 On 21 July 1943, he was tasked with leadership of a high flying de Havilland Mosquito intercept unit called "Jagdgeschwader" 25 (JG 25—25th Fighter Wing) in Defense of the Reich.This unit failed to achieve its objective and Ihlefeld was assigned to the "Stab" (headquarters unit) of the 30th Fighter Division.On 20 May 1944, he took command of "Jagdgeschwader" 1 "Oesau" (JG  1—1st Fighter Wing) and participated in Operation Bodenplatte.