Lindmayr was an experienced combat veteran having won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his effective low-level attacks in France. III./KG 76 took off with 19 Do 17s. At the same time, to the north, I./KG 76 took off. Usually a Gruppe could field 27 bombers. After weeks of attrition, I./KG 76 could put up only eight Do 17s. The Geschwader had to field two Gruppen to do the work of one. Most of the Dorniers were in poor shape, worn down by intensive operations. The two groups rendezvoused at Amiens then proceeded to Cap Gris Nez to pick up their Messerschmitt Bf 109 escort. Heavy losses encouraged crews to seek innovative weapons for defence. One pilot, Feldwebel Rolf Heitsch, had his Dornier fitted with an infantry flame thrower in its tail. After take-off the formation broke up in cloud and was delayed for 10 minutes to allow reforming. Two bombers failed to do and returned to base—Heitsch was one of them. The second operation of the day was flown in the afternoon. 76 lost six bombers and another two damaged. The Blitz KG 76 began to scale down daylight operations in September. I./KG 76 withdrew from France to Güttersloh and Giebelstadt on 24 October 1940 to convert onto the Ju 88. III./KG 76 remained and carried out bombing raids on 6 October against unknown targets and on 27 October against RAF Martlesham Heath. II. Gruppe bombed Channel ports on 4 October but withdrew to Ansbach and Giebelstadt for rest until January 1941 when it returned to Châteaudun. In December 1940 III./KG 76 transferred to Illesheim and given leave. From December 1940 to March 1941 it slowly converted to the Ju 88. I./KG 76 participated in the London Blitz and it bombed the city on 25 September and then Coventry on 1 November. III. Gruppe bombed London on night of the 15/16 November 1940. Hitler's Directive 23, Directions for operations against the British War Economy, published on 6 February 1941, gave aerial interdiction of British imports by sea top priority. This strategy had been recognised before the war, but the Battle of Britain had got in the way of striking at Britain's sea communications and diverted German air strength to the campaign against the RAF and its supporting structures. The German bomber fleet was equipped with Knickebein (crooked-leg) and began using X-Gerät and X-Gerät navigational aids at this