588:(Flight) together attacked an RE two-seater. The observer fired alternately upon everyone and Müller must have received a fatal hit between the first and second button of his tunic. He fell out of the aircraft because he wasn't fastened, and later on his aeroplane was completely burnt. Except for this one hit, no others could be found."
350:, Müller flew a highly hazardous low-level mission through heavy ground fire behind enemy lines, photographing enemy positions. This daring mission established his reputation as an aggressive pilot and led to his transfer to fighters. Decorated for this flight, he was one of only 16 German soldiers to be awarded the
240:
A prewar pilot, Müller broke both legs in an aviation accident soon after World War I broke out. He later earned a reputation as a daring reconnaissance pilot. A medal winning low-level photographic intelligence flight on 13 March 1915 under heavy fire was pivotal in getting him a fighter posting. He
487:
on 3 September 1917. His native
Bavaria recognized him with the Golden Medal for Bravery. As it was an enlisted man's medal, he had been nominated for it before he was commissioned an officer. The belated award made him the only airman in the war to win both classes of the medal.
46:
463:. Though the Hohenzollern was customarily an award for officers, the Members' Cross was a class of the order exclusively for non-commissioned officers and was a rare distinction, being awarded only 16 times during the war.
331:
on 2 August 1914. When the war broke out, Müller flew several reconnaissance missions. On 18 August 1914 however, a takeoff accident caused by engine failure broke both Müller's legs.
1136:
1151:
1141:
1121:
376:, beginning on 17 May 1916. As a two-seater pilot, Müller had flown over 160 missions. Already noted as an aggressive and skilled airman, Müller was one of the
1146:
367:
525:
Müller shot down four aircraft in
December 1917. When the squadron leader's position came vacant, a dissatisfied Müller was passed over for command.
506:
in late
October, Müller was second only to Manfred von Richthofen as the highest scoring ace still at the front. Müller wangled a transfer back to
491:
With the many medals that had been awarded to him, he was one of the most highly decorated aces in the entire German air service, second only to
314:
on 1 December 1913, and after four months of training he became a fully qualified pilot on 4 April 1914. He started flying missions immediately.
474:
and gunner
Lieutenant George Al Brooke. The British aircrew managed to crash-land at their home base. It counted as Müller's 19th victory.
1156:
477:
August 1917 was Müller's highest scoring month, with eight victories, and he added another in
September. A year after Müller had joined
297:
As Müller had a natural mechanical aptitude, he had been apprenticed to a locksmith. His first military assignment was chauffeur to the
1126:
1116:
1131:
363:
1068:
1033:
1014:
Above the Lines: The Aces and
Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918
1002:
537:, 4th Class with Swords. They awarded Müller the latter medal on 18 December as a preliminary to the more prestigious award.
448:
Müller's tally quickly rose throughout 1917, with six more victories in May. He was also promoted from the enlisted ranks to
667:
456:
204:
298:
277:
airplane was set on fire by a
British reconnaissance plane he was attacking. He fell from the burning craft to his death.
1049:
1087:
1021:
630:, backdated to 11 November 1917. Thus in death, Max Müller became a non-hereditary knight, Max Ritter von Müller.
529:
was brought in to take command on 13 December. Meanwhile, Müller's native
Bavaria had considered giving him the
690:
653:
534:
441:, who survived; it was Müller's seventh win. While serving with the squadron, he became a mentor to future ace
209:
452:
on 26 May, in the regular army, rather than the
Reserve, the first time such a commission had been awarded.
697:
627:
569:
561:
530:
270:
230:
199:
674:
460:
254:
187:
249:. The diminutive ace who had begun his career in the enlisted ranks became the only German airman to be
597:
545:
526:
421:
438:
286:
66:
20:
514:. Müller shot down victim number 30 on 6 November. On 11 November 1917, Müller shot down Captain
442:
222:
492:
434:
274:
258:
467:
343:
250:
28:
245:. As German fighter aviation rapidly evolved throughout the war, Müller would progress as a
1111:
1106:
261:, the Red Baron. After receiving various lower level awards, Müller received the Prussian
8:
573:
565:
519:
503:
431:
414:
303:
24:
604:
471:
351:
266:
70:
311:
257:
on 26 May 1917. Müller's victory toll rose to second among German aces, trailing only
1083:
1064:
1045:
1029:
1017:
998:
623:
601:
522:
as his 31st victim. On 29 November 1917, Müller's friend Böhme was killed in action.
289:. Physically Müller grew to be small in stature, being only five foot one inch tall.
