Hans Karl Müller

Leutnant Hans Karl Müller was a pioneering German flying ace during World War I. He was credited with nine aerial victories. He also taught many others to fly, as an instructor in the German Air Service, and later, as a civilian instructor in Mexico.

Early life
Hans Karl Müller was born on 19 July 1892 in Loschwitz, Germany, which was then in the Kingdom of Saxony. When World War I broke out, Müller joined the German Air Service, the Luftstreitkräfte.

World War I
Müller became one of Germany's first military pilots when he undertook pilot's training at FEA 2. He qualified as a pilot on 31 December 1914. Three days later, he was posted to FA 3. By 1 May 1915, he was stationed at Armee Flugpark 6. His next assignment was instructor duty at Grossenhain.

On 20 February 1916, Müller moved to the Verdun front and joined Kasta 11. He scored his first aerial victory while with them, on 26 March 1916. By the next month, he was flying a Fokker Eindekker. On 28 June 1916, he transferred to KEK Avillers. He scored two more victories while with this unit, destroying an enemy observation balloon and downing an enemy airplane over Verdun. He then became an original member of Jagdstaffel 5; he joined the squadron on 21 August 1916 as a Vizefeldwebel.

Over a four month period, from 26 August through 26 December 1916, Müller scored six more aerial victories to become his squadron's leading ace. While scoring his ninth and final victory on 26 December, he was so severely wounded in the abdomen that he was removed from combat duty.

Müller was commissioned as a leutnant of 14 January 1917. Upon recovery, he served as a pilot for Siemens-Schuckert, the airplane manufacturer. He would never again see combat; he would survive the war, having been awarded both classes of the Iron Cross.

Post World War I
Müller emigrated to Mexico after war's end. He ran a flying school there until 1931. He then moved across the border to Texas. He died in San Antonio on 23 July 1977.