Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland

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Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland
23 October 1914(1914-10-23) – 17 August 1943 (aged 28)
Nickname	Wutz
Place of birth	Bochum
Place of death	west of Maastricht in the Netherlands
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1935 – 1943
Rank	Major
Unit	JG 26
Commands held	II./JG 26 "Schlageter"
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations	Adolf Galland

Wilhelm-Ferdinand "Wutz" Galland (born 23 October 1914 in Bochum – killed in action 17 August 1943) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He is credited with 55 aerial victories in achieved in 186 combat missions. All his victories were claimed over the Western Front and included seven four-engine bombers and 37 Supermarine Spitfires.

Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland was one of four Galland brothers to serve in the Luftwaffe. The oldest brother Fritz Galland served in a fighter and reconnaissance unit and survived the war. His older brother, Lt. Gen. Adolf Galland was one the most renowned German fighter pilots and leader of German fighter operations and also survived the war. His youngest brother Paul Galland, a flying ace with 17 victories, served with JG 26 and was killed in action on 31 October 1942.

Galland was killed in action on 17 August 1943 during the Second Raid on Schweinfurt. II./JG 26 took off on a bomber incept mission and engaged the B-17 bomber formation but were bounced by the escorting P-47 fighters from the 56th Fighter Group, USAAF. It is assumed that Galland was shot down by the American ace Walker "Bud" Mahurin of the 56th Fighter Group, USAAF.

[edit] Awards

• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (30 May 1942)
• German Cross in Gold (28 January 1943)
• Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (18 May 1943)

[edit] References