February. Wessling claimed an I-61 fighter, an early war designation for the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3, on 4, 6 and 7 March, and two I-61 fighters on 8 March. On 15 March, Wessling claimed an I-301 fighter, an early war designation for the Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3, followed by three further I-301 fighters claimed two days later. He then claimed a U-2 biplane which referred to a Polikarpov Po-2. Wessling was presented the German Cross in Gold () on 11 May 1942. He was then transferred to 3. Staffel of JG 3. The Staffel was then under command of Oberleutnant Alfons Raich and subordinated to I. Gruppe headed by Hauptmann Georg Michalek and was based at Kharkov-Rogan airfield, southeast of Kharkov. On 21 July, Wessling was shot down by Soviet anti-aircraft artillery behind enemy lines south of Belayev. His Bf 109 F-4 trop (Werknummer 10222—factory number) crashed west of Morozovsk. On 4 September 1942, Wessling was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () for 62 aerial victories claimed. He was then transferred to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost, specialized training unit for new fighter pilots destined for the Eastern Front, as an instructor. During this assignment, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) of the Reserves, the promotion backdated to 1 August 1942. Squadron leader and Mediterranean theater As part of the 1943 Luftwaffe expansion of the fighter force, a newly created IV. Gruppe of JG 3 was created at Neubiberg Airfield on 1 June. The Gruppe was placed under the command of Hauptmann Franz Beyer. Oberleutnant Franz Daspelgruber was tasked with creation of 10. Staffel, assisted by Wessling who had been transferred. The Gruppe was staffed with 40 pilots and equipped with the Bf 109 G-6. In mid-June, IV. Gruppe received orders to relocate to southern Italy. On 19 June, 10. Staffel began its relocation arriving in Lecce the following day where they fought in the Mediterranean theater. The Gruppe flew its first combat missions on 2 July when a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) heavy bomber formation was detected heading for Taranto. During the aerial battle over the Gulf of Taranto, Wessling claimed two Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers shot down. As a consequence of the Allied invasion of Sicily, IV. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Ramacca on 11 July. The following day, IV. Gruppe flew multiple combat missions to the area of Syracuse on the southern Sicilian coast. During the course