Major Walter Nowotny

One of the most successful of the Ostjäger with all but two of his 258 victories scored against the Russians, Walter Nowotny was born in Gmünd in Lower Austria on 7 December 1920. His Ritterkreuz was awarded on 4 September 1942 as a member of JG 54 “Grünherz” after 56 victories. After another 25 victories by the spring of 1943 his victory rate began to soar astronomically that June. 41 Red fighters fell to his guns that month – 10 alone on the 24th. 45 victories in September 1943 earned him the Oakleaves (4 September 1943) and the Swords (22 September 1943). With his 250th victory on 13 October, he was awarded the Diamonds as Germany’s most successful fighter pilot. A posting as Kommodore of Schuljagdgescwader 101 in France followed a temporary grounding (for rest and to preserve his skills for instructing replacements). That autumn he raised and commanded Erprobungskommando Nowotny, to test the Me 262 jet’s suitability for use as a fighter aircraft (Hitler had insisted on its use as a fast-attack “Blitz” bomber). While commanding this unit Major Nowotny shot down two 4-engined bombers, his last victory resulting in his death following the failure of one of his engines and the consequent inability to level out during an escape maneuver.