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General Adolf Galland is a unique figure in the history of aviation. That he was one of the outstanding fighter Aces of World War Two is just part of the story. His natural talent as a fighter leader and tactician quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of General, and at the tender age of 30 he was elevated to the German High command, assuming the awesome responsibility for all day and night fighters. He will be remembered for his crusade on behalf of his fellow fighter pilots against the inept decisions and policies of his superiors. He is one of the few to have stood up to both Hitler and Goering and survived.
If ever a fighter commander led from front, Adolf Galland did. He flew throughout the war, achieving over 100 air victories all on the Western Front against the top Aces of the RAF and USAAF, and when the end came he was still flying and fighting, leading a wing of Me262 jets.
Perhaps the most memorable period of the war for Adolf Galland came after he took command of III/JG-26 Fighter Wing in June 1940. In true fashion he scored two aerial victories on his first day and in no time transformed JG-26 Schlageter into an elite formation that became known to the RAF fighter pilots as the Abbeville Boys.
Robert Taylor has recreated a scene from those heady days in 1941, when the Abbeville Boys were at the height of their reputation, doing daily combat with the Spitfires and Hurricanes of the RAF. Adolf Galland leads his pilots in a typical loose formation take-off, the Messerschmitt BF190F fighters roaring across the runway for yet another clash with the foe. The Abbeville Boys are on the warpath!
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