▁was ▁posted ▁to ▁ 5 ./ J ag d gesch w ader ▁ 2 6 ▁( J G ▁ 2 6 — 2 6 th ▁F ighter ▁Wing ) ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁Channel ▁front . ▁He ▁was ▁soon ▁transferred ▁to ▁ 7 ./ J G ▁ 2 ▁( J G ▁ 2 — 2 nd ▁F ighter ▁Wing ) ▁in ▁September . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁badly ▁wounded ▁in ▁aer ial ▁combat ▁resulting ▁in ▁a ▁length y ▁con val esc ence , ▁following ▁which ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁an ▁instruct or ▁with ▁Jag d gruppe ▁West ▁from ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁to ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁when ▁Le ut nant ▁Mat oni ▁returned ▁to ▁II ./ J G ▁ 2 6 . ▁ ▁He ▁shot ▁down ▁a ▁Super marine ▁Sp it fire ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁June ▁as ▁his ▁fifth ▁victory . ▁On ▁ 3 1 ▁August , ▁Ober le ut nant ▁Mat oni ' s ▁F ock e ▁W ulf ▁F w ▁ 1 9 0 ▁A - 5 ▁was ▁hit ▁and ▁he ▁was ▁wounded ▁by ▁return ▁fire ▁from ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁Air ▁Forces ▁( USA AF ) ▁B - 1 7 ▁bom bers , ▁force - land ing ▁at ▁Mont did ier . ▁In ▁December ▁he ▁claimed ▁a ▁Sp it fire ▁near ▁Bou log ne ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁December ▁as ▁his ▁ 8 th ▁victory . ▁ ▁In ▁an ▁action ▁against ▁USA AF ▁B - 2 6 ▁tw in - engine ▁bom bers ▁on ▁ 1 4