KITS 07/2021

Bf 109E-4, WNr. 3709, Oblt. Josef Fözö, CO of 4./JG 51, Desvres, France, July 1940

Raven with running nose and umbrella was badge of II./JG 51 and was later adopted by some of unit´s Staffeln with different

background colors. Mickey Mouse is personal emblem of Josef Fözö who was a Vienna-born Austrian. As a pre-war pilot of

Austrian Air Force Fözö joined Luftwaffe in 1938 and volunteered for service in Spain where he scored three victories. He was

already commander of 4./JG 51 at the beginning of World War II and downed one balloon during Sitzkrieg and two RAF fighters

during “Kanalkampf” in July. His second and third victory were scored west of Cap Griz-Nez against Hurricanes of No. 56 Sqn.

During Battle of Britain he scored nine victories against RAF and one more in April 1941. Fözö was appointed commander of II./JG

51 and was seriously injured on Russian front in July 1941. He was awarded Knight Cross during the same month. After recovery

he became commander of I./JG 51 in May 1942. However, he was injured again the same month. After lengthy recovery Fözö took

over commanding position on operational training unit JG 108. His total score was 27 victories including service in Spain. Fözö

passed away in Vienna in 1979, at the age of 67 years.

Bf 109E-3, Maj. Adolf Galland, CO of III./JG 26, Caffiers, France, August 1940

Major Adolf Galland was the highest scoring Luftwaffe fighter pilot of Battle of Britain. In the period from August 8 to October 31,

1940, he scored 32 victories including 15 Spitfires. After service with Legion Condor, 4.(S)/LG 2 and JG 27 he became commander of III./JG 26 on June 11, 1940. This unit was the second-most successful Jagdgruppe of Battle of Britain with 105 victories

achieved. Galland´s last victories (19th to 22nd) with III./JG 26 were scored on August 15. He claimed one Spitfire possibly flown

by RAF ace F/Lt A.C. Deere of No. 54 Sqn. and later added two Spitfires of No. 64 Sqn. On August 22 Galland became Kommodore

of JG 26 “Schlageter”. He took position of General der Jagdflieger later, becoming the youngest Luftwaffe General. He did not get

along with Göring very well and lost his position in 1944. During the last months of the war, he was allowed to organize elite unit

Jagdverband 44 equipped with Me 262 Schwalbe jet fighters. Adolf Galland achieved 104 aerial victories during 705 missions,

all on the Western front. Included in his score are at least seven victories achieved when he was flying the Me 262. Galland also

downed four four-engined bombers. He was himself shot down four times.

Bf 109E-3, Maj. Adolf Galland, CO of III./JG 26, Caffiers, France, late August 1940

This is Galland´s aircraft as it appeared at the end of August 1940, i.e., with yellow identification markings introduced by Luftwaffe

command at the beginning of August 1940. Some authors believe that this is aircraft WNr. 4820 flown by Galland during August

1940 as his last personal mount when at command of III./JG 26. But… The 4820 was manufactured by Arado in July 1940 as

E-1/B and Galland´s logbook states E-1 version as well, but photographs reveal his aircraft sported cannons in the wing. There is

another aircraft of Galland known from this period, and it is also attributed to WNr. 4820. But again, this “Emil” shows cannons in

the wings and earlier style of the canopy. After the war, Adolf Galland took part in development of Argentine Air Force and was

also active in German fighter pilot association. He also became one of the advisers during the filming of Battle of Britain movie.

Fellow adviser RAF ace Robert S. Tuck became Galland´s very close friend and godfather of his son.

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INFO Eduard - July 2021