Nickname(s) Die Nase Service/branch Luftwaffe Rank Major | Allegiance Nazi Germany Years of service 1934–45 Name Friedrich-Karl Muller | |
Born 4 December 1911Sulzbach, Germany ( 1911-12-04 ) Died 2 November 1987(1987-11-02) (aged 75)Germany | ||
Friedrich-Karl Muller — "Nasen-Muller" — (4 December 1911 – 2 November 1987) was one of the most successful Luftwaffe night fighter aces during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Contents
Early career
He first received flying training in 1934 and joined the German airline Deutsche Lufthansa. At the beginning of World War ΙΙ, Muller was posted to KG z.b.V. 172 as a transport pilot flying the Junkers Ju 52. He was promoted to Feldwebel and assigned to 5./KG z.b.V. 172. After participating in the Polish campaign, in February 1940, Muller became an instructor at Blindflugschule 4 and promoted to Leutnant. He served with Blindflugschule 7 from September until December 1942, when he moved to I gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 50 as Technical Officer, the unit being equipped with the new Heinkel He 177 heavy bomber.
Entry into Night Fighting
In summer 1943, Muller joined Hajo Herrmann as part of the latter's experimental Wilde Sau single-engine night fighting unit Stab/Versuchskommando Herrmann. Herrmann considered Muller an ideal candidate for the role because of his blind flying instructing experience.
On the night of 3/4 July, Muller recorded his first Wilde Sau victory, a Halifax near Cologne. On the night of 22 October, Muller's fighter suffered engine failure, and he was slightly injured after baling out. In mid August Muller was appointed Technical Officer of JG 300.
He claimed two victories on 11 August 1943, both Halifax bombers near Heidelberg. Two Lancasters was claimed near Swinemunde on 17 August 1943 and two Stirlings were claimed downed over Berlin on 24 August 1943. Muller then claimed a Lancaster SE of Munich on 7 September 1943. On the nihght of 8/9 October 1943 Muller claimed a Halifax northwest of Hannover. This was probably Halifax V (LK900) "ZL-D" of No. 427 Sqn, RCAF (piloted by Sgt FJ Kelly, the crew were all killed.)
By November 1943, Muller was Staffelkapitan of 1./JG 300 and had 19 night victories to his credit. In January 1944, Muller was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of 1./Nachtjagdgruppe 10 (NJGr 10) and was charged with evaluating all aspects of technical and tactical experimentation concerning single-engined night fighting, especially countering operations by the RAF's Mosquito fast bomber. Hauptmann Muller was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 27 July 1944 for 23 victories.
He then became commander of I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 11 (NJG 11) on 25 August 1944. Muller continued to fly against the RAF night bomber streams, allegedly sometimes flying a personal Bf 109G-14 uniquely fitted with an oblique-mounted MG 151/20 cannon in a Schrage Musik installation behind the cockpit, although has yet to be verified. Muller claimed a Mosquito near Eindhoven on 23 August 1944 and a Lancaster over Frankfurt on 12 September 1944. The Mosquito was Mark B-XX, KB242 of No.608 squadron RAF, based at Downham Market. Flown by Flt Lt SD Webb RCAF and navigator F/O John Campbell RAFVR, the badly damaged Mosquito crash landed at RAF Woodbridge at 01:10 hours. The crew escaped unhurt. A double victory was claimed over Lancasters on 4 December 1944.
By late 1944 and into 1945, Muller flew numerous nocturnal ground attack missions against Allied railway targets and supply columns. His last known victories were both on 21 February 1945.
Towards the end of the war, I./NJG 11 received a few Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters to experiment with in night interceptions.
Muller survived the war and died on 2 November 1987.
Muller was one of the leading single-seat night fighter aces with 30 night victories ( and three unconfirmed) claimed in 52 missions.