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.

Hans Karl Müller
Born(1892-07-09)9 July 1892
Loschwitz, Kingdom of Saxony
Died23 July 1977(1977-07-23) (aged 85)
San Antonio, Texas, USA
AllegianceGerman Empire
Service/branchAviation
RankLeutnant
UnitFliegerersatz-Abteilung 2;
Kampfstaffel 11;
Kampfeinsitzerkommando Avillers
Jagdstaffel 5
AwardsIron Cross First and Second Class
Other workRan flying school 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, then known as the Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches.[1]

World War I

Müller became one of Germany's first military pilots when he undertook pilot's training at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung 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.[1]

On 20 February 1916, Müller moved to the Verdun front and joinedKampfstaffel 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 Kampfeinsitzerkommando 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.[1]

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.[1]

Müller was commissioned as a leutnant on 14 January 1917. Upon recovery, he served as a pilot for Siemens-Schuckert#Aircraft, the airplane manufacturer. He would never again see combat; he would survive the war, having been awarded both classes of the Iron Cross.[1]

List of aerial victories
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I
No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 26 March 1916 French aircraft Callette Wood
2 9 July 1916 Observation balloon Verdun
3 3 August 1916 Nieuport Verdun
4 26 August 1916 Either a Voisin or a Caudron Verdun sector
5 31 August 1916 Observation balloon Maasbogen
6 16 October 1916 @ 1750 hours Caudron South of Flers
7 22 October 1916 @ 1200 hours Airco D.H.2 Bapaume
8 20 December 1916 @ 1630 hours Caudron South of Courcelles
9 26 December 1916 @ 1355 hours Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c Le Sars [1][2]

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.[1]

References
  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank; Guest, Russell (1993). Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914-1918. London: Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-73-9.

Endnotes
  1. Franks, et al, p. 169.
  2. The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/muller2.php Retrieved 28 August 2011.
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