[1] Flying with Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" on the Western Front, he was killed in combat with Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfire fighters on 31 October 1942.

Upholding the family tradition, Galland (senior) worked as the land manager or bailiff to the Count von Westerholt.

[7] World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.

On 28 February 1941, Leutnant Galland was transferred from the Ergänzungsstaffel, a supplementary training unit, of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) to 8.

Gruppe (3rd group) which at the time was commanded by Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) Oberleutnant Gustav Sprick while III.

On 20 August, his brother was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 26 and Hauptmann Gerhard Schöpfel, who had led 9.

In defense of this attack, Galland claimed his first aerial victory over a Supermarine Spitfire fighter.

Gruppe moved to a makeshift airfield at Coquelles, close to Calais on the English Channel.

[16] On 6 November, Schmid was killed in action and Oberleutnant Karl Borris was chosen as his successor.

In consequence of Adolf's advance in command responsibility, Schöpfel succeeded him as Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26 and Hauptmann Josef Priller became the new Gruppenkommandeur of III.

The objective of this operation was to give the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen fighter protection in the breakout from Brest to Germany.

In support of this, the Luftwaffe, formulated an air superiority plan dubbed Operation Donnerkeil for the protection of the three German capital ships.

Sources vary with respect to the number of aerial victories Galland was credited with during this operation.

According to Caldwell, Galland was credited with a single Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber from 825 Naval Air Squadron shot down at 13:45 on 12 February north of Gravelines.

[18] While authors Mathews and Foreman list him with four Swordfish torpedo bombers shot down in the timeframe 13:45 to 13:50 in combat north of Gravelines.

[2] On 10 April, the RAF flew two "Rodeos", providing a diversion for a "Ramrod" short range bomber attack missions targeting Boulogne.

JG 26 lost three aircraft, including two pilots killed in action, for six aerial victories claimed.

That day, the RAF targeted oil installations at Vlissingen and Walcheren in the Netherlands.

In defense of two "Rodeos", one "Ramrods" and one "Circus" to northern France, Galland claimed a No.

At 12:30, the flight intercepted low flying Spitfires and North American P-51 Mustang fighters from the Biggin Hill Wing.

[29] This claim considered confirmed by the authors Mathews and Foreman; a Spitfire shot down at 15:06 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) east of Dover.

The authors Mathews and Foreman credit Galland with two aerial victories on 29 August.

[32][33] Five hours later, Galland and Edmann participated on a fighter escort mission to a fighter-bomber raid on Canterbury.

[34] At 18:15, intercepting Spitfires shot down Galland's Fw 190 A-4 (Werknummer 2402—factory number) approximately 20 km (12 mi) west of Calais.

[35] Mathews and Foremann assume that the Spitfire responsible for his death was piloted by Flight Lieutenant Johannes Jacobus le Roux from No.

In the rescue attempt, Galland's Fw 190 stalled during a steep climb and was forced to dive away.