Faced with increasingly larger incursions mounted by USAAF four-engine bombers through late 1942 and early 1943 over northern Germany, Luftwaffe fighter commanders were under pressure to take measures to strengthen the forces defending the north of the Reich. At that time these forces comprised the four Gruppen of JG 1. The only way to reinforce the northern borders of Germany would involve withdrawing units from far-flung fronts or by establishing a brand new fighter Geschwader. The deteriorating situation in Russia and Africa made it impossible to retract too many fighter units from these theaters and the lack of a reserve of experienced pilots, especially formation leaders, made it impractical to consider establishing an entirely new Geschwader. The expedient was to split JG 1, creating in the process the new JG 11, and reinforcing the resultant Gruppen with pilots from the Ergänzungsgruppen.

The new II./JG 11 was based at Husum on the north German coast. 70 km north of the harbour town, the  tiny island of Heligoland (Helgoland) juts out into the North Sea. A small Staffel-sized unit of Bf 109 T "Toni' fighters were stationed on the island's airstrip from early spring 1943 to help counter the in-coming streams of bombers. Designated Jasta Helgoland, the Tonis , a 109 sub-type developed for the ill-fated aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, were commanded by Oblt Hermann Hentzen and subordinated to JG 11.  In late May 1943 Hentzen was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG11 and replaced by Hermann Behrend.

On 17 July 1943, some 332 8th AF bombers attacked Hamburg and Hannover. Five Messerschmitt Bf 109 T-2s of Jasta Helgoland joined JG 11 in mounting defensive sorties. Uffz. Erich Ulmschneider was one of the Jasta pilots airborne that day:

" We already had a hunch that things were going to get unpleasant from early that morning, having heard the radio announce "strong enemy concentrations forming up over southern England". At around 10.40 am cockpit readiness was ordered and we were scrambled at 11.00 am. Airborne with five Tonis; one Rotte of two machines led by Lt Hondt with me as a Katschmarek and a Kette of three led by Fw. Erich Carius, we headed out on course 320 degrees. The "Amis" were flying a northern route from Helgoland to Wilhelmshaven. Having reached an altitude of 6000 meters we spotted a group of 20-25 B-17s and headed towards them. We drew alongside them maintaining a distance of 1500 meters and then overtook them to be able to turn back into position for a frontal attack. As we could fly no faster than 420 kph, it took us a long time to pull some 3 kilometers ahead of the bomber formation. After sweeping around in a banked curve to port, Lt. Hondt closed on the bombers head-on at full throttle, while Fw. Carius and two other machines were still trying to take a convenient position for an attack. So there were only two of us to lead an attack against some 30 Boeings. They were able to concentrate their defensive fire on us beautifully. I was overcome with a sort of 'hunting fever' as I had already eased a B-17 into my gun sight, and we were still 1000 meters away from each other. Time to open fire. I fired a burst from my MGs and was about to squeeze the firing button of my two wing-mounted cannon when something exploded very close by me. I felt enormous air pressure pinning me back into my seat; I could no longer see a thing. While running in for the attack I had pushed up my goggles, protection against shrapnel, to get a better view.. The Amis had hit my reinforced glass windshield and numerous splinters of glass had lashed into my face and eyes. I was expecting to collide with the four-engine bombers, but nothing happened. I managed to see out of the corner of one eye and concluded that the tracers had zipped past me from the rear -hence almost certainly saving me from colliding with the Amis! When my tears cleared my vision a little, I glanced all around-no sign of either Boeings or my comrades. So, I turned onto a southerly course, which would bring me over the North Sea coastline. The engine was running smoothly and I was able to calm myself down a little myself. This is how my first encounter with a Boeing ended….a life-or-death experience..".

On  25 July 1943 the 8th USAAF launched the series of raids known as "Blitz Week". Ten targets in Germany were to be attacked during the next six days. Shortly after midday on 26 July, a group of B-17s heading for home after bombing Hamburg came under attack from the fighters of II./JG 11 and Jasta Helgoloand.The Germans managed to shoot down five B-17s; Hptm. Specht, Fw. Fuehrmann, Gefr. Lennhoff and Oblt. Sommer (all of JG 11) accounting for a B-17 each. The fifth Fortress was added to the victory tally of Uffz. Doelling of Jasta Helgoland. Another Fortress was destroyed a few minutes later. Jasta Helgoland's Uffz. Erich Ulmschneider recalled:

" Suddenly we heard the droning of engines coming from the northeast and then, plowing through the sky at an altitude of 4000 meters we spotted a silhouette of an aircraft. It was a lone B-17 on its way back to England. The bomber had probably been damaged and forced from its formation. It was unlucky enough to find itself flying right past our base on Helgoland. Technicians leapt up onto the wing of my kite and cranked the inertia starter for all they were worth while I had never climbed into my cockpit so quickly -the last "Toni" left the airfield at full throttle. I was coaxing and cursing my kite in the same breath. "You lame duck, you beauty, you good 109, faster, faster! As I closed to within 1000 meters and prepared for an attack I realized that the enemy had yet to make any defensive maneuvers, far less open up with defensive fire. Something was up with that bomber, perhaps there were wounded crew aboard, since they would have surely noticed me by now. I got even closer to the Boeing. 400-500 meters more and I unleashed a burst of machine gun fire, stopped firing briefly and then let him have it from all barrels.. Cease firing! What's happening now! I could see very clearly black spots tumbling away from the Boeing and first parachutes popped open. The Boeing's captain must have realized the futility of this unequal fight and given the order to leave the plane. I sighed with relief, as I was ready for a fierce fight. Having counted eight parachutes and observed the Boeing plunge into the sea I dove away back to Helgoland with an unbelievable feeling of relief and joy in my heart: "You will not have them on your conscience!" ...

****Prien Jochen, Rodeike Peter: Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945 Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11, teil 1 1939-1943, Eutin p 363-364 & P388