in august, the base became a base for day interceptors against the american eighth air force bomber fleets attacking targets in occupied europe and germany. as part of the "defense of the reich" campaign, messerschmitt bf 109s of jagdgeschwader 26 (jg 26) attacked the heavy bombers. later in august, kampfgeschwader 51 (kg 51) arrived with the messerschmitt me 262a jet interceptor for a few days before departing.