Kommando Nowotny
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''Kommando'' Nowotny was a
Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
fighter ''Gruppe'' formed during the last months of
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
for testing and establishing tactics for the
Messerschmitt Me 262 The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed ''Schwalbe'' (German: "Swallow") in fighter versions, or ''Sturmvogel'' (German: "Storm Bird") in fighter-bomber versions, is a fighter aircraft and fighter-bomber that was designed and produced by the Germa ...
jet fighter Fighter aircraft are fixed-wing aircraft, fixed-wing military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat. In military conflict, the role of fighter aircraft is to establish air supremacy, air superiority of the battlespace. Domination o ...
, and was created and first commanded by
Walter Nowotny 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 ...
, from whom it drew its name.


Formation

''Kommando'' Nowotny (Kdo. Nowotny—Commando Nowotny) was formed on 26 September 1944 following the disestablishment of the earlier ''Erprobungskommando 262'' test unit at Lechfeld Airfield, sometimes also referred to as ''Kommondo'' Thierfelder which was named after its former commander ''Hauptmann'' Werner Thierfelder. Operational status was reached on 3 October at Achmer Airfield and Hesepe. The ''Stab'' (headquarters unit) of ''Kommando'' Nowotny was created from the ''Stab'' of III. '' Gruppe'' (3rd group) of ''Zerstörergeschwader'' 26 (ZG 26—26th Destroyer Wing).For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see
Luftwaffe Organization The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
At first, III. ''Gruppe'' of ZG 26 was renamed to III. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 6 (JG 6—6th Fighter Wing). During this transition, 8. and 9. '' Staffeln'' (squadrons) of ZG 26 became 9. and 10. ''Staffel'' of JG 6. On 16 October, III. ''Gruppe'' was detached from JG 6 and was renamed to ''Kommando'' Nowotny. In consequence, the ''Stab'' of III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 6 became the ''Stab'' of Kdo. Nowotny while 9. and 10. ''Staffel'' of JG 6 repectively became 1. and 2. ''Staffel'' of Kdo. Nowotny. On 5 November, the creation of a 3rd ''Staffel'' was ordered, to be completed by 30 November. The creation of a 4th ''Staffel'' was ordered on 12 November but never implemented. The objective of Kdo. Nowotny was to evaluate and establish tactics for the newly developed
Messerschmitt Me 262 The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed ''Schwalbe'' (German: "Swallow") in fighter versions, or ''Sturmvogel'' (German: "Storm Bird") in fighter-bomber versions, is a fighter aircraft and fighter-bomber that was designed and produced by the Germa ...
jet fighter. ''
General der Jagdflieger Inspector of Fighters (German language: ''Inspekteur der Jagdflieger'' redesignated to ''General der Jagdflieger'' (General of Fighters)) was not a rank but a leading position within the High Command of the German Luftwaffe in Nazi Germany ...
'' (General of the Fighter Force)
Adolf Galland Adolf Josef Ferdinand Galland (19 March 1912 – 9 February 1996) was a German Luftwaffe general and flying ace who served throughout the Second World War in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western Front and in the Defen ...
had hoped that the Me 262 would compensate for the
United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
(USAAF) numerical superiority. The units first commander and
namesake A namesake is a person, geographic location, or other entity bearing the name of another. History The word is first attested around 1635, and probably comes from the phrase "for one's name's sake", which originates in English Bible translations ...
was ''Major''
Walter Nowotny 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 ...
who had previously commanded I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front and the training unit ''Jagdgeschwader'' 101 (JG 101—101st Fighter Wing).


Operational history

After Nowotny took command of the ''Kommando'', he submitted a demand for staff, requesting many former JG 54 pilots as possible. He replaced ''Oberleutnant'' Hans-Günter Müller, the commanding officer of the ''Staffel'' based at Hesepe, with ''Oberleutnant'' Alfred Teumer. Teumer received some training on the Me 262 at
Rechlin Rechlin is a municipality in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, around 100 km (60 mi) northwest of Berlin. The town's airport has a long history and was the Luftwaffe's main testing ground for new aircraft designs in Nazi Germany. ...
. On 4 October, Teumer flew from Rechlin to Hesepe. During the landing approach, Teumer's aircraft suffered
engine failure A turbine engine failure occurs when a turbine engine unexpectedly stops producing power due to a malfunction other than fuel exhaustion. It often applies for aircraft, but other turbine engines can fail, like ground-based turbines used in power ...
killing him in the resulting crash. Following Nowotny's death on 8 November, the ''Kommando'' was withdrawn from combat operations and its pilots sent to ''Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader'' 2, a replacement training unit at Lechfeld Airfield, for further training. ''Jagdgeschwader'' 7 "Nowotny" (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing) "Nowotny" was then formed and placed under the command of ''Oberst''
Johannes Steinhoff Johannes "Macky" Steinhoff (15 September 1913 – 21 February 1994) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II, German general, and NATO official. He was one of very few Luftwaffe pilots who survived to fly operationally through the whole ...
. On 19 November, remnants of ''Kommando'' Nowotny was redesignated at Lechfeld Airfield to III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 7 and ordered to
Brandenburg Brandenburg (; nds, Brannenborg; dsb, Bramborska ) is a states of Germany, state in the northeast of Germany bordering the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony, as well as the country of Poland. With an ar ...
-
Briest Havelsee () is a town in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the river Havel, 12 km northwest of Brandenburg. The Pritzerbe Ferry, a vehicular cable ferry, crosses the Havel between Havelsee and Kütz ...
where they joined the ''Stab'' of JG 7. In consequence, the 1., 2. and 3. ''Staffel'' of Kdo. Nowotny became the 9., 10, and 11. ''Staffel'' of III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 7 which Steinhoff had placed under the command of ''Major''
Erich Hohagen Erich Hohagen (9 January 1915 – 8 March 1990) was a German general in the Bundeswehr. During World War II, he served as a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe. A fighter ace, Hohagen was credited with 56 aerial victories and was a recipient of the Kn ...
. On 24 November, ''Kommando'' Nowotny was officially disbanded and ceased to exist as an independent unit. Due to the experimental nature of the unit, and the technical difficulties in operating the jet fighters, the unit had a less than illustrious record. In the time from 4 October to 24 November, a total of 24 enemy aircraft were claimed shot down for a loss of 28 Me 262s either damaged or destroyed.


Losses


Commanding officers


''Gruppenkommandeure''


''Staffelkapitäne''


1. ''Staffel'' of ''Kommando'' Nowotny


2. ''Staffel'' of ''Kommando'' Nowotny


3. ''Staffel'' of ''Kommando'' Nowotny


Notes


References


Citations


Bibliography

* * * * * * {{Jagdgeschwader of the Luftwaffe Luftwaffe Special Commands Military units and formations established in 1944 Military units and formations disestablished in 1944