▁was ▁taken ▁to ▁a ▁hospital ▁with ▁append ic itis . ▁He ▁stayed ▁in ▁the ▁hospital ▁for ▁about ▁two ▁weeks ▁before , ▁together ▁with ▁R ump el hardt , ▁he ▁went ▁on ▁vac ation ▁back ▁home . ▁Care lessly ▁lif ting ▁his ▁suit case , ▁he ▁burst ▁his ▁st itch es , ▁resulting ▁in ▁further ▁hospital isation . ▁He ▁fle w ▁his ▁first ▁mission ▁after ▁these ▁events ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁ ▁Group ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁IV ./ N J G ▁ 1 ▁Sch n au fer ▁was ▁appointed ▁Gru pp enk om mande ur ▁IV ./ N J G   1 ▁on ▁ 1 ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁taking ▁over ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁Gruppe ▁from ▁J abs ▁who ▁was ▁given ▁command ▁of ▁N J G   1 . ▁He ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁Haupt mann ▁on ▁ 1 ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁Sch n au fer ▁became ▁an ▁ace - in - a - day ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁when ▁he ▁claimed ▁five ▁R AF ▁bom bers ▁shot ▁down ▁between ▁ 0 1 : 1 5 ▁and ▁ 0 1 : 2 9 ▁for ▁vict ories ▁ 7 0 ▁to ▁ 7 4 . ▁The ▁bom bers ▁had ▁target ed ▁the ▁railway ▁mar sh alling ▁yard ▁at ▁A achen . ▁ ▁On ▁ 6 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁the ▁Western ▁Al lied ▁forces ▁land ed ▁in ▁Norm andy