▁January ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁Mat oni ▁shot ▁down ▁a ▁Sp it fire ▁esc ort ing ▁the ▁bom bers , ▁probably ▁flow n ▁by ▁Aust rian - born ▁S / L . ▁Franz ▁Coll ored o - M ans feld ▁D FC ▁( 3 ▁destroyed ) ▁of ▁No . ▁ 1 3 2 ▁Squadron ▁R AF , ▁who ▁was ▁killed . ▁On ▁ 2 4 ▁February ▁Mat oni ▁shot ▁down ▁a ▁USA AF ▁B - 2 4 ▁four - engine ▁bom ber ▁near ▁Frankfurt ▁for ▁his ▁ 1 3 th ▁and ▁J G ▁ 2 6 ' s ▁ 2 , 0 0 0 th ▁victory . ▁Mat oni ▁was ▁appointed ▁Staff el kap it än ▁( s quad ron ▁leader ) ▁ 5 ./ J G ▁ 2 6 ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁and ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁May ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁German ▁Cross ▁in ▁Gold ▁for ▁ 2 0 ▁vict ories . ▁On ▁ 1 5 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁Haupt mann ▁Mat oni ▁was ▁appointed ▁Gru pp enk om mande ur ▁( group ▁commander ) ▁of ▁I ./ J ag d gesch w ader ▁ 1 1 ▁( J G ▁ 1 1 — 1 1 th ▁F ighter ▁Wing ) ▁before ▁being ▁appointed ▁Gru pp enk om mande ur ▁of ▁I ./ J G ▁ 2 ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁September . ▁ ▁On ▁ 5 ▁December , ▁Mat oni ▁was ▁so ▁seriously ▁injured ▁in ▁a ▁crash ▁he ▁was ▁un fit