German Air Force

Major WALTER NOWOTNY

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Major WALTER NOWOTNY (*December 7, 1920 in Gmünd/Austria; KIA November 8, 1944 near Bramsche/Germany). Awarded the Knight' Cross with oak leaves, swords and diamonds. Commander of "Erprobungskommando Nowotny" (equipped with Me-262) and the first fighter pilot who reached the mark of 250 shot down enemy aircrafts. Major Nowotny was killed when his Me-262 "White 8" was shot down by a group of "Mustangs" while he prepared to land his plane on the airfield of Bramsche. Although he managed to bail out his chute got caught in the plane's tail unit. Altogether Nowotny shot down 258 enemy aircrafts (including three on the Me-262) on 443 missions.