3 in anti-bomber missions over the front. A large air battle developed with P-51 Mustang groups protecting the bombers. Described as the "greatest air battle" of the offensive, JG 6 reported 13 pilots killed. JG 27 lost four pilots killed or missing, while JG 3 reported the loss of 20 pilots killed or missing. Later in the day two gruppen were in action with elements of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force. Later in the day the wing flew with JG 27 and JG 3 against the Eighth Air Force. The German fighters shot down four B-17s, including that of Brigadier General Frederick Walker Castle. On Christmas Day, 1944, III/JG 6 and four other gruppen opposed the 9th Bombardment Division, which committed 629 medium bombers against roads and rail targets in Germany and Belgium including St. Vith. The P-51s of the 352nd Fighter Group protected the bombers. A total of 223 of the bombers were damaged, primarily by German anti-aircraft artillery. Later, III Gruppe took off from Oldenburg in a bid to stop the US Ninth Air Force; the Bf 109G-14s were intercepted by Allied fighters between Cologne and Düren. In combat with Hawker Typhoons from No. 93 Squadron RAF, the gruppe lost five. The RAF Squadron reported no loss. Operation Bodenplatte and end of the war The airfield operation, planned for the 16 December 1944, was revived and put into action on 1 January 1945. Operation Bodenplatte mustered the remaining German fighter force in the west, numbering approximately 800 fighters, into one final effort to achieve air superiority and revive the stalled offensive. JG 6 was ordered to attack Volkel Air Base. The Fw 190G-1s equipped the staffeln. I and III./JG 6 were to attack while II./JG 6 was to provide cover against fighters. I./JG 6 got 29 of its 34 Fw 190s ready, while 25 of II./JG 6's fighters took part. Overall, most of the 99 Fw 190s were made available for the operation. III./JG 6 received orders to target petrol installations on the airfield only. 78 Fw 190s took off. JG 6 approached the airfield of Heesch and some of its pilots assumed it to be Volkel airfield. It is unlikely that the Heesch strip, built in October 1944, was known to the Luftwaffe. No. 126 Wing RCAF was based there and had dispatched its 411 and 442 Squadrons on recce missions early that morning so the