From 2 January 1945, fuel stocks permitting, JG 26 was ordered into the air on every day until wars end. It was ordered to support the armies in the field air support and it would never engage the heavy bombers of the US Eighth Air Force again. Ten days later, the Red Army began the Vistula–Oder Offensive and all bar three wings were sent to the Eastern Front; JG 26 remained to defend northern Germany, with JG 27, JG 2 and JG 53 in the extreme south. From the 4 to 14 January 1945, 16 pilots were killed on operations, and five wounded, including Wilhelm Mayer who was awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross. In January 1945, JG 26 lost 31 pilots killed in action, three in accidents, eight captured, and at least 14 severely injured. III./JG 54, a fourth "gruppe" in all but name, lost 15 pilots killed in only two missions. JG 26 resisted Operation Clarion, mainly carried out by the US Ninth Air Force, and over the course of 22 to 24 February suffered the loss of three dead and three wounded. The battered III./JG 54, which had lost at least 50 Fw 190s since December 1944, officially joined JG 26 as its IV. "Gruppe". On 25 February, three claims unknown were made in exchange for seven killed and one wounded—one in action with 41 Squadron Spitfires the rest in action with the US 36th Fighter Group. The entire wing flew against fighter-bombers supporting the American advance on München Gladbach on 28 February. The 197-victory pilot "Hauptmann" Walter Krupinski, commanding III "Gruppe" since 27 September 1944, led the mission which resulted in five claims for the loss of two killed in action with RAF and US fighters; a further three were killed in accidents and two were wounded. Operations of this kind were tried again on 1 March, but nine pilots were killed in action with the US 366th Fighter Group and US 406th Fighter Group; 10 American fighters were claimed, but whether these were granted to pilots as a victory is unknown.