Born 19 March 1912. He began glider flying in 1929 and soon became well known for his endurance flights. He entered the German Air Line Pilots School in 1932, where he came in contact with certain ‘discharged’ Reichswehr officers who were also training on heavy aircraft. After completion of his course, he entered secret military air training, which he completed in May 1934. He then was sent to Italy with other German pilots for training which proved to be very poor. In February of 1934, he started the course for Luftwaffe officers which was disguised as ‘Sports Training’. He was posted to J.G. 2 in February 1935. Galland volunteered for the Legion Kondor in the fall of 1935, where he served as a fighter pilot, being in command of the Stabs-Kompanie. From the time of his return from Spain until after the end of the Polish campaign, he was concerned with setting up the ground attack arm. He went back to fighters after the Polish Campaign. He took part in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, becoming C.O. of J.G. 26. He was installed as General der Jagdflieger in December of 1941 and was awarded the Ritterkreuz in January 1942. He was relieved by Goring about 1 January 1945, and posted as C.O. of J.V. 44, a Me.262 unit, remaining there until wounded soon before the surrender.
Born 1912. He began training as an airline pilot in 1930, and entered the army in 1931. In 1935, he joined the GAF and taught at fighter schools the entire year. In 1936, he became a Stuka pilot, and was a Staffel C.O. at the start of the Polish campaign. He took part in the Battle of Poland, France, Britain, Greece and Crete, always with Stukas. He became a Geschwader C.O. in 1942, and was equipped with Me.109’s and F.W. 190’s. In 1943, he was Fliegerfuhrer in Sardinia and then went with Luftflotte 2 in Italy. In November 1943, he took over the job of General der Schlachtflieger when Kupfer was killed and held the job until the end of the war, being officially given the job and promoted to Generalmajor on 1 January 1945. He was awarded the Oak Leaf to the Ritterkreuz and has 410 war flights.
Born 1911. He was a commercial airline pilot for the Bavarian Air Line, prior to joining the GAF in 1935 as an N.C.O. During the Battle of Britain, he was promoted to officer rank. He was promoted to Hauptmann. He was then transferred to Africa with J.G. 77 where he became a Gruppe C.O. He returned to Germany after the invasion of Italy and was posted to J.G. 1, which he took over after the fall of Oesau. His next command was J.G. 3. In January 1945, he took over an experimental unit at Lechfeld, where he flew Me.262s. In April 1945, he joined J.V. 44 which he led after Galland was wounded. He is credited with 240 victories and was awarded the Swords to the Knights Cross. He flew about 1200 sorties.
Born in 1912. Joined the GAF about 1936, and was a Gruppe C.O. in Crimea and the Battle of Britain. He later rose to the position of C.O. of J.G. 77. In early 1944, Galland put him in charge of technical development of the Me.163 and 262. He was relieved in the fall of 1944. Goring installed him as General der Jagdflieger after relieving Galland about 1 January 1945. He was awarded Diamonds to the Knights Cross.
A pilot since about 1925. He joined a special Relslame Staffel to work with the army, and trained further in DVS. As a Hansa pilot, he entered the army in 1934. During the war, he was C.O. of K.G. 40, and then C.O. of the experimental station at Rechlin.
Born 1914. He trained as a civilian airline pilot until 1932, when he entered the German Navy as an officer candidate. He transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935, and was put in the naval branch and took part in the Spanish Civil War on the cruiser Nürnberg. At the outbreak of World War II, he was a pilot in K.G. 40 and took part in operations against England. He was in the headquarters of Fliegerkorps X. In 1941 he was the C.O. of a Gruppe in II/K.G. 26, the torpedo unit in the Mediterranean. From late 1941 to 1943 he was Gruppe C.O. in K.G. 40, bombing shipping in the Atlantic. From February to July 1944, he was C.O. of Z.G. 76, the TE fighter unit in the Defense of the Reich. In the latter part of 1944 he was the first night fighter C.O. and later in November took over K.G. 76 which had Me.262s and Ar.234s operating as bombers over the Western Front. He was in this position until the end of the war.
Born 1911. He was an insurance employee until he entered the army in 1934. He transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935, and to a fighter Gruppe in 1936. He served as an adjutant in 1937 and 1938. He flew in the Spanish war in 1939 and took part in the Battle of France and Britain. He was twice wounded in Russia, and was grounded in 1942. Since then he served on Galland’s staff as tactics and training expert at various times. He was credited with 12 victories, and was awarded the EK I and II.
Joined the Luftwaffe in 1936. He took part in the occupation of Sudetenland, and was with Stuka units in Poland, France, during the Battle of Britain, Malta and Africa. He was C.O. of a Gruppe in 1943, and later acted as a liaison officer from the General der Schlachtflieger to the Chief of Staff of the Luftwaffe. In April 1944, he joined the General Staff as an operations and training expert.
Born 1924. Pilot in J.G. 51, later transferred to J.G. 3 Sturmgruppe (IV/JG3). He is credited with 14 heavy bombers shot down. In late 1944, he was transferred to II/JG7, and in April 1945 to J.V. 44, where he scored four victories with the Me.262. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz in May 1945. Credited with 37 victories.
Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch. Director General of Equipment for the Luftwaffe from November 1941 to May 1944.
Generalleutnant Joseph ‘Beppo’ Schmid. Intelligence chief of the Luftwaffe from January 1938 to November 1942. Considered by Galland ‘a complete wash-out as an intelligence officer’. Given command of I Jagdkorps September 1943 to November 1944, despite being a non-aviator. Commanded Luftwaffe Command West for remainder of war.
Oberstleutnant Walther Dahl. Fighter ace with 128 or 129 victories, including 36 heavy bombers. Flew throughout most of the war with JG 3, including commanding a Gruppe, then took over JG 300. Developed anti-bomber tactics used by FW 190-equipped Sturmgruppen. In 1945 switched to Me 262s, flying with EJG 2 and Galland’s JV 44.