Paul Galland and his claims

[Nick Hector]

Paul Galland
****uses the Mathews & Foreman list of his victories, which differs a bit from Don Caldwell’s***

Unconfirmed claim

6.7.41
Spitfire
Unknown - Channel Front
Fighter Command, total of 7 losses throughout the day: 74 sqn lost W3208/U of P/O W M Skinner DFM POW, W3176 of Sgt. L R Carter KIA plus W3317 of Sgt. W G Lockhart evaded (all attributed to JG 26 in the afternoon) 92 sqn lost Sgt. G C Tood KIA in W3331 “The King Rufus”, 145 sqn lost F/L M A Newling DFC KIA in W3336 whilst 611 sqn lost Sgt N J Smith in W3311 and Sgt. J A McCairns in P8500, both POW (McCairns later escaped via Spain)

1st claim
4.9.41/1730
Spitfire
Unknown - Channel Front
Lost around this time were W3451 of 111 sqn, Sgt. T R Caldwell rescued safely from channel; W3182 of 72 sqn, Sgt. J E T Asselin POW. 603 sqn had Sgt. Neill WIA, cat.2 damaged

Unconfirmed claim
17.9.41
Spitfire VB
Unknown - Channel Front
W3701/G of 306 sqn. P/O C Daszuta POW
(one of only two applicable losses, the other is accounted for)

2nd 3rd 4th and 5th claims
12.2.42/1345, 1347 1348 and 1350
3 x Swordfish
Into sea N of Gravelines
Losses include W5984 of 825 sq, Lt. Cdr. Eugene Esmonde, KIA (known to have been downed by a Fw190, awarded a posthumous VC. Sub Lt. B W Rose, (rescued?) Sub Lt. C M Kingsmill, (crew rescued) Lt. John Chute Thompson, (KIA) Sub Lt. Cecil Ralph Wood, (KIA) and Sub Lt. Peter Bligh (KIA), all of 825 sqn

6th claim
10.4.42/1743
Spitfire VB
Unspecified, Calais area
313 sqn. 2 losses: BL480 of Sgt. Frantisek Pokorny KIA and AA865 of Sgt. V Truhlar POW
Willius caused the other loss

7th claim
24.4.42/1451
Spitfire VB
NW of Ostend
122 sqn. 2 losses: BL462 of P/O R E Hardy RCAF (POW) and BL813 of S/L Robert Miller (KIA). P/O Prest's Spitfire was also damaged and he was injured
(Karl Borris caused the other loss)

8th claim
25.4.42/1640
Spitfire
Unknown - Channel Front
This one not traced

9th claim
26.4.42/1757
Spitfire VB
SE of Calais
AD304/UZ- of 306 sqn. P/O A S Flisnick KIA

10th claim
1.5.42/1932
Spitfire VB
Calais sector
457 sqn RAAF, 485 sqn RNZAF and 602 sqn. 457 lost BM188 of F/L Harold Leslie North (NZ) KIA and BM251 Sgt. Andrew Francis Peacock KIA. 485 lost BM116, P/O J R Falls POW and 602 lost BM456 of P/O D G Maxwell POW plus BM186 (damaged, written off)

Unconfirmed claim
3.5.42/1600
Spitfire (but Hurricanes also involved….)
Calais
174 sqn and 303 sqn. 175 lost Hurricane IIE BE674 of S/L R C Wilkinson baled out and evaded (attributed to Flak by the British at the time, now believed to most likely be a victim of JG 2 Kley or Roebbers of JG 2, and can’t be ruled out here ) plus serial unknown of P/O G L Cooper POW
303 lost BL237 of Sgt. M Cytulski, baled out POW

11th claim
1.6.42/1346
71 "Eagle" and 350 (Belgian) sqn. 71 sqn lost BM386, P/O E George Teicheira KIA plus one other damaged. 350 sqn had 3 losses: AB173 of P/O R J L Laumans POW. W3626 of Sgt. L J A Hansez KIA and BL822 of F/S G G A Livyns also KIA

12th claim
29.6.42/1655
Spitfire V
64 and 350 (Belgian) sqns. 64 lost BM254, F/S Raymond James Goode KIA. 350 lost AA835, P/O R de Wever POW
(versus 3 claims all up)

2 x Unconfirmed Claims
30.7.42
2 x Spitfires
Unknown - Channel Front
These ones not traced

13th claim
19.8.42/1243
Spitfire Dieppe
This one not traced

14th claim
27.8.42/1506
Spitfire VB
Location not specified, Calais – Cap Gris Nez sector
122 and 154 sqn. 122 lost BM135 of P/O C P Shaw and AR402 of Sgt. K G N Silsand both KIA. 154 lost BM415 of Sgt. J Hall WIA, rescued from the channel plus BM248 of F/O A S Turnbull WIA was Cat. B damaged
(there were 5 claims all up)

15th and 16th claims
29.8.42/1147 and 1150
2 x Spitfires
W of Cap Gris Nez
Three losses: 64 sqn lost BR592 of Sgt. Rogers WIA and landed at Manston, 242 sqn lost AR425 of Sgt. C Meachen KIA and 402 sqn RCAF lost BS195 of Sgt. W A Hayes KIA
(versus 5 claims at the time)

17th claim
31.10.42/1310
Boston III
7km SE of Dixmuiden @ 0 - 700m
Z2179/RH- of 88 sqn. F/O Henry Philemon Collings and crew KIA. Caldwell says this was a 107 sqn Blenheim. Can't find any evidence of this