Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller

Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller (25 December 1916 – 29 May 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II. As a fighter ace, he is credited with 140 aerial victories claimed in more than 600 combat missions. He claimed eight aerial victories during the Battle of France, 89 on the Eastern Front, and further 43 victories against the Western Allies in the Mediterranean Theatre and in Defense of the Reich, including 24 four-engined bombers. He was "ace-in-a-day" four times, shooting down five or more aircraft on a single day.

Born in Berlin-Lichterfelde, Müller grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Following graduation from school, he volunteered for military service in the Wehrmacht in 1936. Initially serving with the Army, he transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1938. He completed flight training in 1939 and was posted to Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing). Flying with this wing, Müller claimed his first aerial victory on 27 May 1940 during the Battle of France. He also fought in the Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, and in Siege of Malta before again transferring to the Eastern Front in 1942. There, he claimed his 100th aerial victory and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 23 September 1942.

In November 1943, Müller was given command of I. Gruppe of JG 53 which was operating in Mediterranean Theatre. In February 1944, he transferred to Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing), initially commanding the IV. Gruppe, fighting in defense of the United States Army Air Forces daytime attacks. In April, he was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 3 and claimed his 140th aerial victory on 12 May. Müller was killed in a landing accident on 29 May 1944. Posthumously, he was promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel).

Early life and career Müller, who was nicknamed "Tutti", was born on 25 December 1916 in Berlin-Lichterfelde, at the time in the Kingdom of Prussia of the German Empire. He was the son of a public accountant (Rendant). From 1924 to 1927, he attended the 14. Gemeindeschule (14th elementary school), from 1927 to 1932, the Oberrealschule Lichtenberg, a secondary school, and graduated from the 2. Städtische Mittelschule (2nd municipal middle school) in 1934, attaining the Mittlere Reife (Middle Maturity). While at school, Müller was also a member of the Hitler Youth in Potsdam. He joined the military service of the Wehrmacht on 17 October 1936, initially serving with 2. Kompanie (2nd company) of Pionier Bataillon 42 (42nd pioneer battalion). On 25 June 1937, he became a Fahnenjunker (cadet), and starting on 16 October 1937, was trained at the Kriegsschule in Munich. There, he was promoted to Fähnrich (officer candidate) on 26 March 1938, effective as of 1 March 1938.

On 28 April 1938, officially effective as of 1 July, Müller was transferred to the Luftwaffe at Bad Aibling where he was promoted to Oberfähnrich (senior officer candidate) on 30 June 1938, effective as of 1 June 1938. On 1 July, Müller was then sent to the Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 17, renamed to Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 62 on 11 November 1938, based at Quedlinburg for further training. At Quedlinburg, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 8 November 1938, effective as of 1 September 1938. His flight training began on 1 March 1939, at first at Oldenburg, and on 17 July 1939 at the Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school) at Werneuchen. Following flight training, Müller was posted to the III. Gruppe (3rd group) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) on 3 October 1939, there he was assigned to the 8. Staffel (8th squadron).

World War II World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. At the time, III. Gruppe was under the command of Hauptmann (Captain) Werner Mölders and had just been formed at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim on 26 September 1939. Müller's commanding officer with 8. Staffel was Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) Hans von Hahn. Müller flew combat missions during the Phoney War period and received the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 17 April 1940. He claimed his first aerial victory during the Battle of France. On 27 May 1940, during the Dunkirk evacuation, he shot down an Armée de l'Air Curtiss Hawk in the vicinity of Amiens. On 10 June, he was credited with the destruction of three French Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighter aircraft. The Geschwader flew its last combat missions in the French Campaign on 19 June. On 20 June, III. Gruppe provided fighter cover in the vicinity of Compiègne during the armistice negotiations which was signed on 22 June.

Müller flew through the Battle of Britain adding two Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters to his eight claims after the Battle of France. On 5 September, he claimed a RAF Supermarine Spitfire during an air-sea rescue mission. On 15 September, Müller ran out of fuel in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 (Werknummer 5251—factory number), resulting in a forced landing in the English Channel.

