at Sint-Truiden, I./ZG 26 at Yvrench/Saint Omer, II./ZG 26 at Lille and III./ZG 26 at Arques, Pas-de-Calais. ZG 26 was subordinated to Fliegerkorps I in June and flew in support of German air operations against Operation Aerial. By the end of the French campaign following the Armistice of 22 June 1940, the Zerstörergeschwader 1, 2, 26, 52 and 76 had suffered a combined loss of 32 percent—the worst percentage loss by any German wing type. Battle of Britain In July 1940, the Churchill Government rejected Adolf Hitler's offers of a peace settlement. Hitler authorised the planning for Operation Sea Lion, a proposed amphibious landing in the United Kingdom. The Luftwaffe began an air campaign against Channel convoys, beginning the first phase of what became known as the Battle of Britain. The Kanalkampf was designed to draw out RAF Fighter Command and achieve air superiority by defeating it in battle, and by bombing airfields and known supporting facilities; radar stations and factories. ZG 26 was based at multiple locations in northern France. Huth and the Stab./ZG 26 was based at Lille. I./ZG 26, under Hauptmann Wilhelm Macrocki located to Yvrench. II./ZG 26 under the command of Ralph von Rettberg based itself at Crécy-en-Ponthieu while III./ZG 26 based at Barley under Hauptmann Johann Schalk. The wing was returned to Jagdfliegerführer 2, under the command of Luftflotte 2. On 9 July 1940, one day before the officially recognised start of the Battle of Britain, III./ZG 26 were ordered to cover raids against convoys. The vulnerability of Bf 110s to nimble Hurricane and Spitfires necessitated their own protection by Bf 109s. Their charges, He 111s from I./KG 53 and Ju 88s, probably from I. and II./KG 51, lost only aircraft; a He 111. In defending the bombers, the gruppe lost three Bf 110s and another damaged, losing seven airmen as missing in action. Only one pilot survived. The air battle occurred over the Thames Estuary and Folkestone. ZG 26's opponents were from No. 43 Squadron RAF, and No. 151 Squadron RAF. Two No. 43 Squadron Hurricanes were destroyed with the pilots safe, and 151 lost one destroyed in combat and one damaged; one pilot was wounded. The identity of the German fighter unit responsible for each is unknown, but the four were reported shot down. Squadron Leader, No. 43 Squadron, G. C. Lott was wounded in the eyes. The following day, 10 July, the