U.S.B.B.S. interrogations; Galland on Luftwaffe day fighter force (Irving File 3)

• This is a declassified U.S. military intelligence file, compiled as part of the United States Strategic Bombing Survey (USSBS), Record Group 243.

• Originally microfilmed as Film No. 96928, Reel 37 by EP Microform Ltd (UK) in 1973.

• The contents are sourced from interrogations and wartime records involving German Luftwaffe officers, particularly Adolf Galland, who was a leading fighter commander.

The document spans over 1,500 pages and contains:

1. Interrogation Transcripts

• Extensive pre-trial interrogation records of senior Luftwaffe personnel.

• Focused on day fighter operations, defensive strategy, air command hierarchy, and response to Allied bombing raids.

• Key figures include Adolf Galland, along with other fighter group leaders and air defense strategists.

2. Shift Logs & Daily Activity Reports

• Numerous handwritten German-language Wachbeginn (watch start) and Alarm logs from 1943–1944.

• Details air raid warnings, Luftwaffe responses, officer duty shifts, and changes in operational conditions.

3. Operational Insights

• Analysis of:

  • Fighter pilot training and attrition

  • Fuel shortages and aircraft losses

  • Deployment of jet fighters (e.g., Me 262)

  • Disputes within Luftwaffe command

• Disclaimer
• This document is a digitized reproduction of microfilmed archival material originally produced by the United States Strategic Bombing Survey (USSBS) in the aftermath of World War II. It contains interrogation records, official wartime documents, and firsthand testimonies primarily concerning the operations of the German Luftwaffe’s day fighter forces, including statements by General Adolf Galland and other personnel of the Third Reich.
• The content within reflects the historical perspectives, language, and attitudes of the time, including terminology, military viewpoints, and references that may be outdated, controversial, or offensive by modern standards. This document does not represent the views of the hosting archive, digitization service, or any current governmental institution.
• It is presented for scholarly, educational, and research purposes only. Use of this material must be consistent with applicable laws and ethical research standards. Readers are advised to approach the contents critically and within historical context.
• Reproduction, redistribution, or citation should include proper archival references and respect for intellectual and historical integrity.

Condition Note

• The file is a microfilm reproduction, as indicated on page 1, created by EP Microform Limited in 1973.

• It consists of scanned or photographed typewritten and handwritten documents on dark backgrounds, typical of archival microfilm style.

• Pages often feature high-contrast black and white images, with reversed (white-on-black) or faded text and some partially obscured handwritten annotations.

• Many pages contain German cursive script (Kurrent or Sütterlin), which can be visually dense and difficult to read, especially where the ink has faded or the image resolution is low.

• Handwritten elements often vary in legibility. For example:

  • Pages 8–30 show handwritten logs with dates, names, and short notes that are partially smudged or overly light in tone.

  • Some names (e.g., “Edse”, “Koch”, “Ehrt”) are written multiple times but may require contextual interpretation due to stylization.

• The original documents appear aged, possibly wartime paper, with creasing, fading, and edge fraying.

• Margins are sometimes inconsistent, and several pages (e.g., pages 43–48) include grid backgrounds or ruled lines, likely from notebooks or logbooks.

• There are over 1,500 pages, many of which are non-linear or fragmented. Some pages have missing or partial text, with no standardized headers or formatting.Repetition of similar entries (e.g., watch shifts, alerts, air raid times) may affect readability.

• Legibility varies greatly due to the age of the originals, microfilm process quality, and handwritten German text.

• OCR (text extraction) struggles with clarity on many pages due to the handwriting.

• Some pages contain seals, official markings, and declassification stamps, which sometimes obscure content.