Walter Nowotny (7 December 1920 – 8 November 1944) was an Austrian-born fighter ace of the Luftwaffe in World War II. He is credited with 258 aerial victories—that is, 258 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—in 442 combat missions.

Nov 5, 2024 · On November 8, 1944, Walter Nowotny, the Luftwaffe’s top-scoring ace, rushed to his Messerschmitt Me 262. In his haste, he forgot the lucky trousers that had accompanied him through over 250 victories. Strapped into his jet fighter, the Me 262’s engines refused to start.

Walter Nowotny (7 December 1920 – 8 November 1944) was an Austrian-born fighter ace of the Luftwaffe in World War II. He is credited with 258 aerial victories—that is, 258 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—in 442 combat missions.

Major Walter "Nowi" Nowotny (7 December 1920 – 8 November 1944) was an Austrian-born German fighter ace of World War II. He is credited with 258 aerial victories—that is, 258 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—in 442 combat missions.

Nov 13, 2024 · The death of Major Walter Nowotny (An Austrian recipient of the highest award to the Knight’s Cross, the Diamonds, he had been credited with 255 victories while flying with I./JG 54 in the Soviet Union) effectively marked the end of the Kommando that bore his name, and it had not been a particularly glorious chapter in the history of the Me 262.

Worse was to come on the afternoon of Nov. 8 when Major Walter Nowotny, the Kommando’s renowned leader and one of the most highly decorated pilots in the Luftwaffe, finally took off to engage the enemy in an Me 262.

The life of Luftwaffe fighter pilot Walter Nowotny – in photographs, documents, and commentary. Nowotny was highly decorated for his 258 aerial victories, but was well known, above all, for his deployment and command of the Messerschmitt Me 262 Erprobungskommando.

Walter Nowotny, bron in Austria on December 7, 1920, was the most successful fighter pilot of JG 54 Grünherz, where he served with I. Gruppe. But his career as a fighter pilot had a most unfortunate start.

Flying towards the Nevel area where the Red Army had broken through the German lines, Nowotny like so many times before attacked an Il-2 Sturmovik and shot it down for his 255th victory. The Nazi propaganda machine then turned Nowotny into a "superstar" of the Luftwaffe.

Group commander Major Walter Nowotny, recipient of the highest German award for bravery, found a hero's death in aerial combat after he shot down his adversary. In him the German Luftwaffe loses one of their most successful fighter pilots, who had achieved 258 aerial victories.