Iron Cross () on 25 September 1941. The presentation was made by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff, the commander of Luftflotte 5 (5th Air Fleet), at Petsamo. In January 1942, Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing) was newly created and placed under the command of Oberst Carl-Alfred Schumacher. On 3 January, I. Gruppe of JG 77 was renamed and became the I. Gruppe of JG 5. In consequence, Carganico's 1. Staffel became the newly created 1. Staffel of JG 5. On 21 March, 1. Staffel was subordinated to II. Gruppe of JG 5, commanded by Strümpell, and became the 6. Staffel of JG 5. On 26 April, seven Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers, escorted by fighters from the 95 IAP (Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk—Fighter Aviation Regiment), attacked the Kirkenes Airfield. The attack force failed to inflict any damage to the airfield as five of the attackers were shot down, including two by Carganico and two by Unteroffizier Rudolf Müller. Two days later, 6. Staffel encountered Hurricane fighters from 2 GvSAP (Gvardeyskiy Smeshannyy Aviatsionnyy Polk—Guards Composite Aviation Regiment) over the Motovsky Gulf. 2 GvSAP lost three fighters in this engagement plus two further Hurricanes were severely damaged. German pilots claimed nine aerial victories, including two by Carganico. Group commander Carganico was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of JG 5 on 1 June 1942, succeeding Strümpell who had been transferred. Command of 6. Staffel was passed to Oberleutnant Dieter Hartwein. On 26 July, Stumpff wrote to the Luftwaffenpersonalamt, the personnel department within the Ministry of Aviation (RLM—Reichsluftfahrtministerium), requesting a preferential promotion for Carganico to Hauptmann (captain). Stumpff also requested that Carganico's command of II. Gruppe be made permanently. Apparently, Carganico appointment to Gruppencommandeur had been temporary. In summer 1942, he claimed 23 victories in six weeks and was awarded the German Cross in Gold () on 18 May. On 12 August, Carganico was part of a Schwarm intercepted by Soviet fighters and Carganico's Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4/Z (Werknummer 10132—factory number) was damaged sufficiently to force an emergency landing south of the Motovsky Gulf. This aircraft is currently on display at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. He evaded capture, headed west and reached a German infantry position the next day where he was picked up by a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch and flown back to Petsamo. Defense of the Reich On 16 March 1944, the commander of I. Gruppe of JG 5, Major Erich Gerlitz,