681:
181:
381:
310:
The
Minister having been persuaded, Müller was posted to the army flying school at
242:
548:, was killed on 6 January, Müller temporarily inherited the command of the Jasta.
237:
credited with 36 victories. He was the highest scoring Bavarian pilot of the war.
515:
483:
426:
406:
377:
262:
158:
511:
1100:
696:
7 November 1918 (award date; approved 1919) - Bavaria: Knight's Cross of the
401:
151:
74:
342:'pusher' biplane, he barely survived a hard dogfight against a French-flown
593:
568:
flown by Capt. G. F. W. Zimmer and Lt. H. A. Somerville, escorted by two
481:, he had gotten an impressive score of 27 victories and been awarded the
246:
234:
619:
before his remains were returned to his home town via train for burial.
660:
643:
410:
347:
226:
194:
959:
557:
496:
495:
However, by October, Müller was at odds with his commanding officer,
91:
638:
Max Ritter von Müller is known to have won at least 12 decorations:
782:
616:
409:. On 10 October of that same year, he scored his first victory; an
372:
Müller underwent single-seat fighter training and then served with
339:
129:
780:
778:
776:
774:
772:
770:
768:
766:
764:
762:
622:
After the war, in early 1919, Müller was finally approved for the
417:, the pilot being captured. On 27 November, Müller became an ace.
906:
556:
Just three days later, on 9 January 1918, while on a patrol over
510:
on 3 November 1917, rejoining his old friend, commanding officer
759:
720:
346:. On 13 December 1915, the day he was awarded the Second Class
1061:
The Red Baron Combat Wing: Jagdgeschwader Richthofen in Battle
45:
947:
925:
923:
921:
894:
710:
Unknown date - Bavaria: Long Service Distinction, Third Class
1040:
Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell; Shores, Christopher (2008).
860:
858:
856:
854:
852:
850:
848:
846:
809:
807:
792:
749:
747:
745:
743:
741:
739:
737:
735:
430:
followed, on 21 January 1917. On the 30th, he shot down the
459:
on 28 June 1917, and the Member's Cross with Swords of the
971:
918:
882:
221:(birth name Max Müller) (1 January 1887 – 9 January 1918)
1012:
Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell (1993).
870:
843:
831:
819:
804:
732:
269:
decided he deserved its equivalent national award, the
1082:. Elite Aviation Units 26. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
935:
649:
13 September 1915 - Bavaria: Silver Badge for Bravery
399:. He then was posted to the newly mobilized Prussian
673:
14 July 1917 - Prussia: Member's Cross of the Royal
1137:Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class)
1039:
1011:
965:
786:
726:
368:List of aerial victories of Max Ritter von Müller
301:. He importuned the Minister for transfer to the
1098:
1080:Jagdstaffel 2 'Boelcke': Von Richthofen's Mentor
1152:German military personnel killed in World War I
1142:Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 1st class
1122:Military personnel from the Kingdom of Bavaria
686:Autumn 1917 - Bavaria: Gold Badge for Bravery
1077:
992:
977:
953:
929:
912:
900:
888:
876:
864:
837:
825:
813:
798:
753:
1147:Knights of the Military Order of Max Joseph
192:Medal for Bravery (Silver and Gold Awards);
596:was credited to the SE.5a pilots, Captain
292:
44:
633:
285:Max Müller was born on 1 January 1887 in
19:Not to be confused with the flying aces
1058:
941:
364:Aerial victory standards of World War I
1099:
533:, but realized he lacked the required
357:
322:
993:Franks, Norman; Giblin, Hal (2003).
405:on 1 September 1916, to serve under
995:Under the Guns of the Kaiser's Aces
714:
13:
1157:Aviators killed by being shot down
551:
455:He was awarded the Württembergian
205:Military Merit Order (Württemberg)
14:
1168:
1063:. London: Arms and Armour Press.
966:Franks, Guest & Shores (2008)
787:Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993)
727:Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993)
560:, Müller's flight came across an
397:Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 32
241:was then picked to fly the first
146:Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 32
141:Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 1b
592:The victory over Müller and his
265:on 3 September 1917. His native
1127:Military personnel from Bavaria
1117:People from Landshut (district)
615:A memorial service was held in
576:. A letter by his squadronmate
1132:German World War I flying aces
461:Royal Hohenzollern House Order
338:. On 31 March 1915, flying an
317:
273:. On 9 January 1918, Müller's
210:Military Merit Order (Bavaria)
1:
986:
642:13 September 1915 - Prussia:
580:von Gudenberg told the tale:
502:With the death of his friend
354:'s Silver Medal for Bravery.
