6 June 1944

Men of Luftflotte 3! The enemy has launched the long-announced invasion. Long have we waited for this moment, long have we prepared ourselves, both inwardly and on the field of battle, by untiring, unending toil. Our task is now to defeat the enemy. I know that each one of you, true to his oath to the colours, will carry out his duty. You, who enter my sphere of command as newly sworn-in or as seasoned fighters from the hard-defended Reich, and you, untiring fighters on the Channel, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, you will all now be fighting side by side for the Fatherland, united in your sacred faith in victory. Great things will be asked of you, and you will show the greatest fighting valour. Salute the Führer. Your Commander-in-Chief, Sperrle, Generalfeldmarschall.

Before the Allied Invasion, III./SG 4 (Kommandeur, Maj. Gerhard Weyert) had been based in Southern France, fl looking for submarines in the Mediterranean. The 9. Staffel, for example had been "sub-hunting" from Le Luc since 18 May and was relieved by 7./SG 4 on 2 June.

When the Allies landed, the Gruppe moved up to Laval (Mayenne), about 140 km. from the Anglo-Canadian beach heads, just within the radius of action for a bomb-carrying Fw 190. The deployment began badly when they were intercepted en route by American fighters, the unit's War Diary reporting four pilots killed and one wounded, with like casualties among ground crew being carried in the Focke-Wulfs’ rear fuselage compartments.

The Allies deciphered a succession of fragmentary reports about aircraft lost on that first day:

Fw 190 A-7	430472	—	98%	Obltn. Johann Pühringer
(shot up by enemy fighters on ferrying flight, 1050 hrs. near Brétigny; fire observed on impact; pilot, born 17 October 1914, killed)
Fw 190 A-6	470585	—	98%	Uffz. Otto Spier
(shot up by fighters on ferry flight near Laval; caught fire on impact; pilot, born 10 August 1919, killed)
Fw 190 A-6	650503	—	98%	Ofw. Martin Kolberg
(shot up by fighters on ferry flight near Laval; caught fire on impact)
Fw 190 A-6	150418	yellow D	—	Fw. Willy George
(lost by enemy action on ferrying-over flight to Nantes: further details lacking)
Fw 190 A-7	431002	—	35–40%	Lt. Gerhard Limberg
(shot up by enemy fighters on ferrying flight, 1050 hrs. near Brétigny; pilot, born 7 July 1920, slightly wounded)
Fw 190 A-6	650502	—	30–35%	Uffz. Max Rahofer
(shot up by fighters; pilot, born 1 September 1918, unhurt)

7 June 1944

At 07.30 hours, Laval was shot up by 12–15 Mustangs. No one was hurt but two "protective roofs" (aircraft shelters?) were burned down and four Fw 190s put out of action, one of which was:

Fw 190 A-6	470605	—	20%	—
(shot up by fighters on the ground at Laval; engine and airframe damaged)
Fw 190 A-6	470620	Black D	—	Obltn. Walter Dahlem
(shot up by fighters while ferrying over to Laval; pilot, born 8 July 1922, seriously injured)
[NOTE: the above was first given as 470772 but later corrected]

Nevertheless, the Gruppe went into action that day, losing two aircraft:

Fw 190 A-6	650417	yellow L	60%	—
(shot up during flight against the enemy)
Fw 190 A-6	470766	—	—	Uffz. Richard Wenzel
(slightly damaged after belly landing following air combat, "for re-equipping")

The 9. Staffel's strength on 7 June was reported as 12 (9) aircraft and 12 (12) pilots.

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