the then new Focke Wulf Fw 190 fighter aircraft at their airfield in Ligescourt. Full transition from the Bf 109 F-4 to the Fw 190 was not completed until mid-November. The RAF ordered "Circus" No. 102 to their targets at Béthune and Gosnay on 21 September. The "Circus", consisting of twelve Bristol Blenheim bombers and escorted by fourteen squadrons of Hurricanes and Spitfires, was intercepted by Luftwaffe fighters from Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) and JG 26. Mietusch was credited with the destruction of his 12th and 13th aerial victory that day. He shot down two Spitfire fighters from either the New Zealand No. 485 (NZ) Squadron or No. 602 Squadron. The first Spitfire was claimed at 16:23 near Berck-sur-Mer while the second Spitfire was shot down at 16:30 northwest of the Baie de Somme. Following combat with a Spitfire near Boulogne-sur-Mer on 13 October, Mietusch made an emergency landing in his Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 7220) at Saint-Omer. Command of III. Gruppe was passed on from Hauptmann Gerhard Schöpfel to Hauptmann Josef Priller on 6 December. Two days later, Mietusch claimed a Spitfire fighter in combat near Berck-sur-Mer but lost his wingman, Leutnant Walter Thorn who was shot down and killed by two Spitfires from No. 603 Squadron south of Montreuil. On 14 April 1942, Mietusch flew Fw 190 A-2 (Werknummer 5215) in combat. His aircraft sustained minor damage, resulting in an emergency landing at Wevelgem. At the time, Mietusch dated Lieselotte Hays, a Luftwaffenhelferin (female air force helper). During the Dieppe Raid on 19 August, Mietusch claimed two aerial victories in the vicinity of Dieppe. He shot down two Spitfires at 10:34 and 10:35 from either No. 19 Squadron or No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron. Mietusch claimed his first two aerial victories over the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on 9 October, both claims were not confirmed by the Luftwaffe. The VIII Bomber Command flew a mission to Lille, targeting the locomotive works and steel factory. That day, Mietusch attacked a Short Stirling bomber which in fact was a misidentified Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber from the 301st Bombardment Group which made it back to England. He attacked another B-17 bomber from the 301st Bombardment Group which later made a forced landing in the English Channel. Credited with 23 aerial victories, Mietusch was presented the German Cross in Gold () on 16 October 1942. Eastern Front In