience lacked offered chance join unit flying patrols french border sorties learned tactics aircraft indicate position enemy formation early warning system learned allow operate freely order seize initiative surprise taking findings commander agreed implementation gained experience combat leader acting went leave invaded low countries france fall supported german forces battle belgium day offensive kilometres west belgium height metres flying claimed aerial victories royal_air_force raf aircraft squadron hurricanes escorting bombers bomb bridges netherlands remembered kill child play excellent weapon luck successful best fighter pilot needs pursued scattering hurricanes shot low level pilot canadian flying officer killed claimed hurricane later day long believed opponents belgian knowing destroyed ground days seeing combat shot french aircraft flight ran fuel short runway landed nearby base hill help soldiers german battery pushed hill half flew half airfield valley sent fuel landed short runway continued flying day claimed aircraft making total seven awarded iron cross class effective defeat belgium moved forward airfields support invasion france encountering time impressed aircraft pilots claimed shot sea june claimed french aircraft 12th victory june took command iii iii 3rd group 26th fighter wing position command establishment included mistakenly attacked fall case red radio frequency able warn opened fire remainder campaign passed incident june major took command pleased having served days june flew fighting july promoted major moved remain months iii based july iii took operations english channel phase battle known met squadron forced larger number turning battle ran germans fuel recalled impressed ability low speed turn little executing split half roll followed pulling long curving dive follow exceeding maximum safe speed structural failure aircraft escape france low altitude covered retreat losing squadron action shot loss shocked aggression shown pilots believed relatively inexperienced later said realised quick easy victory battles channel continued shot july august awarded knight des victories continued fighter sweeps southern england main assault opened august unit engaged squadron brief shot battles raf know send aircraft suspect high level organisation work controlling raf fighters cloudy skies britain dangerous environment confront enemy effective ground control system resolved fly higher things performed best august weeks fighting britain increased score day claimed victories claimed highest number enemy aircraft destroyed wounded grounded damaged knee claims squadron raf surprised aggressive attacks weeks claimed air battle filing claim squadron lost late morning early afternoon battle claim matches loss piloted rescued severe shock afternoon day claimed squadron claimed unit officially confirmed germans raf fighters hit destroyed pilot officer killed summoned august missed intense air battle day known hardest day meeting insisted combat fighters escort survive single engine fighters high scoring aces shared concerns close escort bombers robbed fighter pilots freedom engage enemy terms pointed fact german bombers flew medium altitudes low speed best height area speed resented pilots having carry task equipment position returned action august replacing appointment impact successes august september filed claims victories included claims august hurricane tally 25th victim squadron claimed kilometers south cambridge accounted 7th victory squadron shot morning near pilot officer killed crash landing flying officer wounded foot september claimed 30th victory claimed shot morning lost hurricanes flying officer rhodes davis killed flying officer wounded battle fighter pilots criticised growing bomber losses line general officer briefing luftwaffe tactics asked fighter pilots needed win battle replied like fitted powerful engines replied like outfit squadron left rage preferred offensive sweeps regarded better defensive fighter owing said superior attack suitable purely defensive purposes little slower question killing enemy pilots raised conversation recalled wanted know thought looked straight eyes said think order shoot pilots regard murder told power order reply expected later stated thought asking question answer question posed opposed favour action passed test september date known large scale clashes claimed 33rd air victory hurricane leading september member receive knight oak leaves des mit achieving 39th 40th aerial victories september summoned berlin receive award adolf hitler battle britain continued large scale past october considered historians end campaign victories hurricanes claimed october including october took tally victims claimed likely squadron pilot officer wounded killed november victories including hurricanes accounted record victories putting level late shot killed november december recorded 57th victory successful fighter pilot war point putting ahead colleague friend rival channel promoted continued lead raf fighter sweeps northern europe early luftwaffe fighter units sent eastern south leaving sole single engine fighter france time equipped new normally equipped later cannon firing propeller hub mounted felt model armed tested series specials unique armament cannon mounted machine guns integral wing mounted cannons april took champagne celebrate general birthday france england looking raf aircraft cliffs dover spotted group attacked claimed confirmed unconfirmed shot actual result destruction damaged force landings pilots wounded combat dropped causing raf pilots flight lieutenant claim aircraft destroyed landed incident presented gifts success day represented 60th 61st aerial victory received telephone requesting intercept flown heading scotland unable launch fighter sweep flight far north reached scotland crashing aircraft sent fighters conduct sweeps honestly claim carried orders nearly dark ordered pilots unused night flying stand continued successes summer june led small number patrol english coast attacked pair squadron raf hurricanes claiming shot confirmed british records crash landing took tally point raf mount non stop offensive france germans point operations soon labeled