After the fighting over France, I./JG 27 was relocated to Hustedt on 18 August 1944 for rest and refit. During this period the Gruppe received new Bf 109 G-14 aircraft and also some of the new Bf 109 K-4s.

Over the October to December period they received a total of 34 Bf 109 K-4s. Returning to operations in mid-November the Gruppe was first involved with Reichsverteidigung duties, transferring to their new base at Achmer, Germany on 19 November. From there in mid-December, they also supported the first phases of the Ardennes offensive, operating out of Rheine, the Gruppe participated in the 1 January 1945 "Bodenplatte" operation where it attacked the Brussels-Melsbroek airfield in Belgium.

Thereafter, the number of missions flown by the Gruppe decreased significantly due to the lack of fuel. As a consequence, on 14 February the Gruppe's 4. Staffel was dissolved. On March 19, the Gruppe moved to Störmede near Lippstadt, and then on 30 March when the British reached the Paderborn area, it was forced to transfer to Helmstedt. By this time the Gruppe flew mostly ground-attack missions in the West in support of hard-pressed German ground troops.

On 10 April 1945 as the Allies closed in and the Wehrmacht's front lines began to collapse the I./JG 27 was forced to move to Stendal, then on 12 April to Grossenhain. On 19 April, I./JG 27 was to be transferred to Czechoslovakia and Prague-Gbell to continue the fight from there.

The Red Army however was quickly closing in on Prague and the Gruppe was ordered instead to fly to the West ending up in Salzburg. There on 3 May they finally surrendered to American forces.

This Bf 109 K-4 "Kurfürst" was found at Rheine airfield in a derelict state by allied troops. It was probably left there after the Gruppe on 19 March was relocated to their new base at Störmede near Lippstadt, some 150 km to the South, after being stripped of spare parts. Note that the W.Nr. 332996 is provisional and based on its appearance.