An image depicting the Bf 109G-6y flown by Htpm Karl-Heinz Langer, Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 3 in September 1943 equipped with the 2 cm underwing cannon or Gondalwaffen . The spectacular 'shooting star' insignia on the Beulen recalls III./JG 3 's first operations in the West when the unit's Bf 109G-6 were equipped with  BR 21 Werferrohren rocket launchers. Adapted from the Army's Nebelwerfer multi-barrel launcher, the rocket's explosive charge was detonated with a time fuse and represented the Jagdwaffe's first attempts to get to grips with the American bomber 'pulks'. Accuracy of the device was very much hit and miss, reliability poor and the weight and drag considerably deteriorated the Bf 109 handling qualities , leading to their replacement in early September 1943 with the underwing MG 151/20 cannon.

Karl-Heinz Langer became Staffelkapitän of 7 Staffel in June 1943 shortly before the ill-fated Kursk offensive, following which III./JG 3 moved back to the Reichsgebiet.  Langer shot down his first four-engined bomber on the second Schweinfurt raid of October 14 1943  for his 16th victory on a day when III./JG 3 with 18 Ab-und-Herauschüsse was the most successful Jagdgruppe in the defence of the Reich. The October 14 mission to Schweinfurt was even more costly in terms of losses for the 8th USAAF than September's raid and marked the end of the unescorted 'deep penetration' missions. Langer was himself shot down and wounded on this raid and whilst recuperating served as an instructor before rejoining the Gruppe in spring 1944. He became Gruppenkommandeur III./JG 3 in May 1944 and was awarded the Deutsche Kreuz in Gold in July. He led the unit on the 1st January 1945 Bodenplatte operation claiming two Spitfires over Eindhoven and was awarded the Ritterkreuz in April 1945 . He ended the war with 30 victories in some 486 missions.