In May 1942, II.
Gruppe of
Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) was stationed at
Plzeň for rest and refit before it was relocated to the Eastern Front on 18 May 1942. Too late to participate in the
Battle of the Kerch Peninsula, it was located on the left wing of
Army Group South, assigned to an airfield at
Chuguyev in the
Kharkov area where they arrived on 19 May.
Mediterranean theater As part of the Luftwaffe plan to expand its fighter force, a fourth
Gruppe was to be added to every
Geschwader. This was achieved by transferring some of the other
Gruppens personnel and equipment. This created the nucleus of a newly formed
Gruppe. IV.
Gruppe of JG 3 was officially created on 1 June 1943 at
Neubiberg Airfield and placed under command of
Major Franz Beyer while Frielinghaus was given command of 11.
Staffel. The
Gruppe was initially equipped with the
Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6, some carrying a pair of 20 mm
MG 151/20 cannons installed in conformal
gun pods under the wings. In mid-June, the
Gruppe was ordered to Italy to fight in the
Mediterranean theater. On 11 July, IV.
Gruppe of JG 3 was ordered to an airfield at
Ramacca, Sicily. There, the
Gruppe supported German forces defending against the
Allied invasion of Sicily. Due to the advancing Allied forces, the airfield had to be abandoned on 15 July, forcing the
Gruppe to retreat to
Leverano. The next day, Frielinghaus claimed two
Supermarine Spitfire fighters shot down in the combat area south and south-southwest of
Licata. On 13 July, Frielinghaus claimed a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter shot down southwest of Caltanissetta. On 20 August, Frielinghaus claimed a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter shot down east of
Gaeta. On 9 September, Frielinghaus was shot down and wounded in his
Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (
Werknummer 18861—factory number) in aerial combat near
Orta Nova. In consequence, command of 11.
Staffel was passed on to
Leutnant Hermann Schmied. On 1 May 1944, Frielinghaus was appointed
Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II.
Gruppe of JG 3. He succeeded
Leutnant Leopold Münster who temporarily had led the
Gruppe after its former commander
Hauptmann Hermann Freiherr von Kap-herr was
killed in action. Frielinghaus took command at
Gardelegen Airfield. Since Frielinghaus was still convalescing from injuries sustained in December 1943, Frielinghaus led the
Gruppe from the ground while Münster continued to lead in the air. ==Later life==