BATTLE OF BRITAIN BUNDLE! STANFORD-TUCK & GALLAND SIGNATURES FROM ACES-HIGH

To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Britain (10th of July to 31st of October 1940), we’ve put together two WW2 fighter ace signatures: the RAF’s Robert Stanford Tuck, and the Luftwaffe’s Adolf Galland. Both of these men were highly successful fighter aces, and both flew in the Battle of Britain, one of the most significant battles of WW2. After the war, the two became close friends.

Tuck was one of the RAF’s highest-scoring WW2 aces, with 29 confirmed victories. Joining the RAF in 1935, he fought throughout the entirety of the Battle of Britain. He began the battle flying Spitfires, and midway through was promoted to the leader of 257 Squadron, where he transitioned to Hawker Hurricanes. He continued in action until 1942, when he was shot down while attacking anti-aircraft positions in France. He was captured by the very AA crews he had just been shooting at, and was taken prisoner. He spent the majority of the remainder of the war as a POW, even helping plan some of the earlier stages of the Great Escape! After the war, Tuck returned to the RAF, and eventually became a test pilot.

The other signature in this bundle is that of Adolf Galland, one of the Luftwaffe’s most successful aces. He too participated in the Battle of Britain, leading JG.26 against the RAF. JG.26 clashed a number of times with 257 Squadron, so the signatures of these men are a natural fit! Galland fought relentlessly during the Battle of Britain and was one of the Luftwaffe’s most influential figures in this region, having direct communications with Hermann Göring and Hitler. He received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, and then Swords. Out of 120 pilots in JG.26 at this time, Galland accounted for 14% of shoot-downs. He was given a high-ranking position in the Luftwaffe, where he became increasingly frustrated with German command over their handling of the service. He fell out of favour with Göring and Himmler, and was nearly tried for treason.

In the final days of the war, he was captured by US troops and taken to England for interrogation. Later in life, Tuck and Galland became very close friends, with Galland even making Tuck his child’s godfather!

These two signatures represent one of the most significant pieces of Britain’s heritage, and how, despite war, we can still overcome the odds and make peace.