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During the [[April War]], he was in Kosor near Mostar. He flew to Sinj where he joined the newly formed [[Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia]]. He joined the [[Croatian Air Force Legion]] and went to [[Fürth]] near [[Nürnberg]] for special training before going to the Eastern Front as part of 15 (kroat.)/JG 52, a Croat ''staffel'' attached to [[Jagdgeschwader 52]] of the Luftwaffe. Flying a Bf 109E-4, he scored his first victory on 2 March 1942 , a R-10 shot down over Magnitovka.
During the [[April War]], he was in Kosor near Mostar. He flew to Sinj where he joined the newly formed [[Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia]]. He joined the [[Croatian Air Force Legion]] and went to [[Fürth]] near [[Nürnberg]] for special training before going to the Eastern Front as part of 15 (kroat.)/JG 52, a Croat ''staffel'' attached to [[Jagdgeschwader 52]] of the Luftwaffe. Flying a Bf 109E-4, he scored his first victory on 2 March 1942 , a R-10 shot down over Magnitovka.


By June 1943 Galić had scored 38 confirmed air victories and had completed 2 tours with the Croatian Air Force Legion.<ref>[http://www.briandunning.com/aces/ Top Scoring Fighter Aces]</ref> He was awarded the [[German Cross]] in Gold on 23 June 1943.<ref>[http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=898 Foreign holders of the German Cross in Gold]</ref> From Germany he also received the [[Iron Cross]] 1st Class and 2nd Class.<ref>[http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/related/axis_allies/croatia_main.htm Independent State of Croatia]</ref> He received the Ante Pavelić Award for Bravery which gave him the title of ''vitez'' (knight).
By June 1943 Galić had scored 38 confirmed air victories and had completed 2 tours with the Croatian Air Force Legion.<ref>[http://www.briandunning.com/aces/ Top Scoring Fighter Aces]</ref> He was awarded the [[German Cross]] in Gold on 23 June 1943.<ref>[http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=898 Foreign holders of the German Cross in Gold]</ref> From Germany he also received the [[Iron Cross]] 1st Class and 2nd Class.<ref>[http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/related/axis_allies/croatia_main.htm Independent State of Croatia]</ref> He received the [[Medal of Poglavnik Ante Pavelić for Bravery|Ante Pavelić Award for Bravery]] which gave him the title of ''vitez'' (knight).


He was killed by strafing Spitfire IXs of No.2 Squadron SAAF [[South African Air Force]] on 6 April 1944 at Zalužani airfield near [[Banja Luka]] when a bomb hit his [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.406]].<ref>[http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/axisalliesbg_1.htm Late-War Bf 109s of the Axis Allies: Part One - Croatia]</ref> He had just moments earlier landed after completing a patrol and was in the act of leaving the cockpit when the attack occurred.<ref>Savic, D. and Ciglic, B. Croatian Aces of World War II Osprey Aircraft of the Aces -49, Oxford, 2002.</ref> He was buried at [[Mirogoj Cemetery]], but his grave was destroyed by the [[Yugoslav Partisans|Partisans]] in 1945.
He was killed by strafing Spitfire IXs of No.2 Squadron SAAF [[South African Air Force]] on 6 April 1944 at Zalužani airfield near [[Banja Luka]] when a bomb hit his [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.406]].<ref>[http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/axisalliesbg_1.htm Late-War Bf 109s of the Axis Allies: Part One - Croatia]</ref> He had just moments earlier landed after completing a patrol and was in the act of leaving the cockpit when the attack occurred.<ref>Savic, D. and Ciglic, B. Croatian Aces of World War II Osprey Aircraft of the Aces -49, Oxford, 2002.</ref> He was buried at [[Mirogoj Cemetery]], but his grave was destroyed by the [[Yugoslav Partisans|Partisans]] in 1945.

Revision as of 20:37, 24 August 2012

Cvitan Galić
Born(1909-11-29)29 November 1909
Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary
Died6 April 1944(1944-04-06) (aged 34)
Banja Luka, Croatia
Buried
Mirogoj Cemetery
AllegianceYugoslav Royal Air Force
Croatian Battle Air Force
Years of service1932 - 1944
RankCaptain
Spouse(s)Ana Vocel

Cvitan Galić (born on November 29, 1909 – died on April 6, 1944) was a Croatian World War II fighter ace.

Galić was born on November 29, 1909 in the village of Gorica near Ljubuški. He finished grade school in the town of Sovići. In 1927 he was transferred to the Yugoslav Royal Air Force and finished its pilot academy in Mostar by 1932.

During the April War, he was in Kosor near Mostar. He flew to Sinj where he joined the newly formed Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia. He joined the Croatian Air Force Legion and went to Fürth near Nürnberg for special training before going to the Eastern Front as part of 15 (kroat.)/JG 52, a Croat staffel attached to Jagdgeschwader 52 of the Luftwaffe. Flying a Bf 109E-4, he scored his first victory on 2 March 1942 , a R-10 shot down over Magnitovka.

By June 1943 Galić had scored 38 confirmed air victories and had completed 2 tours with the Croatian Air Force Legion.[1] He was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 23 June 1943.[2] From Germany he also received the Iron Cross 1st Class and 2nd Class.[3] He received the Ante Pavelić Award for Bravery which gave him the title of vitez (knight).

He was killed by strafing Spitfire IXs of No.2 Squadron SAAF South African Air Force on 6 April 1944 at Zalužani airfield near Banja Luka when a bomb hit his Morane-Saulnier M.S.406.[4] He had just moments earlier landed after completing a patrol and was in the act of leaving the cockpit when the attack occurred.[5] He was buried at Mirogoj Cemetery, but his grave was destroyed by the Partisans in 1945.

In 439 sorties Galić claimed a DB-3, Pe-2, Spitfire and R-10, two MDR 6 flying boats, five Il-2s, four MiG-ls, four I-153s, five I-16s, five MiG-3s and nine LaGG-3s.


References

  • Savic, D. and Ciglic, B. Croatian Aces of World War II Osprey Aircraft of the Aces - 49, Oxford, 2002 ISBN 1-84176-435-3.
  1. ^ Top Scoring Fighter Aces
  2. ^ Foreign holders of the German Cross in Gold
  3. ^ Independent State of Croatia
  4. ^ Late-War Bf 109s of the Axis Allies: Part One - Croatia
  5. ^ Savic, D. and Ciglic, B. Croatian Aces of World War II Osprey Aircraft of the Aces -49, Oxford, 2002.

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