Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe general and flying ace who served throughout the Second World War in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts. On four occasions, he survived being shot down, and he was credited with 104 aerial victories, all of them against the Western Allies...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionSoldier
Date of Birth19 March 1912
CountryGermany
fundamentals air-power want
"He who wants to protect everything, protects nothing," is one of the fundamental rules of defense.
passion ties track
Their element is to attack, to track, to hunt, and to destroy the enemy. Only in this way can the eager and skillful fighter pilot display his ability. Tie him to a narrow and confined task, rob him of his initiative, and you take away from him the best and most valuable qualities he posses: aggressive spirit, joy of action, and the passion of the hunter.
successful luck pilots
An excellent weapon and luck had been on my side. To be successful, the best fighter pilot needs both.
enemy air-power inferiority
Never abandon the possibility of attack. Attack even from a position of inferiority, to disrupt the enemy's plans. This often results in improving one's own position.
russia france norway
I had to inspect all fighter units in Russia, Africa, Sicily, France, and Norway. I had to be everywhere.
fifty fighter used
We have built a total of about 1250 of this aircraft, but only fifty were allowed to be used as fighters - as interceptors. And out of this fifty, there were never more than 25 operational. So we had only a very, very few.
pilots firsts flight
And most of these pilots were lost during the first five flights.
horse air use
To use a fighter as a fighter-bomber when the strength of the fighter arm is inadequate to achieve air superiority is putting the cart before the horse.
goering fighter command
According to Goering and the Luftwaffe High Command, they were supposed to be the fighter elite.
disposal english fastest
We had at our disposal the first operational jet, which superseded by at least 150 knots the fastest American and English fighters. This was a unique situation.
supposed
I could not claim them because I was not supposed to be flying in combat.
bust
The throttles could only move very, very slowly, always watching the temperature, always watching. And even in throttling back, you could bust it, even being very careful.