Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland

The family with French Huguenot ancestry, had settled in Westerholt in 1792.

Galland was the third of four sons of Adolf Galland (senior) and his French wife Anna, née Schipper.

Upholding the family tradition, Galland (senior) worked as the land manager or bailiff to the Count von Westerholt.

Galland's two older brothers were Fritz and Adolf and his younger brother was Paul.

Their father had pet names for all his family members.

His wife Anna was called "Anita".

Fritz was called "Toby", Adolf was "Keffer", Wilhelm-Ferdinand was nicknamed "Wutz" and Paul was called "Paulinchen" or since they were expecting a girl, occasionally "Paula".

All four Galland brothers later served in the Luftwaffe.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand "Wutz" Galland (23 October 1914 – 17 August 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II.

He is credited with 55 aerial victories achieved in 186 combat missions.

All his victories were claimed over the Western Front and in Defense of the Reich.

This figure included seven four-engine bombers and 37 Supermarine Spitfire fighters.

Born in Bochum, Galland grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany.

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

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

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.

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

Upon his request in late 1940, he transferred to the Jagdwaffe (fighter force).

In late 1940, he began flight training.

Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in June 1941.

Flying with this wing, Galland claimed his first aerial victory on 23 July 1941 on the Western Front over a Royal Air Force fighter aircraft.

He was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5.

On 27 June 1941, Galland completed his supplementary fighter pilot training with the Ergänzungsgruppe (a training unit) of JG 26 "Schlageter" and was then posted to II.

Gruppe of JG 26.

JG 26 was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a martyr cultivated by the Nazi Party.

Flying with 6.

Staffel (6th squadron), Galland claimed his first aerial victory on 23 July 1941 in defense of a Royal Air Force (RAF) "Circus" mission flown by No. 11 Group.

He shot down a Supermarine Spitfire fighter northwest of Hesdin, which according to Caldwell was unconfirmed.

He filed his second claim on 27 September following combat with Spitfires in the vicinity of Boulogne.

That day, the RAF flew two "Circus" missions, No. 103A attacking the Amiens motor yards, and No. 103B, targeting the Mazingarbe power station.

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

Staffel (5th squadron) of JG 26 in May 1942 and in January 1943, Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II.

Gruppe of JG 26.

On 28 March 1942, the RAF conducted a "Rodeo" fighter sweeps over enemy territory.

In its defense, II.

Gruppe was called to action when an attack on Boulogne was imminent.

The Hornchurch Wing engaged the Stab (headquarters unit) and I. Gruppe of JG 26 over Guînes and the English Channel while the Kenley Wing lead by Group Captain Victor Beamish encountered II.

Following his 34th aerial victory, he was nominated and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 May 1943.

Galland claimed his last aerial victory on 12 August 1943.

On 17 August 1943, during the Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission, he was killed in action following combat with Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters from the 56th Fighter Group.