nonsense offensive intended engage british inflict maximum damage small losses engaged strength fighters scramble quickly gain height use sun cloud attack enemy formation vulnerable tactics pilots began emerge aces effective commanders june example accounted enemy aircraft score bringing tally later rise command claimed hurricane day victory number loss confirmed british records june accounted hurricanes squadron following day accounted inflated tally highest recorded tally morning june accounted shot escorts crash landing near afternoon shot watching victim long shot factory number code flown thought parachute actually pulling parachute release harness feeling composed pulled opened drove hospital treated wounds informed victories earned knight mit und july led combat formation bombers fighter hit round bombers escort fighters armour plate fitted days earlier saved life wounded head managed land hospitalised second time days earlier week armour plate installed severely mechanic hit head canopy entering aircraft mechanic received grateful shot shot twice space days brought tally august raf ace france known luftwaffe time capture credited aerial victories claimed date entertained days owing significant stature prisoner permitted escort sit cockpit apparently despite losing tin legs aircraft semi way asked wouldn mind took test flight airfield replied feared douglas attempt escape chase shoot declined request summer claimed battles france july accounted nos afternoon evening claimed enemies losses command day august sufficient reach aerial victories august claimed hurricane surpass world war ace tally victims squadrons flew autumn converted type retained flew october repeated successes trio reach victim claimed november proved official victory years forbidden fly combat missions raf fighter probably came squadron high command overview november chosen command germany fighter force general der succeeding killed air crash route attend funeral enthusiastic promotion seeing combat leader wanting tied desk job soon afterward january awarded knight oak leaves swords diamonds des mit und service keen staff position soon appointment planned executed german air superiority plan operation kriegsmarine german navy war marine operation headquarters german battleships heavy cruiser sailed brest france english channel kiel germany operation caught british guard raf attempted intercept forces available german fighter defences able shoot raf aircraft british casualties luftwaffe prevented damage ships air attack strong proponent day fighter force defence germany position improve position need pressing germany declared war united_states december keen build force withstand resurgence preparation known campaign outspoken tolerated earning support powerful personalities luftwaffe like personalities industrial sector adolf hitler able survive position years unofficial combat missions appointment strictly confined operational matters allowed fly tactical combat missions war continued flew missions violation restrictions bombing raids keen types german fighter aircraft flew interception missions actively engage american bombers raids mission shot heavy bomber conflict leadership position general der brought gradual conflict war continued german fighter forces fronts came increasing pressure relationship began turn sour distinct cracks began appear spring suggested fighter forces defending germany limit number flown allow sufficient time grouping conserve air strength strength precious resources fighter pilots luftwaffe hope inflict damage bombers refused demanded raid countered maximum strength regardless size allied fighter escort according head production present meeting grasp late summer fighters operated german air space time aircraft crashed near germany west border presented proof luftwaffe facing enemy soon escort heavy bombers fighter aircraft industrial targets inside germany submitted findings fighter force called report worn gave order allied fighters crossed germany declared possible reason short range fighters ran fuel high altitude shot west distance crashed denied questioned allied pilot choose east instead west men argued increase fighter production reach advantage attackers immediately prepare new threat efforts produce fighter force fit war attrition conflicted bias favour bombers maintain offensive fronts policy persisted autumn october relationship came surface met estate conversation need new improved aircraft arose demands heavily cannon armed fighters mass numbers defeat bomber formations prompted desires hitler wanted cannons weight fired rate shell second explained weapon effectively aircraft cannon prone aircraft difficult manoeuvre asserted use inappropriate weaponry favourite hitler caused heavy losses argued measures irresponsible ignored arguments continued frequent attacks fighter force accusing defended career near end war life stated agree follow plans requested dismissed post sent unit accepted weeks later apologised attributed behaviour stress continued post arguments mainly aircraft armament defence germany allied bombing began rise growing personal rift innovations retrieve situation fighter force looked employ new technology air war flew early prototype jet fighter flight described experience time flying jet propulsion engine vibrations sound engine propeller accompanied sound jet shot air later asked felt like said angels pushing enthusiastic supporter aircraft realising potential fighter bomber hoped compensate numerical superiority allies months january april day fighters lost pilots numerically inferior remain believe great deal achieved small number technically far superior aircraft moment action situation develops changes succeeded temporarily support program favour producing end persistent problems engines later hitler determination use bomber developed fighter late war spring sufficiently ready operational service time faced rivalries luftwaffe command best employ aircraft commander wanted use aircraft weapon future allied landing france saw aircraft ideal fast bomber evade overwhelming numbers allied engine fighters attack landing grounds wished use highly trained bomber pilots felt better serve