Jadgdeschwader II extracted a high blood cost from the American rookies in September 1918, to no real effect. The end On 26 September 1918, the First United States Army began their offensive. They were supported by 800 Allied aircraft; about three-fourths of these were American. JG II shot down 14 American planes that day. As the fighting continued, the wing redeployed for better tactical position on the evening of 28 September. Boenigk left the wing for leave, as Josef Veltjens returned from his to take command. As the battle continued, the Americans pushed fresh ground troops into the attack on 4 October. As the air combat raged, on 9 October the wing destroyed its first enemy observation balloon in more than six weeks. On that same day, a massive formation of 150 Allied two-seater aircraft crossed the German lines, and only one of them fell to the wing. The overwhelming weight of enemy numbers, plus the dwindling supply of essential fuel, lubricants and aircraft engines, was grinding the wing down. As the fighting raged through October, JG II's personnel began to lose heart. News of peace negotiations for ending the war were being leaked to them. So was information about the soldier's revolutionist councils burgeoning in the German military. There was even news of mutinies in the High Seas Fleet. The wing also lost experienced aces during the month, such as Leutnant Olivier Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay, Vizefeldwebel Albert Haussmann, and Vizefeldwebel Gustav Klaudat, at a time when replacements were scarce. The wing fought on. On 22 October, Jasta 13 scored what turned out to be its last victories, bringing the squadron total to 150. On 25 October, the German lines began to give way. Jasta 12 scored seven victories on the last two days of October. On 1 November 1918, the wing began to withdraw to Carignan. On 3 November, Jasta 12 scored six victories, and Jasta 19 scored twice. That same day, JG II began a further retreat, to Florenville. On the 4th, Georg von Hantelmann shot down a SPAD for the final victory for Jasta 15. On 6 November, Jasta 19 scored the final victory for the wing, shooting down an American SPAD. Jagdeschwader II was credited with at least 339 confirmed victories. In turn it had suffered 18 pilots killed in action, four more killed in flying accidents, eight taken prisoner, and eight either injured or wounded