The Me 262 was a potent fighter in the hands of a good pilot; but by the time it entered service the Allies had such numerical superiority that even the Me 262 could be overwhelmed and often was. The first jet fighter unit was Kommando Nowotny, named after its leader, Major Walter Nowotny, a veteran combat pilot with 255 kills. On the 8th of November, Nowotny and his wingman, Lt. Schall, scrambled alone against a large force of Allied fighters and bombers. They attacked the bombers and Nowotny destroyed a B-24. Then they became embroiled in a dogfight with Mustangs. Schall got two and it is thought that Nowotny got another. But Schall was soon shot down and Nowotny's jet also crashed out of control, though no Mustang is known to have shot him.
