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Paul Galland (3 November 1919 — 31 October 1942) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace and brother of Luftwaffe aces Adolf Galland and Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland. He had claimed 17 aerial victories in 107 combat missions. Flying with Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" on the Western Front, he was killed in combat with Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfire fighters on 31 October 1942.
Galland claimed his second confirmed aerial victory during Operation Donnerkeil. The objective of this operation was to give the German and and the heavy cruiser fighter protection in the breakout from Brest to Germany. The Channel Dash operation (11–13 February 1942) by the Kriegsmarine was codenamed Operation Cerberus by the Germans. In support of this, the Luftwaffe, formulated an air superiority plan dubbed Operation Donnerkeil for the protection of the three German capital ships. Sources vary with respect to the number of aerial victories Galland was credited with during this operation. According to Caldwell, Galland was credited with a single Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber from 825 Naval Air Squadron shot down at 13:45 on 12 February north of Gravelines. While authors Mathews and Foreman list him with four Swordfish torpedo bombers shot down in the timeframe 13:45 to 13:50 in combat north of Gravelines.
On 10 April, the RAF flew two "Rodeos", providing a diversion for a "Ramrod" short range bomber attack missions targeting Boulogne-sur-Mer. JG 26 lost three aircraft, including two pilots killed in action, for six aerial victories claimed. Galland claimed a No. 313 Squadron Spitfire shot down at 17:43. His next claim was filed on 24 April following combat in defense of "Circus" No. 132. That day, the RAF targeted oil installations at Vlissingen and Walcheren in the Netherlands. In this encounter, Galland shot down a Spitfire from No. 122 Squadron northwest of Ostend. The next day, the RAF sent six Douglas A-20 Havoc "Boston" bombers on "Circus" No. 137 to Abbeville. At 16:40, Galland shot down a Spitfire protecting the bombers. Galland claimed a No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron Spitfire shot down at 17:57 on 26 April southeast of Calais. The RAF had sent "Circus" No. 138 to airfields in northern France. On 1 May, RAF Fighter Command sent four "Rodeos" and one "Circus" to France. III. Gruppe, led by Priller, struck the RAF Kenley near Calais. At 19:32, Galland shot down a Spitfire from either No. 457, No. 485 or No. 602 Squadron. Two days later, Galland claimed another unconfirmed aerial victory. In defense of two "Rodeos", one "Ramrods" and one "Circus" to northern France, Galland claimed a No. 174 or No. 303 Squadron Spitfire destroyed at 16:00 near Calais.
Fighter Command planned three "Circuses" on 1 June. III. Gruppe was scrambled at 13:20 and directed to Ostend. Priller led the attack from above and out of the sun. Within quick succession, three Spitfires were shot down from No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron and one further from No. 71 Squadron, an Eagle Squadrons. At 13:54 the German fighters were recalled. In this engagement, Galland was credited with one Spitfire destroyed at 13:46. On 29 June, "Circus" No. 195 attacked Hazebrouck with 12 "Boston" bombers. Galland shot down one of the escorting Spitfires from No. 64 or the No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron at 16:55. On 30 July, Galland claimed two unconfirmed aerial victories over Spitfires. That day, the RAF flew "Circus" No. 200, heading for the airfield at Abbeville/Drucat Airfield. The attack was supported by several "Ramrod" attacks on the airfield at Saint-Omer-Wizernes and escorted by the RAF Hornchurch. During the Dieppe Raid on 19 August, on III. Gruppes third patrol of the day, Galland and two other pilots took off from Wevelgem airfield at 12:21. At 12:30, the flight intercepted low flying Spitfires and North American P-51 Mustang fighters from the Biggin Hill Wing. In this encounter, Galland claimed a Spitfire shot down at 12:43 in the vicinity of Dieppe. According to Caldwell, Galland claimed another unconfirmed Spitfire destroyed on 27 August. This claim considered confirmed by the authors Mathews and Foreman; a Spitfire shot down at 15:06 east of Dover. The authors Mathews and Foreman credit Galland with two aerial victories on 29 August. A first Spitfire shot down at 11:47 west of Cap Gris-Nez followed by a second Spitfire three minutes later west-northwest of Cap Gris-Nez. These two claims are not listed by Caldwell.
Five hours later, Galland and Edmann participated on a fighter escort mission to a fighter-bomber raid on Canterbury. At 18:15, intercepting Spitfires shot down Galland's Fw 190 A-4 ( Werknummer 2402—factory number) approximately west of Calais. Mathews and Foremann assume that the Spitfire responsible for his death was piloted by Flight Lieutenant Johannes Jacobus le Roux from No. 91 Squadron. According to Isby, Galland was shot down by Flying Officer Jean Maridor also from No. 91 Squadron, the only pilot to have claimed a Fw 190 shot down that day. In Caldwell's account, Galland had tried to aid Leutnant Artur Beese from 1. Staffel of JG 26, who had called for help over the radio. In the rescue attempt, Galland's Fw 190 stalled during a steep climb and was forced to dive away. At that instant, Galland was attacked from above by the Spitfire and was shot down. Edmann then attacked the Spitfire and shot it down. Posthumously, Galland was awarded the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 7 December 1942.
| 6 July 1941 | Spitfire | 17 September 1941 | Spitfire | ||||||
| 1 | 4 September 1941 | 17:30 | Spitfire | ||||||
| 2 | 12 February 1942 | 13:45 | Fairey Swordfish | north of Gravelines | 11 | 1 June 1942 | 13:46 | Spitfire | |
| 3? | 12 February 1942 | 13:47 | Swordfish | north of Gravelines | 12 | 29 June 1942 | 16:55 | Spitfire | |
| 4? | 12 February 1942 | 13:48 | Swordfish | north of Gravelines | 30 July 1942 | Spitfire | |||
| 5? | 12 February 1942 | 13:50 | Swordfish | north of Gravelines | 30 July 1942 | Spitfire | |||
| 6 | 10 April 1942 | 17:43 | Spitfire | north of Mardyck | 13 | 19 August 1942 | 12:43 | Spitfire | Dieppe |
| 7 | 24 April 1942 | 14:51 | Spitfire | northwest of Ostend | 14? | 27 August 1942 | 15:06 | Spitfire | east of Dover |
| 8 | 25 April 1942 | 16:40 | Spitfire | 15? | 29 August 1942 | 11:47 | Spitfire | west of Cap Gris-Nez | |
| 9 | 26 April 1942 | 17:57 | Spitfire | 16? | 29 August 1942 | 11:50 | Spitfire | west-northwest of Cap Gris-Nez | |
| 10 | 1 May 1942 | 19:32 | Spitfire | 17 | 31 October 1942 | 12:30 | Boston | southeast of Diksmuide | |
| 3 May 1942 | 16:00 | Spitfire | Calais |
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