Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland

German flying ace

Date of Birth: 23-Oct-1914

Place of Birth: Bochum, Free State of Prussia, Germany

Date of Death: 17-Aug-1943

Profession: airman

Nationality: Germany

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

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.
He joined the military service in the Wehrmacht in 1935, initially serving with the anti-aircraft artillery of the Luftwaffe.
Upon his request in late 1940, he transferred to the Jagdwaffe (fighter force).
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.
Staffel (5th squadron) of JG 26 in May 1942 and in January 1943, Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II.
Gruppe of JG 26.
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.