[Johannes]

Hi Guys

Seems Nowotny was Kommandeur of I./JG 54 from 8th October 1943 until 6th February 1944. Rademacher and Döbele stayed behind with 1./JG 54. Nowotny did return to combat after his Brillianten, but only claimed in November 1943, in fact All of Stab.I./JG 54's claims whilst Nowotny led were his own or Schnörrer's upto his wounds of 15th November 1943. After this date the only claimer is Günther Haller(Leutnant)who claimed his seventh kill on 4th January 1944, Horst Ademeit took over the Gruppe and claimed on 7th February 1944(his 132nd) Haller claims again on 25th February 1944.

I may be wrong but I think Schnörrer and Nowotny flew only as a Rotte with Stab.I./JG 54, where they made seven claim post Brillianten:-
5th November 1943:-
Nowotny Jak-9 at 1040 hrs (nr.251)
Nowotny Jak-9 at 1055 hrs (nr.252)
!0th November 1943:-
Nowotny Il-2 at 1410 hrs (nr.253)
Nowotny Jak-9 at 1420 hrs (nr.254)
Schnörrer Jak-9 at 1430 hrs (nr.33)
12th November 1943:-
Nowotny Jak-9 at 1005 hrs (nr.255)
Schnörrer Jak-9 at 1008 hrs (nr.34)

I think Haller was Schnörrer's replacement, he even came from 1./JG 54.

Apart from Döbele's 93rd on 11th November 1943, the only Oberfeldwebel that Nowotny could have been talking about was Fritz Tegtmeier who claimed his 93rd on 8th March 1944.........however surely had already left JG 54 by then!

Ademeit who succeeded Nowotny seems to have had the same Rottenfleiger in Haller, Ademeit is thought to have been a honest claimer, perhaps Nowotny dispite his rank couldn't trust Haller to be dis-honest, and his secret would remain so until post-war.

Anyway Döbele probably wasn't flying with Nowotny for the last two months of his life!

Kind Regards

Johannes