home defence fighter pilots place blind weather experience training background multi engine aircraft ideal operations view months conventional bomber force suffered significant defeat england dull appetite offensive action reputation argued suggestion instead thought bomber corps disbanded pilots converted fighters adopted idea impress hitler regain influence repeated appeals fighter aircraft refused requests equal numbers fighter bomber variants built close relationship german armaments minister enabled retain small operational number difficult hitler taken personal control turbo jet production checked batch aircraft deployed september hitler rescinded directive fighter bomber ignored order formed test high flying allied reconnaissance aircraft selected highly decorated pilot commander hitler heard experiment ordered stop meeting persisted experiments ordered operations continued achieved isolated successes shot killed july august hitler finally agreed allow service allowed build jet units owing keen interest type followed interest exploits jet fighter unit low rates aircraft achieved considerable success new aircraft performed action visited line airfields close scene fighting november present ace took force overcast engage raid listened radio waves claimed bomber damaged jumped fighters crashed close airfield heard firing event dissuade believing capabilities aircraft fighter meantime pursued innovations existing designs aircraft formed distinctly upgraded firepower called ram machines inflict heavy damage bomber formations supported conversion units role heavily armed armoured meant vulnerable protection escorting tactics quickly widespread luftwaffe success stories said war allied landing normandy increased need lighter fighter variants luftwaffe contained aircraft september flew interception flights experience combat pressures pilots witnessed bombers escorted large numbers occasions tactics worked example july bombers belonging intercepted entire squadron shot lost day majority attack dismissal revolt despite apology previous dispute relationship men improve influence decline late fallen favour hitler increasingly hostile blaming fighter pilots situation situation worsened series raids termed big week won air superiority allies february spring luftwaffe effectively challenge allies france low countries allied invasion german occupied europe took place june according report previous months pilots killed reported enemy outnumbered fighters standard allied fighter pilot training high win breathing space force german industrial targets formulated plan called big blow german called mass interception bomber formations approximately german fighters hoped german fighters shoot bombers acceptable losses fighters pilots night fighter force assist employing aircraft southern northern germany prevent crippled bombers making switzerland sweden autumn carefully resources waited unusually bad weather improve hitler proved hoped improve germany position winning decisive victory western hitler theory believed afraid time luftwaffe stop american air offensive willing german resources sit idle airfields wait improvement flying conditions efforts built useful reserve hitler use support land offensive hitler handed forces appointed commander responsible virtually fighter forces west appointed special fighter staff officer offensive ultimately opponent eventually engineered dismissal big blow operation worked matter academic debate historians remained divided believing lost opportunity think impact estimated operation took place instead fighter force committed disastrous designed support german forces battle influence matters virtually appalled losses personally confronted criticised severely contacted reputation powerful man hitler time prime motive complained luftwaffe leadership spread influence areas military affairs including operations relationship poor took opportunity exploit dissent luftwaffe undermine supporting opportunity seize control luftwaffe power offered support mentioned january finally relieved command january group senior pilots took fighter pilots revolt high standing fighter pilot peers led group decorated luftwaffe combat leaders loyal including confronting list demands survival service initially suspected instigated unrest wanted trial treason begun investigations associated der luftwaffe appointed politically acceptable supporter succeed general der january professional contemporaries mutual dislike removed austrian personal staff september started gather evidence use detailing false accusations gambling alleged private use luftwaffe transport aircraft official reason relieved command ill health safety went retreat informed whereabouts effectively house arrest hitler liked heard events learned ordered nonsense treatment stop immediately hitler informed turn informed events close friends end contacted invited light service fighter arm promised action taken offered command unit jets accepted understanding jurisdiction unit self pretend error free war mistakes general der production aircraft responsibility identified major mistakes war accepted partial responsibility fighter pilots received instrument training late war training course curtailed fuel shortages need produce pilots quickly replace losses sure weather flying incorporated pilot training decisive importance effective air defence force attrition created shortage experienced combat leaders special training available role set course late lasted months quoted saying thought learn skills operations ignored talents expected pilots reach high standards war winner extended defence campaign problems engines failures production priorities hitler known long delay operational testing tactical development training largely fault german pilots increasingly lacking quantity quality recognised correct stepping outside authority noticed highly educated engineers selected bomber arm early war years youth pulled expert kriegsmarine luftwaffe match effort return line service combat initially assigned command time stranded soviet lines took command given task forming february order formation read established immediate effect ground personnel drawn factory protection unit