Group of the 2nd Bombardment Division which had fallen behind, drawing the small group of American escorts nearby and losing 13 fighters. The attack left the 492nd exposed. Repeated front and rear attacks were made by the Me 410s and they destroyed 13 B-24s. The P-51s returned to and ZG 26 lost 12 of the heavy fighters. German pilots claimed 39 bombers and five fighters. In reality, 13 bombers and two fighters were lost. On 7 July 1944 Leipzig was targeted. The largest formation to attract the fighter escort was the 42 Me 410s of ZG 26 and 37 Bf 109s now operating in III./JG 300. JG 300 attempted to protect the Me 410s but suffered heavily, losing four killed, three wounded and 13 Bf 109s. ZG 26 lost eight, five killed and four wounded while claiming four B-24s. A 4th Fighter Group P-51 collided with an Me 410 and Captain James Morris, commander of the 20th Fighter Group, was shot down by an Me 410. The American Division reported 20 B-24s lost on the mission, the German JG 300 and ZG 26 wings claimed 51 between them—32 by JG 300, which 27 being "confirmed." The actions were the last major contributions of ZG 26 to the defence of the Reich. On 26 September 1944, III./ZG 26 began plans to convert to the Messerschmitt Me 262. The group became the fight jet fighter unit (JG 7 became the first jet fighter wing). It was renamed III./JG 6. I./ZG 26 followed suite as I./JG 6, as did II./ZG 26 which became II./JG 6. Commanding officers Oberst Kurt-Bertram von Döring, 1 May 1939 – 14 December 1939 Oberstleutnant Joachim-Friedrich Huth, 14 December 1939 – 1 November 1940 Oberst Johann Schalk, 1 November 1940 – 29 September 1941 Oberstleutnant Karl Boehm-Tettelbach, October 1943 – June 1944 Oberstleutnant Johann Kogler, June 1944 – July 1944 I./ZG 26 Hauptmann Karl Kaschka, 1 February 1939 – January 1940 Hauptmann Wilhelm Makrocki, 27 January 1940 – 21 May 1941 Hauptmann Herbert Kaminski, May 1941 – 1941 Hauptmann Wilhelm Spies, 27 January 1942 II./ZG 26 Major Friedrich Vollbracht, 1 May 1939 – April 1940 Hauptmann Ralph von Rettberg, April 1940 – April 1942 Hauptmann Eduard Tratt, 11 October 1943 – 22 February 1944 III./ZG 26 Hauptmann Johann Schalk, 1 May 1939 – 1 September 1940 Major Karl Kaschka, 1 September 1940 – 4 December 1941 (KIA) Hauptmann Thomas