 A German reconnaissance aircraft, a Heinkel He 46, had spotted a French armoured column of 50 tanks supported by 150 trucks and infantry on the advance.Weiß organized the defense and led the attack from his Henschel Hs 123 ground attack aircraft.He had also informed the neighbouring fighter pilot group I./Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21—21st Fighter Wing) under the command of "Hauptmann" Fritz Ultsch.