In March 1941, Goring held a major conference for units in the west.
After describing in detail the coming, air offensive against Britain, he secretly admitted to Adolf Galland and Werner Mölders that "there's not a word of truth in it."
The Luftwaffe was to transfer to the Eastern Front.
Although only approximately two fighter wings remained in the west for the next year and a half, many of the best fighter crews remained in that theatre.
Similarly, the best equipment went to the west; industry supplied the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 to the western theatre first.
Small in numbers (no more than 180 aircraft), the western fighter forces were among the best in the Luftwaffe.

Now, promoted to Oberstleutnant, he continued to lead JG 26 in 1941 against the RAF fighter sweeps across northern Europe.
In early 1941, most of the Luftwaffe's fighter units were sent to the Eastern Front, or south to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), leaving only JG 26 and Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) as the sole single-engine fighter Geschwader in France.
By this time, JG 26 were being re-equipped with the new Bf 109F, normally equipped with a 15 mm (or later a 20 mm) cannon firing through the propeller hub and two cowl-mounted 7.9 mm MG 17.
Galland felt the model was grossly under-armed and so tested a series of 109 "specials" – one with a unique armament of an MG 151/20 cannon and two cowl-mounted 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, and another with integral wing-mounted 20 mm MG FF cannons.

On 15 April 1941, Galland took off with lobster and champagne to celebrate General Theo Osterkamp's birthday at Le Touquet, France.
He made a detour with his wingman towards England, looking for RAF aircraft.
Off the cliffs of Dover, he spotted a group of Spitfires.
Galland attacked and claimed two confirmed and one unconfirmed shot down.
The actual result was the destruction of one Spitfire; the other two were damaged in forced landings with both pilots wounded.
During the combat, Galland's undercarriage had dropped causing one of the RAF pilots (Flight Lieutenant Paddy Finucane) to claim Galland's aircraft as destroyed, but Galland landed without incident at Le Touquet and presented Osterkamp with his gifts.
Galland's success that day represented his 60th and 61st aerial victory.

Galland received a telephone call from Göring on 10 May 1941, requesting Galland to intercept a Messerschmitt Bf 110 flown by Rudolf Hess heading for Scotland.
Galland was unable to launch a full fighter sweep.
However, Hess' flight was far to the north and he reached Scotland crashing his aircraft.
Galland sent out fighters to conduct some sweeps so he could honestly claim to have carried out his orders but it was nearly dark and Galland ordered his pilots unused to night flying to stand down.

Galland continued his successes in the summer.
On 13 June, he led a small number of Bf 109s on a patrol off the English coast and attacked a pair of No.
258 Squadron RAF Hurricanes claiming both shot down.
One can be confirmed through British records as crash landing at RAF Hawkinge.
It took his tally to 63.
From this point on, the RAF mounted a non-stop offensive with Fighter Command over France.
The Germans did not see the point in these operations and soon labeled it the "nonsense offensive."
Galland intended to engage the British and inflict maximum damage while incurring small losses.
To do this he only engaged JG 26 in staffel or gruppe strength.
The fighters were to scramble quickly gain height and make use of the sun and cloud to attack the enemy formation that was most vulnerable.
Under these tactics many JG 26 pilots began to emerge as aces and effective commanders.
On 16 June 1941, for example, JG 26 accounted for 15 enemy aircraft.
Josef Priller was among those to score bringing his tally to 22.
Priller later rose to command JG 26.
Galland claimed a Hurricane this day for victory number 64—though the loss cannot be confirmed in British records.
On 17 June, he accounted for two Hurricanes, one from 56 and another from 242 Squadron.
The following day he accounted for a No.
145 Squadron Spitf
In March 1941, Goring held a major conference for units in the west. After describing in detail the coming, air offensive against Britain, he secretly admitted to Adolf Galland and Werner Mölders that "there's not a word of truth in it." The Luftwaffe was to transfer to the Eastern Front. Although only approximately two fighter wings remained in the west for the next year and a half, many of the best fighter crews remained in that theatre. Similarly, the best equipment went to the west; industry supplied the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 to the western theatre first. Small in numbers (no more than 180 aircraft), the western fighter forces were among the best in the Luftwaffe.
Now, promoted to Oberstleutnant, he continued to lead JG 26 in 1941 against the RAF fighter sweeps across northern Europe. In early 1941, most of the Luftwaffe's fighter units were sent to the Eastern Front, or south to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), leaving only JG 26 and Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) as the sole single-engine fighter Geschwader in France. By this time, JG 26 were being re-equipped with the new Bf 109F, normally equipped with a 15 mm (or later a 20 mm) cannon firing through the propeller hub and two cowl-mounted 7.9 mm MG 17. Galland felt the model was grossly under-armed and so tested a series of 109 "specials" – one with a unique armament of an MG 151/20 cannon and two cowl-mounted 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, and another with integral wing-mounted 20 mm MG FF cannons.
On 15 April 1941, Galland took off with lobster and champagne to celebrate General Theo Osterkamp's birthday at Le Touquet, France. He made a detour with his wingman towards England, looking for RAF aircraft. Off the cliffs of Dover, he spotted a group of Spitfires. Galland attacked and claimed two confirmed and one unconfirmed shot down. The actual result was the destruction of one Spitfire; the other two were damaged in forced landings with both pilots wounded. During the combat, Galland's undercarriage had dropped causing one of the RAF pilots (Flight Lieutenant Paddy Finucane) to claim Galland's aircraft as destroyed, but Galland landed without incident at Le Touquet and presented Osterkamp with his gifts. Galland's success that day represented his 60th and 61st aerial victory.
Galland received a telephone call from Göring on 10 May 1941, requesting Galland to intercept a Messerschmitt Bf 110 flown by Rudolf Hess heading for Scotland. Galland was unable to launch a full fighter sweep. However, Hess' flight was far to the north and he reached Scotland crashing his aircraft. Galland sent out fighters to conduct some sweeps so he could honestly claim to have carried out his orders but it was nearly dark and Galland ordered his pilots unused to night flying to stand down.
Galland continued his successes in the summer. On 13 June, he led a small number of Bf 109s on a patrol off the English coast and attacked a pair of No. 258 Squadron RAF Hurricanes claiming both shot down. One can be confirmed through British records as crash landing at RAF Hawkinge. It took his tally to 63. From this point on, the RAF mounted a non-stop offensive with Fighter Command over France. The Germans did not see the point in these operations and soon labeled it the "nonsense offensive." Galland intended to engage the British and inflict maximum damage while incurring small losses. To do this he only engaged JG 26 in staffel or gruppe strength. The fighters were to scramble quickly gain height and make use of the sun and cloud to attack the enemy formation that was most vulnerable. Under these tactics many JG 26 pilots began to emerge as aces and effective commanders. On 16 June 1941, for example, JG 26 accounted for 15 enemy aircraft. Josef Priller was among those to score bringing his tally to 22. Priller later rose to command JG 26. Galland claimed a Hurricane this day for victory number 64—though the loss cannot be confirmed in British records. On 17 June, he accounted for two Hurricanes, one from 56 and another from 242 Squadron. The following day he accounted for a No. 145 Squadron Spitf
Adolf Galland