280:
698:Military Order of Max Joseph
689:18 December 1917 - Bavaria:
680:3 September 1917 - Prussia:
666:28 June 1917 - Württemberg:
628:Military Order of Max Joseph
610:
531:Military Order of Max Joseph
271:Military Order of Max Joseph
200:Military Order of Max Joseph
7:
1078:VanWyngarden, Greg (2007).
675:House Order of Hohenzollern
466:On 28 July, he shot up the
391:, which in May 1916 became
334:Afterwards, he returned to
188:House Order of Hohenzollern
10:
1173:
978:Franks & Giblin (2003)
930:Franks & Giblin (2003)
913:Franks & Giblin (2003)
901:Franks & Giblin (2003)
877:Franks & Giblin (2003)
865:Franks & Giblin (2003)
814:Franks & Giblin (2003)
799:Franks & Giblin (2003)
754:Franks & Giblin (2003)
705:Prinzregent Luitpold Medal
361:
243:dedicated fighter aircraft
18:
598:Robert L. Chidlaw-Roberts
546:Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp
527:Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp
389:Kampfeinsitzer Kommando B
233:was a German World War I
197:(First and Second Class);
175:
165:
136:
124:
116:
106:
98:
80:
60:
52:
43:
36:
703:Unknown date - Bavaria:
693:Fourth Class with Swords
499:, and desired a change.
374:Feldflieger Abteilung 32
336:Feldflieger Abteilung 1b
329:Feldflieger Abteilung 1b
287:Rottenburg an der Laaber
212:Fourth Class with Swords
112:Infantry, Flying Service
67:Rottenburg an der Laaber
1059:Kilduff, Peter (1997).
1044:. London: Grub Street.
1016:. London: Grub Street.
997:. London: Grub Street.
656:Third Class with Swords
457:Order of Military Merit
327:Müller was assigned to
293:Prewar military service
634:Decorations and awards
605:Frank "Mongoose" Soden
590:
493:Manfred von Richthofen
435:Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter
422:Kingdom of Württemberg
259:Manfred von Richthofen
915:, pp. 48–49, 97.
659:Late 1915 - Prussia:
652:Late 1915 - Bavaria:
582:
387:Müller was posted to
299:Bavarian War Minister
219:Max Ritter von Müller
117:Years of service
38:Max Ritter von Müller
29:Max Ritter von Mulzer
968:, pp. 103, 345.
691:Military Merit Order
654:Military Merit Cross
535:Military Merit Order
954:VanWyngarden (2007)
889:VanWyngarden (2007)
838:VanWyngarden (2007)
826:VanWyngarden (2007)
574:No. 60 Squadron RFC
520:No. 32 Squadron RFC
504:Heinrich Gontermann
468:Sopwith 1½ Strutter
432:No. 45 Squadron RFC
415:No. 24 Squadron RFC
393:Abwehrkommando Nord
358:Service in fighters
323:Reconnaissance duty
255:German regular army
1042:Above the Trenches
663:of 1914, 1st class
646:of 1914, 2nd class
472:Matthew Brown Frew
420:A transfer to the
352:Kingdom of Bavaria
71:Kingdom of Bavaria
1070:978-1-85409-266-3
1034:978-0-948817-73-1
1004:978-1-90401-002-9
956:, pp. 82–83.
903:, pp. 48–49.
801:, pp. 46–47.
216:
215:
16:German flying ace
1164:
1093:
1074:
1055:
1027:
1008:
981:
975:
969:
963:
957:
951:
945:
939:
933:
927:
916:
910:
904:
898:
892:
886:
880:
874:
868:
862:
841:
835:
829:
823:
817:
811:
802:
796:
790:
784:
757:
751:
730:
724:
715:Inline citations
424:'s newly formed
382:Fokker Eindecker
304:Luftstreitkräfte
108:
87:
48:
34:
33:
25:Hans Karl Müller
1172:
1171:
1167:
1166:
1165:
1163:
1162:
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1090:
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1024:
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989:
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566:No. 21 Squadron
554:
552:Death in action
370:
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208:
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89:
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39:
32:
17:
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11:
5:
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1051:978-0948817199
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1022:
1009:
1003:
988:
985:
983:
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970:
958:
946:
944:, p. 160.
942:Kilduff (1997)
934:
917:
905:
893:
881:
869:
842:
830:
818:
803:
791:
789:, p. 170.
758:
731:
729:, p. 169.
