they fought in the Tunisian campaign. That day, the Oberbefehlshaber Süd (Commander in Chief South), Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring, ordered 11. Staffel disbanded, and its pilots and equipment assigned to II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing). Due to Meimberg's intervention, Oberstleutnant Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 53, decided to retain 11. Staffel as its own entity and subordinated the Staffel to the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) of JG 53 while for the higher Luftwaffe authorities the Staffel was merged with 6. Staffel of JG 53. On 17 December, Meimberg was given home-leave. During this vacation on 29 December, he married his fiancée Margret in Münster, the two had each other since school. The marriage produced a son, Gerrit, born 15 February 1946, and another son, Helmut, born 11 August 1948, and their daughter Dorothee, born 19 October 1950. Following a brief honeymoon which the couple spent in Würzburg, Meimberg returned to his unit on 20 January 1943, which at the time was based at El Aouina, a municipality of Tunis, Tunisia. Flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-4 trop (Werknummer 16025—factory number) on 1 February 1943, Meimberg was wounded in aerial combat with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers near Pont du Fahs. The severe burns he sustained necessitated a lengthy stay in a hospital in Munich. During his convalescence, Meimberg was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) on 1 March, and awarded the Wound Badge in Silver () in May. He returned to JG 53 on 19 August and was assigned to the Geschwaderstab. By this date, 11. Staffel of JG 2 had officially been disbanded and its pilots to various Staffeln of JG 53. The Geschwaderstab was based at the Hermitage of Camaldoli in Naples. Due to the Allied invasion of Italy, the location was abandoned on 9 September, moving to Littoria Airfield until September 16, and then to Centocelle Airfield near Rome. Shortly before Christmas, Meimberg left JG 53 again as his injuries sustained to his hands on 1 February required further treatment and skin grafting. Defense of the Reich On 24 April 1944, Meimberg was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II. Gruppe of JG 53. He succeeded Hauptmann Gerhard Michalski who was transferred. On 24 October, Meimberg was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () for 45 aerial victories. The presentation was made by Oberst Karl Hentschel, commander of the 7. Jagddivision (7th Fighter