Operation Barbarossa In preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, JG 53 arrived in Mannheim-Sandhofen on 8 June 1941 where the aircraft were given a maintenance overhaul. On 12 June, the Geschwader began its relocation east, with III. Gruppe moving to Suwałki in northeastern Poland. Two days later, III. Gruppe transferred to a forward airfield at Sobolewo. Here, JG 53 was subordinated to Luftflotte 2 (Air Fleet 2) and was deployed on the right flank of Army Group Centre. The Gruppe flew its first combat mission in the early morning hours of 22 June, with 8. Staffel strafing an airfield at Ossów. Müller claimed his first two aerial victories on the Eastern Front that day. On 29 June, he was shot down and wounded near Krespiga in his Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 8153) by friendly anti-aircraft fire.

In early October 1941, III. Gruppe was withdrawn from the Eastern Front, the air elements returned to Mannheim-Sandhofen on 4 October while the ground crew followed by train on 13 October. By this date, Müller was credited with twenty aerial victories.

Siege of Malta On 1 November 1941, Müller was transferred to the I. Gruppe of JG 53. Here, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1. Staffel, succeeding Oberleutnant Hans-Joachim Heinecke who was transferred. In December, this unit was moved to Mediterranean air bases at Gela in Sicily. On 20 December, on a Junkers Ju 88 escort mission to La Valletta, Müller claimed a Hawker Hurricane shot down, his 21st aerial victory. In total, he claimed three Hurricanes over Malta. In early May 1942, I. Gruppe handed its aircraft over to those units staying in Sicily and relocated to Schwäbisch Hall. There, the Gruppe was equipped with a full complement of factory new Bf 109 F-4.

Back on the Eastern Front

In support of Case Blue, the 1942 strategic summer offensive in southern Russia, I. Gruppe of JG 53 began its relocation to the Eastern Front on 28 May 1942, arriving at Kursk that evening. Based at Kursk for the next three weeks, I. Gruppe supported the 4th Panzer Army in its drive towards Voronezh. The first combat missions were flown on 31 May in the vicinity northeast of Kursk. Müller claimed his first aerial victory in this theater of operations on 3 June over an I-61, a designation for the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 fighter aircraft. On 31 July, I. Gruppe was moved to Frolovo to provide air cover for 6th Army drive to Stalingrad. By this date, Müller's number of aerial victory claims had increased to 39.

In August, Müller claimed some 25 victories, and in September claimed a further 35 victories. On 10 September, Leutnant Walter Zellot the commander of 2. Staffel of JG 53 was killed in action. The following day, Müller, in addition to his command of 1. Staffel, was also given command of 2. Staffel. As the standard armament of Bf 109 proved largely ineffective against heavily armored Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, additional firepower was provided through a pair of 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons installed in conformal gun pods under the wings of the Bf 109. I. Gruppe was also provided with a number of these up-gunned Bf 109s. On 18 September 1942, flying a "gunboat" Bf 109, Müller claimed six Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, taking his total to 97 aerial victories. The next day, Müller received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 September 1942 following a series of 18 enemy aircraft destroyed: five on 16 September, three on 17 September, six on 18 September and three on 19 September. On the latter day, he claimed his 98th and 100th aerial victories. He was the 23rd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.

Together with Wilhelm Crinius, Müller received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 23 September 1942. He was the 126th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler in October at the Führerhauptquartier Werwolf, Hitler's headquarters located in a pine forest about north of Vinnytsia, in Ukraine. Three other Luftwaffe officers were presented with the Oak Leaves that day by Hitler, Oberleutnant Wolfgang Tonne, Leutant Hans Beißwenger and Feldwebel Crinius. Müller was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) on 24 October 1942. Following the presentation, Müller, Tonne and Crinius were ordered to Berlin where they made a propaganda appearance at the "House of the Press". At the same time, I. Gruppe of JG 53 relocated from the Eastern Front to Comiso Airfiled in Sicily where they arrived on 10 October.

