On 11 June, JG 53 supported the fighting at the Aisne and near Reims where Pingel shot down two Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighters. Following the Armistice of 22 June 1940 Mölders returned to III. "Gruppe" only to be transferred to take command of "Jagdgeschwader" 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). "Hauptmann" Harro Harder was officially appointed "Gruppenkommandeur" (group commander) of III. "Gruppe" and Pingel returned to take command of 2. "Staffel".