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Galland, Wilhelm-Ferdinand "Wutz" (JG 26)

Date of birth:
October 23rd, 1914 (Bochum/Western Phalia, Germany)
Date of death:
August 17th, 1943 (Hees/Limburg, Belgium)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Lommel
Plot: 21. Grave: 290.
Service number:
SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.: /// EKM-Nr.: 60020/23
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

1935: entered the Luftwaffe and served in a Flak-Regiment
1939-1940: in the Flakartillerie
1940-1941: flight and fighter training
1941: Erg.Gr./JG 26
26.06.1941: Staka of 5./JG 26
23.07.-06.11.1941: 6./JG 26
13.01.1942: accidently shot down a fellow JG 26 pilot. The incident was "cleaned up" for the official records.
05.05.1942 - 02.01.1943: promoted to Oberleutnant - Staka 5./JG 26
19.08.1942: his Fw 190 A-3 'Black 8' shot up over Dieppe landings
03.01.1943 - 17.08.1943: promoted to Hauptmann - Kdr. II./ JG 26
18.05.1943: promoted to Major
17.08.1943: KIA as Major - Stab II./JG 26 – in Fw 190 A-5 '<< + -' shot down by 56 FG P-47 Thunderbolt escorts during an intercept mission against U.S. bombers nears Hees in the Liège area, crashed 5 km W of Maastricht.
His Body was recovered two months later and Buried at Lommel/Belgium.
17.08.1943: promoted to SS-Mann

Credited with 186 combat missions and 55 aerial victories in the West (including 8 four-engined bombers).

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer
Awarded on:
October 12th, 1942
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kommandeur, II. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter", Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
January 28th, 1943
For his 24th Air victory.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kommandeur, II. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter", Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
May 18th, 1943
Awarded after 41 aerial victories.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

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