7./JG 26 added their dozen Fw 190s to the 40 from I./JG 54. In this sector they were opposed by 1,200 aircraft of the 13th Air Army and 14th Air Army. Klaus Mietusch commanded the "staffel". According to one account, Mietusch cared little for his men as individuals, and judged them solely on their performance in the air. The leader hardly ever spoke to non-commissioned officer. Mietusch was ordered to take command of III. "Gruppe" on 29 June after the death of the previous commander and left within twenty four hours. The "staffel" left the Soviet Union on 10 July for Cuxhaven to join III. "Gruppe" which had been moved to Germany to reinforce those defending Germany from the US Eighth Air Force. But the time of their departure, two pilots had been killed in action, one in an accident, one wounded and one captured on the Eastern Front. While the "staffel" claimed 63 Soviet aircraft, like I. "Gruppe", it made no impression on the course of the air war.