 The Luftwaffe's Adolf Galland was given responsibility to provide air cover for the Scharnhorst-class battleships and and heavy cruiser "Prinz Eugen" during the Channel Dash of 12 February 1942.Operation Donnerkeil (Operation Thunderbolt), as the German air-cover plan was called, made use of Greisert's JG 2 for the middle portion of the channel transit.To keep up a continuous air coverage the group would ferry aircraft out over the force.