iii commander unit receives disciplinary powers divisional commander laid comes berlin provisional strength sixteen operational pilots signed chief staff luftwaffe allowed hand pick number experienced fighter pilots aces unit including asked leave unit unit officially formed february introduce wing quickly possible showed sympathy efforts far operational jets february general asked assist training schedules jets hand pilots added suggestion experienced fighter pilots flying units join unit believed jets action fleets general chaos impending collapse prevented plans realised march flew operational jets munich begin operations april organised interception raid destroyed april claimed martin bombers shot april surprise visited final time officially assigned confessed use bomber pilots experience jet fighter pilots correct progress unit outspoken parted said going action wish years younger command worry good fight like old days space days friend badly burned crash april april friend posted missing april credited 100th aerial victory luftwaffe pilot achieve century mark april claimed aerial victories escorted mistake stopped sure second victory going crash hit piloted crippled airfield find attack landed fire abandoned jet runway battle operational mission soon afterward sent hospital knee wound sustained mission americans lost damaged return shot pilot surviving 1970s graduate student came memoirs researching records records matching german victory claims found pilot probable claim april day mission details engagement matched met time meeting san_francisco surrender late april war effectively attempted contact united_states_army forces negotiate surrender unit act dangerous forces countryside towns executing considering capitulation americans requested fly unit controlled airfield declined citing poor weather technical problems reality going hand jets americans belief soon war soviet_union wanted join american forces use unit coming war free germany communist occupation replied making whereabouts known americans offering surrender arrived hospital treated ordered unit moved destroy time surrender filed claims allied aircraft shot claims included seven flown england interrogated raf personnel luftwaffe organisation role technical questions returned germany august imprisoned october returned england interrogation eventually released april post war argentina release travelled join earlier acquaintance estate lived children time found work forestry worker came terms career alleged knowledge nazi war crimes began hunt family traded kills local markets supplement meat rations soon rediscovered love flying designer requested home discuss proposal tank asked work british soviets narrowly avoided forcibly kidnapped tank contact denmark informed possibility argentine government employing test pilot tank new generation fighters accepted flew argentina settled buenos_aires enjoyed slow life time aside work commitments taken active buenos_aires night life found south_america world away post war shortages germany soon took professional capacity spoke fluent spanish eased instruction new pilots time flew british commented contemporary fine aircraft claimed fit engines airframe best fighter world continued training consulting later years argentina returned europe test fly new types teamed mentor star africa joined staff april flew international air rally italy weather seven aircraft crashed taking lives came second place return germany time argentina running services awarded pilot wings badge title later year left south_america time begun writing autobiography die und die published best seller languages sold million copies received raf frank honest statement returned germany approached commissioner chancellor purpose joining new west_germany join nato military power joined went proposal france objected west_germany proposal pan european defence pact chose way changed organisation structure german armed forces got life months rolled leader war new commander chief accepted turned potential leader new air force suspected technically illegal departure germany association argentina state poor terms united_states dominant partner nato summer moved rented office beginning aircraft worked hard continued flying taking national air shows appointed honorary chairman der came contact contemporaries britain america joined contracted help develop aviation business business going bought aircraft march 50th birthday aircraft registered named die served technical adviser film character major based upset director decision use real names making film joined friend appeared british television documentary series world war episodes september april took engagements 1960s 1970s remaining german general staff took united kingdom planned german invasion britain german lost guest unveiling entertained poor fly retired pilot continued attend numerous aviation events include periodic guest annual gathering eagles program alabama usa october reunited stolen american soldiers capture located tried buy told worth death end 1980s health began fail personal life refused marry restrictions imposed husband deny wealth freedom enjoyed left germany married february unable children divorced september september married secretary children son nicknamed born november daughter born july raf ace godfather son remained friends death felt loss greatly marriage february married wife remained death 1980s regularly attending friends like died september speaking dinner june attended funeral wife died traffic accident later year tracked mechanic installed armour saved life june entertained home outside invited year death early february taken seriously ill wanted die home released hospital returned house wife son daughter present given rites died morning tuesday february buried february memorial service held march awards medal campaign spain military medal spain june luftwaffe gold pennant gold diamonds august 2nd class september 1st class oak leaves swords diamonds knight cross july major iii 3rd oak leaves september major 1st swords june 2nd diamonds january mentioned seven times august september november april june october february long service award 4th class references
Adolf Galland