was credited with 24 victories; Jasta 13 with 65; Jasta 15 with 83; Jasta 19 with 30. The wing's total was 202 confirmed victories, with French victims predominating. Combating the Americans On 31 August 1918, JG II received a new commander, 21 victory ace Oberleutnant Oskar Freiherr von Boenigk. After the wing moved three times in quick succession, it settled in near the front lines at Giraumont and Doncourt by early September. They were now positioned to intercept Allied bombing missions into Germany. On 12 September, Colonel Billy Mitchell of the United States Army Air Service mounted an enormous air offensive of almost 1,500 aircraft to support the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. To oppose this incursion, the Germans had about 213 aircraft; a few more than 70 were fighters, with JG II fielding a significant number of those. Despite foul weather, the wing downed nine attacking aircraft with no loss. The next day, they downed nine more, with a single loss. On 14 September, JG II had a record day—19 aerial victories, with only a single German pilot lost to captivity. Jasta 15 celebrated its 150th victory overall. On 15 September, the American assault ground to a halt. The aviation highlight of the day was the Jasta 15 attack on the incoming No. 104 Squadron RAF. Only five of the 12 British Airco DH.9s returned to their base. A day later, the American air casualties included an entire flight of four from the American 96th Aero Squadron. Two inexperienced squadrons of the American First Day Bombardment Group also suffered heavy casualties. On 18 September, Jasta 12 brought down five of six American attacking bombers only three kilometers from the jasta's home airfield. However, by 23 September, supply shortages began to cramp the wing's effort. The individual jagdstaffeln were limited to 450 liters of fuel daily, only a fifth of the squadron's daily need. September's German victories in the air had little influence on the fighting. Nor did the aerial battles entirely favor the Germans. On the Allied side, there was a drive to destroy or burn the German observation balloons, thus blinding the German army. Balloon busting French ace Lieutenant Maurice Boyau shot down his final four balloons. The American team of Lieutenant Frank Luke and First Lieutenant Joseph Wehner shot down nine balloons in the five days. Overwhelming formations of Allied aircraft successfully executed their missions. The battle-hardened pilots of