After the Battle of Britain the Luftwaffe maintained pressure on Britain by attacking at night to avoid RAF Fighter Command. The Blitz, as it became known, was a series of heavy attacks against British cities in order to break the will of the civil population and destroy its industrial centres. was involved in the campaign from the first operation to the last. II./KG 55 was selected to operate as a pathfinder unit alongside the specialist "Kampfgruppe" 100, and III./"Kampfgeschwader" 26. They were referred to in the Luftwaffe as "Beleuchtergruppe" (Firelighter Group). It was not equipped with special aids for this task unlike the other "Geschwader", and has rarely been credited with this role. The crews were highly experienced in night operations and selected to help lead the attacks under the command of "Major" Friedrich Kless. The three units operated in unison often: "KGr" 100 illuminated the target with incendiaries and the later formations dropped high explosive bombs to destroy water mains and impede fire-fighting efforts.