718:
716:
713:
712:
711:
708:
701:
694:
687:
684:
682:Pour le Mérite
678:
671:
664:
657:
650:
647:
635:
632:
624:Knight's Cross
612:
609:
553:
550:
516:Arthur Claydon
484:Pour le Merite
439:William Wright
427:Jagdstaffel 28
407:Oswald Boelcke
359:
356:
324:
321:
319:
316:
294:
291:
282:
279:
214:
213:
182:Pour le Mérite
177:
173:
172:
167:
163:
162:
159:Jagdstaffel 28
138:
134:
133:
126:
122:
121:
118:
114:
113:
110:
104:
103:
100:
96:
95:
88:(aged 31)
84:9 January 1918
82:
78:
77:
64:1 January 1887
62:
58:
57:
54:
50:
49:
41:
40:
37:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1091:
1089:9781846032035
1085:
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1047:
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1038:
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1025:
1023:0-948817-73-9
1019:
1015:
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1006:
1000:
996:
991:
990:
980:, p. 98.
979:
974:
967:
962:
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943:
938:
932:, p. 49.
931:
926:
924:
922:
914:
909:
902:
897:
891:, p. 76.
890:
885:
879:, p. 74.
878:
873:
867:, p. 48.
866:
861:
859:
857:
855:
853:
851:
849:
847:
840:, p. 87.
839:
834:
828:, p. 10.
827:
822:
816:, p. 47.
815:
810:
808:
800:
795:
788:
783:
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756:, p. 46.
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709:
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676:
672:
669:
668:Bravery Medal
665:
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645:
641:
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631:
629:
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594:Albatros D.Va
589:
587:
581:
579:
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563:
559:
549:
547:
543:
542:Jagdstaffel 2
538:
536:
532:
528:
523:
521:
517:
513:
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508:Jagdstaffel 2
505:
500:
498:
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486:
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479:Jagdstaffel 2
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402:Jagdstaffel 2
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178:
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170:Jagdstaffel 2
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152:Jagdstaffel 2
147:
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83:
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75:German Empire
72:
68:
63:
59:
55:
51:
47:
42:
35:
30:
26:
22:
1079:
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1041:
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994:
973:
961:
949:
937:
908:
896:
884:
872:
833:
821:
794:
722:
704:
700:(posthumous)
637:
621:
614:
591:
585:
583:
577:
572:fighters of
555:
541:
539:
524:
507:
501:
490:
482:
478:
476:
465:
454:
449:
447:
437:of Captain
425:
419:
400:
396:
392:
388:
386:
378:first pilots
373:
371:
335:
333:
328:
326:
309:
302:
296:
284:
251:commissioned
239:
218:
217:
180:
169:
157:
150:
145:
140:
128:
86:(1918-01-09)
1112:1918 deaths
1107:1887 births
677:with Swords
512:Erwin Böhme
470:of Captain
384:in action.
380:to fly the
318:World War I
312:Schleißheim
247:fighter ace
235:fighter ace
53:Nickname(s)
21:Hans Müller
1101:Categories
987:References
661:Iron Cross
644:Iron Cross
443:Carl Bolle
411:Airco DH.2
362:See also:
348:Iron Cross
281:Early life
195:Iron Cross
99:Allegiance
707:in Bronze
611:Aftermath
558:Moorslede
540:When the
497:Emil Thuy
253:into the
179:Prussian
120:1907–1918
94:, Belgium
92:Moorslede
617:Courtrai
578:Leutnant
544:leader,
450:Leutnant
340:Otto C.I
275:Albatros
263:Blue Max
166:Commands
155:(twice);
130:Leutnant
107:Service/
56:Blue Max
670:in Gold
626:of the
602:Captain
267:Bavaria
102:Germany
1086:
1067:
1048:
1032:
1020:
1001:
344:Farman
176:Awards
109:branch
586:Kette
584:"The
90:near
1084:ISBN
1065:ISBN
1046:ISBN
1030:ISBN
1018:ISBN
999:ISBN
600:and
570:SE5a
562:RE.8
366:and
231:MOMJ
137:Unit
125:Rank
81:Died
61:Born
564:of
518:of
413:of
395:of
223:PlM
27:or
1103::
1028:,
920:^
845:^
806:^
761:^
734:^
607:.
445:.
307:.
229:,
227:IC
225:,
73:,
69:,
23:,
1092:.
1073:.
1054:.
1036:.
1026:.
1007:.
207:;
202:;
190:;
185:;
148:;
143:;
31:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
