 601 reported one damaged on the first day, and two lost on the 18th—both pilots were killed on the latter date.The battles occurred as JG 2 acted as distant escort for Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" dive-bombers from Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 and Sturzkampfgeschwader 3.The bench-mark for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, a higher award than the Iron Cross, in August 1940 was 20 enemy aircraft destroyed.