Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller

Infobox Military Person
name=Friedrich-Karl Müller
lived=birth date|1916|12|25|df=y — death date and age|1944|5|29|1916|12|25|df=y
placeofbirth=Berlin
placeofdeath=Salzwedel


caption=Friedrich-Karl Müller
nickname="Tutti"
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=-1944
rank=Oberstleutnant
commands= 1./JG 53, IV./JG 3
unit= JG 53, JG 3
battles=World War II
*Battle of France
*Battle of Britain
*Operation Barbarossa
*Mediterranean Theatre
awards="Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves"
laterwork=

Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller (born 25 December 1916 in Berlin-Lichterfelde, killed in flying accident 29 May 1944 in Salzwedel) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until his death on 29 May 1944.

Career

At the start of World War II, Müller was a Leutnant with 8 "Staffel" of Jagdgeschwader 53. His first claim was a Armée de l'Air Curtiss Hawk on 27 May 1940. Müller flew through the Battle of Britain adding two RAF fighters to his 8 claims after the French campaign.

Müller was involved in operation over the Russian Front from June 1941 and by the beginning of September 1941, had 20 kills. In November, Müller was made "Staffelkapitän" of 1 "Staffel" of JG 53. In spring 1942, 1./JG 53 were posted to the Mediterranean air bases in Sicily. Müller claimed 3 Hawker Hurricanes over Malta.

In May 1942, I./JG 53 was back on the Eastern front. In August, Müller claimed some 25 victories, and in September claimed a further 35 victories. On 19 September, he claimed his 100th claim, resulting in the award of the "Ritterkreuz". He was awarded the Oak Leaves on 23 September.

In November 1942, Hauptmann Müller was appointed "Gruppenkommandeur" I./JG 53 and led the unit to Tunisia. Up to April 1943 Müller claimed another 12 victories to raise his score to 115. In May, after 3 further victories over Sicily and Italy Müller was suffering nervous and combat fatigue, and embarked on enforced leave. By February 1944, Major Müller was then appointed "Gruppenkommandeur" 'Sturmgruppe' IV. Jagdgeschwader 3 operating on Reich Defence sorties. He claimed three USAAF four-engined bombers on 8 March to record his 122nd victory. On 24 March 1944, Major Müller was then appointed "Geschwaderkommodore" of JG 3.

Müller was killed in a landing accident at Salzwedel on 29 May 1944, when his Bf 109 G-6 stalled on landing approach at low altitude. He was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant.

Müller claimed 140 victories in more than 600 combat missions. He claimed 53 victories against the Western Allies, including 23 four-engined bombers.

Awards

* German Cross in Gold (15 November 1943)
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
** Knight's Cross (19 September 1942)
** 126. Oak Leaves (23 September 1942)
* Eastern Front medal
* Front fighter clasp in Gold with star hanger (after 500 mission)
* Pilot badge
* long service medal for 4 and 8 years

References

*cite web | title=Aces of the Luftwaffe| work= Friedrich-Karl Müller| url= http://www.luftwaffe.cz/mullerfk.html | accessdate=11 April| accessyear=2007
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. "Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II". Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.