General Adolf Galland

In 1981, at the Confederate Air Force Airshow in Harlingen, I had the unexpected privilege of meeting Adolf Galland, the famed Luftwaffe ace.

As I walked through one of the static display hangars, I noticed a tall, distinguished man approaching. On instinct, I asked if he was Adolf Galland. He nodded, smiling with quiet humility — and so began one of the most memorable conversations of my life.

He was every inch the gentleman. His English was excellent, with that unmistakable German lilt to it. I asked him about the often-quoted exchange with Hermann Göring — the one where he supposedly asked for a squadron of Spitfires. Galland chuckled and said he’d only made the remark to irritate Göring, who was obsessed with keeping his pilots tied to the bombers. “Pretty much as the film showed,” he said. But then, with a glint of pride, he admitted that if he had to choose, he’d still prefer to go to war in his beloved Messerschmitt Bf 109 — complete, of course, with his custom cigar holder.

He kindly signed my Confederate Air Force Airshow brochure, which I still treasure. My British friends were less impressed — a bit shocked that I held a German pilot in such regard. But to me, anyone who flew combat from before 1939 (Spain) through to 1945, on any side, and survived, commands nothing but respect.

Rest in peace, General Galland — a true aviator and a gentleman.