▁esc orted ▁by ▁numerous ▁Sp it fire ▁f igh ters . ▁In ▁this ▁eng agement , ▁Gall and ▁was ▁cred ited ▁with ▁the ▁destruction ▁of ▁a ▁No . ▁ 3 5 0 ▁( Bel g ian ) ▁Squadron ▁Sp it fire ▁shot ▁down ▁west - n orth west ▁of ▁Gra vel ines . ▁Four ▁days ▁later , ▁II . ▁Gruppe ▁faced ▁Sp it f ires ▁from ▁No . ▁ 6 4 ▁and ▁No . ▁ 3 0 6 ▁Polish ▁F ighter ▁Squadron , ▁resulting ▁in ▁another ▁victory ▁over ▁a ▁Sp it fire . ▁His ▁ 2 4 th ▁aer ial ▁victory ▁was ▁claimed ▁near ▁W atten . ▁This ▁resulted ▁in ▁the ▁presentation ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁Cross ▁in ▁Gold ▁() ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁which ▁he ▁received ▁for ▁ 2 4 ▁aer ial ▁vict ories . ▁ ▁On ▁ 8 ▁March , ▁VIII ▁Bom ber ▁Command ▁attacked ▁R ennes ▁with ▁ 5 4 ▁Bo eing ▁B - 1 7 ▁F lying ▁Fort ress ▁bom bers ▁and ▁Rou en ▁rail road ▁yards ▁with ▁ 1 6 ▁Cons olid ated ▁B - 2 4 ▁Liber ator ▁bom bers . ▁While ▁Major ▁Josef ▁Pr iller ▁and ▁his ▁flight ▁attacked ▁the ▁esc ort ▁f igh ters , ▁Gall and ▁led ▁his ▁ 2 4 ▁F w   1 9 0 ▁f igh ters ▁in ▁a ▁head - on ▁attack ▁on ▁the ▁B - 2 4 ▁bom ber ▁formation ▁from ▁the ▁ 4 4 th ▁Bomb ard ment ▁Group . ▁Without ▁damage