Cvitan Galić
Cvitan Galić | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 29, 1909 Ljubuški |
| Died | April 6, 1944 (aged 34) Banja Luka |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Yugoslav Royal Air Force Croatian Battle Air Force |
| Rank | Captain |
| 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.
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 June 23, 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 Spitfires of the South African Air Force on April 6, 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.
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.
- ^ Top Scoring Fighter Aces
- ^ Foreign holders of the German Cross in Gold
- ^ Independent State of Croatia
- ^ Late-War Bf 109s of the Axis Allies: Part One - Croatia
- ^ Savic, D. and Ciglic, B. Croatian Aces of World War II Osprey Aircraft of the Aces -49, Oxford, 2002.
External links
- Cvitan Galić at Vojska.net
- Biographies : VLADO LENOCH at www.acc.af.mil
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