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As a fighter pilot I know from my own experiences how decisive surprise and luck can be for success, which in the long run comes only to the one who combines daring with cool thinking.

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
Running
Combat
Long
Fighter
Thinking
Experiences
Combines
Surprise
Decisive
Cool
Pilot
Luck
Pilots
Success
Daring
Comes
Aviation

More quotes by Adolf Galland

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According to Goering and the Luftwaffe High Command, they were supposed to be the fighter elite.
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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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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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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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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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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It's unbelievable what one squadron of twelve aircraft did to tip the balance.
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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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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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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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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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
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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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And most of these pilots were lost during the first five flights.
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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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.
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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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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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