Friedrich-Karl "Nasen" Müller
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| Friedrich-Karl Müller | |
|---|---|
| 2 March 1921 – 2 November 1987 | |
| Nickname | Nasen |
| Place of birth | Sulzbach, Germany |
| Place of death | Germany |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1934–1945 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | KGz.b. V 172, KG 50, NJ Kdo, JG Hermann, JG 300, NJGr 10, NJG 11 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Friedrich-Karl "Nasen" Müller (2 March 1921 – 2 November 1987) was one of the most successful Luftwaffe night fighter ace during World War II.
Contents |
[edit] Early career
He first received flying training in 1934 and joined the German airline Lufthansa. At the beginning of World War ΙΙ, Müller was posted to KG z.b.V. 172 as a transport pilot. He was promoted to Feldwebel and assigned to 5./KG z.b.V. 172. After participating in the Polish campaign, in February 1940, Müller became an instructor at Blindflugschule 4 and promoted to Leutnant. In December 1942, Müller moved to I gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 50, as technical officer, the unit being equipped with the Heinkel He 177 heavy bomber.
[edit] Entry into Night Fighting
In summer 1943, Müller joined Hajo Herrmann as part of the latter's experimental Wilde Sau single-engine night fighting unit. Herrmann considered Müller an ideal candidate for the role because of his blind flying instructing experience. Müller was thus appointed as a 'Technischer Offizier' of JG 300.
On the night of 3/4 July, Müller recorded his first Wilde Sau victory. He became the leading exponent of this tactic.
By November 1943, Müller was Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 300 and had 19 night victories to his credit. In January 1944, Müller was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of 1./NGr 10 and was charged with evaluating all aspects of experiments in single-engined night fighting, especially countering operations by the RAF's Mosquito fast bomber.
He then became commander of I./NJG 11 on 25 August 1944. Müller continued to fly against the RAF night bomber streams, his personal Bf 109G-14 uniquely fitted with an oblique-mounted MG 151/20 cannon in a Schrage Musik instalaion behind the cockpit.
Towards the end of the war, I./NJG 11 received a few Me 262 jet fighters to experiment with in night interceptions.
Müller survived the war and died on 2 November 1987.
Müller was one of the leading single-seat night fighter aces with 30 night victories claimed in 52 missions.
[edit] Awards
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944.
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 26 November 1943
- German Cross in Gold on 25 November 1943.
[edit] References
- Aces of the Luftwaffe. Friedrich-Karl Müller. Retrieved on 18 February 2008.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
