II "Gruppe" replaced some of the depleted German fighter units from Normandy. General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland strongly objected to the move, which ultimately cost the "gruppe" 19 killed in action and four wounded in action in a short time. On 23 August 1944, it was ordered to Herpy near Reims. According to one member of the unit, Feldwebel Fritz Bucholz, who arrived with 11 hours of experience on single-engine fighters and no dogfighting experience, the airfield was nothing more than flat ground surrounded by trees to hide their aircraft. Tents were provided for shelter, and much attention was paid to camouflage. The "gruppe" used nearby cattle to roam the airfield while no flights were ongoing to obscure the tracks made by the landing gear and deceive Allied reconnaissance aircraft. The Normandy campaign was coming to an end, two days after their arrival Paris was liberated. Hauptmann Willi Elstermann led the "gruppe" in action towards the battle zone near St Quentin that day, 25 August.