Kommando Nowotny

''Kommando'' Nowotny was a Luftwaffe fighter ''Gruppe'' formed during the last months of World War II for testing and establishing tactics for the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, and was created and first commanded by Walter Nowotny, 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 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 jet fighter. ''General der Jagdflieger'' (General of the Fighter Force) Adolf Galland had hoped that the Me 262 would compensate for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) numerical superiority. The units first commander and namesake was ''Major'' Walter Nowotny 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. On 4 October, Teumer flew from Rechlin to Hesepe. During the landing approach, Teumer's aircraft suffered engine failure 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. On 19 November, remnants of ''Kommando'' Nowotny was redesignated at Lechfeld Airfield to III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 7 and ordered to Brandenburg-Briest 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. 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

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{{Jagdgeschwader of the Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe Special Commands
Military units and formations established in 1944
Military units and formations disestablished in 1944