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JV 44
Jagdverband 44
Der Galland Zirkus
(The Galland Circus)

The History

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"I was to set up a small unit to demonstrate that the Me 262 was the superior fighter that I had always claimed.  A small unit only in Staffel strength was to be organized... I would have to find the aircraft myself... The unit would not be under the command of any division, corps or airfleet - I was to be totally independent."
Adolf Galland, 1945

"I admired Galland, not least because, having been unjustly 'fired' by Göring, he didn't withdraw offended and moaning into some snail shell.  Rather, he built up a flying unit, the size of a Staffel, went to the front and defended his country to the very last day.  That was exemplary!"
Major Wolfgang Späte, Kommodore JG400

"I feel great satisfaction to have been able to participate on active duty during the last turbulent months of the war.   The knowledge that I led the last fighter unit in the greatest of all wars will always be one of my cherished memories."
Adolf Galland, 1945

"...the story continues to reveal a general, fallen from grace, and a handful of pilots equipped with what was claimed to have been "the most modern fighter aircraft" of the time.  This "crowd of exiles", together with a few pilots from JG 7, tried to prove this claim.
   Unknown to them, this was also the beginning of a new era in aviation, and WE WERE THERE!"
Generalleutnant Walter Krupinski, Adjutant JV44, 1995

The Personnel
The Planes
The Würger Staffel
Base Defense Squadron
JV44 Scrapbook
Luftwaffe Terminology
Recommended Reading

07.15.99

My thanks to Classic Publications, Eagle Editions Ltd and Dave Wadman of Experten Decals for permission to use images and quotations.   Without these fine references this site would not have been possible.

JV44 Book Cover

     

Me262 Book Cover

Eagle Editions, Ltd
PO Box 580
Hamilton, MT 59840
1-800-255-1830

Link to Classic Publications
Titles can be obtained from
Classic Publications
Quarry Ridge House, Burgess Hill
West Sussex RH15 0TJ
England

Or from fine bookstores

 [Experten
Producer of high quality well researched decals for scale model aircraft.

P.O. Box 35110 - Sarcee Postal Station
Calgary, Alberta  T3E 7C7
Canada
Phone: (403) 249-6064