Quote

The first rule of all air combat is to see the opponent first. Like the hunter who stalks his prey and maneuvers himself unnoticed into the most favourable position for the kill, the fighter in the opening of a dogfight must detect the opponent as early as possible in order to attain a superior position for the attack.

Adolf Galland

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Adolf Galland
Age: 83 †
Born: 1912
Born: March 19
Died: 1996
Died: February 9
Aircraft Pilot
Military Personnel
Westerholt (Herten)
Adolf Josef Ferdinand Galland
Order
Attack
Opponent
Favourable
Firsts
Opening
Attain
Stalks
First
Rule
Aviation
Detect
Must
Air
Combat
Stalking
Like
Kill
Superior
Hunter
Early
Superiors
Unnoticed
Position
Opponents
Hunters
Possible
Fighter
Prey
Maneuvers

More quotes by Adolf Galland

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Of course, the outcome of the war would not have been changed. The war was lost perhaps, when it was started. At least it was lost in the winter of '42, in Russia.
Adolf Galland
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It is true to say that the first kill can influence the whole future career of a fighter pilot. Many to whom the first victory over the opponent has been long denied either by unfortunate circumstances or by bad luck can suffer from frustration or develop complexes they may never rid themselves of again.
Adolf Galland
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For the first time I was flying by jet propulsion. No engine vibrations. No torque and no lashing sound of the propeller. Accompanied by a whistling sound, my jet shot through the air. Later when asked what it felt like, I said, It felt as though angels were pushing.
Adolf Galland
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Only in the spirit of attack, born in a brave heart, will bring success to any fighter aircraft, no matter how highly developed it may be.
Adolf Galland
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The battle is tough but if you reach where you want to go, then at least in some sense it is worth it.
Adolf Galland
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Many pilots of the time were the opinion that a fighter pilot in a closed cockpit was an impossible thing, because you should smell the enemy. You could smell them because of the oil they were burning.
Adolf Galland
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The German Luftwaffe always fought without any reserves. This is also the reason why we have pilots with extremely high numbers of victories.
Adolf Galland
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The colossus of World War II seemed to be like a pyramid turned upside down, and for the moment the whole burden of the war rested on the few hundred German fighter pilots on the Channel coast.
Adolf Galland
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To use a fighter as a fighter-bomber when the strength of the fighter arm is inadequate to achieve air superiority is putting the cart before the horse.
Adolf Galland
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During the Battle of Britain the question fighter or fighter-bomber? had been decided once and for all: The fighter can only be used as a bomb carrier with lasting effect when sufficient air superiority has been won.
Adolf Galland
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Never abandon the possibility of attack. Attack even from a position of inferiority, to disrupt the enemy's plans. This often results in improving one's own position.
Adolf Galland
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Today it is even more important to dominate the . . . highly sophisticated weapon systems, perhaps even more important than being a good pilot to make the best use of this system.
Adolf Galland
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An excellent weapon and luck had been on my side. To be successful, the best fighter pilot needs both.
Adolf Galland
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When I was fired from my post as General of the Fighter Arm, I was to give proof that this jet was a superior fighter. And that's when we did it. I think we did it.
Adolf Galland
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And most of these pilots were lost during the first five flights.
Adolf Galland
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Flying is more than a sport and more than a job flying is pure passion and desire, which fill a lifetime.
Adolf Galland
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Nine g's is good, if the pilot can stand it. We couldn't stand it. Not in the airplanes of World War II.
Adolf Galland
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We have built a total of about 1250 of this aircraft, but only fifty were allowed to be used as fighters - as interceptors. And out of this fifty, there were never more than 25 operational. So we had only a very, very few.
Adolf Galland
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I had to inspect all fighter units in Russia, Africa, Sicily, France, and Norway. I had to be everywhere.
Adolf Galland
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I would like to mention that I have flown the 262 first in May ‘43. At this time, the aircraft was completely secret. I first knew of the existence of this aircraft only early in ‘42 - even in my position. This aircraft didn’t have any priority in design or production.
Adolf Galland