Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller

Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller (25 December 1916 – 29 May 1944) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until his death on 29 May 1944. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He is credited with 140 aerial victories claimed in more than 600 combat missions. He claimed 8 aerial victories during the Battle of France, 89 on the Eastern front, and 51 victories against the Western Allies, including 17 four-engined bombers.

Career
At the start of World War II, Müller was a Leutnant with 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53). His first claim was an Armée de l'Air Curtiss Hawk on 27 May 1940. Müller flew through the Battle of Britain adding two Royal Air Force (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. Oberleutnant Friedrich-Karl Müller received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 19 September 1942 following a series of 18 enemy aircraft destroyed: four on 16 September, five on 17 September, seven on 18 September and two on 19 September. On the latter day he claimed his 100th and 101st aerial victories. Together with Wilhelm Crinius he received the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes with Oak Leaves) on 23 September 1942.

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 (JG 3) operating in Defense of the Reich sorties. He claimed three United States Army Air Forces (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 (Werknummer 410827—factory number) stalled on landing approach at low altitude. He was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant.

Awards

 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (13 December 1943)
 * German Cross in Gold on 15 November 1943 as Major in the I./JG 53
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (17 April 1940)
 * 1st Class (20 June 1940)
 * Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 19 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 1./JG 53
 * 126th Oak Leaves on 23 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 1./JG 53
 * Eastern Front Medal (Medaille Winterschlacht Im Osten 1941/42)
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with pennant (after 500 mission)
 * Pilot badge
 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award for 4 years
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 19 April 1944