Seifert personally appealed to Adolf Galland, the "General der Jagdflieger" (general of the fighter force) and his former "Geschwaderkommodore" (wing commander) of JG 26, to be placed on active duty. In consequence, his tour with the RLM ended and he returned to France in September 1943 and was appointed "Gruppenkommandeur" II. "Gruppe" of JG 26, replacing "Hauptmann" Johannes Naumann in this capacity. Naumann had briefly led II. "Gruppe" following the death of its previous commander "Major" Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland, brother of Adolf Galland, on 17 August. Seifert took command of the "Gruppe" on 9 September, then based at Beauvais–Tillé Airfield. At the time of his posting to II. "Gruppe", the Western Allies were executing Operation Cockade, a series of deception operations alleviate German pressure on operations in Sicily and on the Soviets on the Eastern Front. The idea behind Cockade was to force the Luftwaffe into massive air battles with the RAF and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) VIII Bomber Command that would give the Allies air superiority over Western Europe. As part of this operation, Martin B-26 Marauder bombers attacked Beauvais–Tillé Airfield on 23 September. In defense of this attack, Seifert claimed an escorting Spitfire fighter from the No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron shot down.