Me 262A Display Model, Luftwaffe JV 44, White 3, Adolf Galland
EM-36369Product Details
Easy Model Platinum Collection 36369 |
| 1:72 Scale | Length | Width | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Messerschmitt Me 262A | 5.75" | 6.75" |
Adolf "Dolfo" Galland was one of Germany's greatest aces, with 104 aerial victories in 705 missions. He scored his first kill during the Battle of France in 1940 as a Bf 109 pilot with JG.27, and went on to achieve a total of 12 kills during that campaign. Later that year, Galland was assigned to JG.26 and quickly became a key figure in the Battle of Britain. By November 1, 1940 he was already celebrating his 50th kill. He continued to fly Bf 109s through 1941, and by the age of 30 had been promoted to General Leutnant.
Galland was a test pilot for the revolutionary Me-262, the world's first fully operational jet aircraft. He believed strongly in the Me-262's potential as a fighter, but Hitler's desire to develop the aircraft as a bomber delayed its entrance into the war and initially placed the aircraft into a role it was not suited for. Though the Me-262's effectiveness in attacks against bomber formations was undeniable, it wasn't until 1944 that it began to be used strictly in a fighter capacity.
Adolf Galland oversaw the formation of the world's first jet fighter group, Kommando Nowotny. The group became operational on October 3, 1944 but was disbanded a short time later when its commander, Austrian ace Walter Nowotny, was killed in action on October 8. Though its lifespan was very short, Kommando Nowotny successfully demonstrated the Me-262's combat potential by destroying 22 Allied aircraft.
By 1945, Adolf Galland had formed his own Me-262 fighter unit, JV.44. Every pilot Galland recruited for his squadron was an ace, and each was a holder of the Ritterkreutz (Knight's Cross). During its single month of service, JV.44 was credited with the destruction of 45 Allied aircraft, seven of which were shot down by Galland himself.
Although the Me-262 was over 100 mph faster than the American P-51 Mustang, by the time it entered service in 1944 it was already too late to make a difference in the outcome of the war. Of the 1,400 Me-262s that were produced, less than 300 ever saw combat. The rest were destroyed in Allied bombing attacks, or remained grounded because of a lack of parts, fuel, or qualified pilots.