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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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Adolf Galland
Age: 83 †
Born: 1912
Born: March 19
Died: 1996
Died: February 9
Aircraft Pilot
Military Personnel
Westerholt (Herten)
Adolf Josef Ferdinand Galland
Many
Either
Develop
Unfortunate
Long
Suffering
Luck
Combat
Never
Future
Victory
Frustration
True
Kill
Denied
May
Career
Opponents
Pilot
Firsts
Circumstances
Fighter
Opponent
First
Careers
Complexes
Pilots
Whole
Influence
Suffer
Aviation

More quotes by Adolf Galland

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Superior technical achievements - used correctly both strategically and tactically - can beat any quantity numerically many times stronger yet technically inferior.
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He who wants to protect everything, protects nothing, is one of the fundamental rules of defense.
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It's unbelievable what one squadron of twelve aircraft did to tip the balance.
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According to Goering and the Luftwaffe High Command, they were supposed to be the fighter elite.
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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.
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An excellent weapon and luck had been on my side. To be successful, the best fighter pilot needs both.
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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.
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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.
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I had to inspect all fighter units in Russia, Africa, Sicily, France, and Norway. I had to be everywhere.
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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.
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If we would have had the 262 at our disposal - even with all the delays - if we could have had in '44, ah, let's say three hundred operational, that day we could have stopped the American daytime bombing offensive, that's for sure.
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And most of these pilots were lost during the first five flights.
Adolf Galland
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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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I made a written report which is still today in existence. I have a photocopy of it, and I am saying that in production this aircraft could perhaps substitute for three propeller- driven aircraft of the best existing type. This was my impression.
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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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.
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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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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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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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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