Tamiya Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 of Major Adolf Galland, Stab/JG 26 in 1/72 Scale

Adolf Galland flew ground attack missions in He 51’s with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, and in Hs 123’s during the invasion of Poland.  Both of these were biplane types, but Galland repeatedly made requests to be assigned to fighters.  He was able to arrange a transfer to JG 27, then flying the Bf 109E, and was seconded for a time to JG 53 where he was tutored in fighter tactics by Werner Mölders.  Galland claimed his first aerial victories, a pair of RAF Hurricanes on 12MAY40, and added a third on a later sortie that day.

Galland’s success continued, and he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 26 in June, rising to command the entire Geschwader in August.  In September, he was awarded the Oak Leaves after achieving his 40th victory.  During October he claimed a further eight victories, all fighters, which brought his total to 50.

The model depicts the Bf 109E-4 of Major Adolf Galland while Geschwaderkommandeur of JG 26 at Audembert, France, in October, 1940.