This is from
www.blackcross-redstar.com "The eager and fearless nature of "Nowi" soon became well-known among the other pilots of JG54.This side of his personality almost cost him his life,as he was shot down by an I-153 over the Riga Bay,following his first three victories on July 19,1941.After three days and nights(during which he was close to commiting suicide out of pure desperation)in a rubber dinghy in the sea,he finally reached the shore.This first encounter with death changed young "Nowi".He became more careful-and superstitious,always carrying the trousers he had worn on this occasion,the Abschusshose,on all his combat missions.Nowotny was convinced that these trousers gave him luck."
"Flying over Staraya,Russia,a skillful Soviet pilot once was close to putting an end to Nowotny's deadly career."The Russians have had me shot up!I've got blisters on my wings!"Nowotny cried over the radio:"We desperately shook off the enemy and made a quick escape at low level",said his wingman"Quax" Schnorrer.With smoke pouring out of the hit engine,Nowotny's fighter made a hasty landing at Tulebya airfield.Rushing on the landing strip at 100 mph,the engine suddenly burst into flames.At a speed of 60 mph,Nowotny blew off his canopy and left his plane in a true do-or-die jump.The burning fighter continued rolling another 30 meters and exploded."
"But the winds of war eventually forced the High command to call back Nowotny into active service.In the fall of 1944,he was put in charge of the first jet fighter unit,equipped with the ME 262,"Kommando Nowotny".Nowotny took off in an ME 262 on Nov.8,1944,and intercepted U.S. heavy bombers with fighter escort.This was the first occasion since July 1941 when he did not wear his Abschusshosen on a combat mission.His last words heard over the radio shortly after take-off were:"I'm burning!My god,my god!I'm burning!"