North Africa and Sicily

When British forces launched the Second Battle of El Alamein on 23 October, elements of I. Gruppe of JG 53 were ordered to North Africa. In November 1942, Müller was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 53 and led the unit in Tunisia. On 25 November, I. Gruppe moved from Tunis to Djedeida Airfield. Müller went on leave shortly before Christmas 1942 and returned to his unit at around 23 January 1943. During his absence, command of I. Gruppe temporarily was handed over to Tonne, commander of 3. Staffel. Müller claimed his first aerial victories in this theater of operations on 31 January 1943, shooting down a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress between Béja and Souk El Khemis. On 25 January, Müller flipped and damaged his aircraft Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 14510) during landing at Bizerte Airfield. on 31 January 1943, he claimed his two aerial victories, shooting down a USAAF B-17 bomber and a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft. On 23 March, Müller was engaged with P-38 fighters from the 1st Fighter Group escorting bombers to Bizerte. In this encounter, it is likely that he shot down Lieutenant Slater who baled out off-shore. Two days later, British intelligence believed that Müller had been captured. This assumption was caused by confusing the Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel, Leutnant Hans Möller who was shot down and captured, with Müller.

On 20 April 1943, Tonne was killed in a flying accident, this event had a significant effect on Müller and influenced his health. On 24 April, Müller claimed two RAF Spitfires shot down, taking his overall score to 114 aerial victories. He claimed his 115th overall and last victory in the North African theater of operations over a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk on 30 April. Following this mission, I. Gruppe handed its aircraft over to II. Gruppe, and the pilots and ground crew were transported by sea to Sicily shortly before the German surrender in North Africa on 12 May.

In Sicily, I. Gruppe was based at Catania Airfield. On 17 June, the Gruppe was moved from Catania to the Italian mainland at Vibo Valentia. Müller was suffering from combat fatigue, requiring a lengthy period of convalescence. During this period, on 1 July 1943, Müller was promoted to Major (major) with a rank age dated 1 January 1944. He received the German Cross in Gold on 15 November and the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 December 1943.

Defense of the Reich On 11 February 1944, the Gruppenkommandeur of IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3–3rd Fighter Wing), named after the World War I fighter ace Ernst Udet, Major Franz Beyer was killed in action. In consequence, Müller was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of IV. Gruppe and ordered to relocate from Italy to the Venlo airfield, officially taking over command on 26 February. He now fought in the aerial battles in Defense of the Reich, just after the USAAF offensive dubbed "Big Week" came to an end. His command of I. Gruppe of JG 53 was then given to Hauptmann Jürgen Harder. That day, IV. Gruppe was transferred to Salzwedel where it was augmented by Sturmstaffel 1, an experimental unit flying the so-called Sturmböcke (Battering Ram) up-gunned Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-7 and A-8 aircraft.

On 6 March, the USAAF targeted various industrial centers in and around Berlin. In total, the Eighth Air Force mustered 730 four-engined bombers and 801 fighter aircraft in the first, full-scale daylight attack on Berlin. IV. Gruppe, led by Müller, was one of the Luftwaffe units dispatched to counter this attack and claimed the destruction of seven B-17 bombers, four B-17 Herausschüsse (separation shots–a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from its combat box and which the Luftwaffe counted as an aerial victory) and one North American P-51 Mustang fighter for the loss of one Bf 109 G-6 damaged. In this encounter, Müller was credited with the destruction of two B-17 bombers. Two days later, Müller again headed IV. Gruppe against an attack of the Eighth Air Force targeting the Vereinigte Kugellagerfabriken AG ball bearing factories in Erkner, south of Berlin. That day, Müller claimed one B-17 and one Consolidated B-24 Liberator destroyed, plus one Herausschuss of a B-24, bringing his number of aerial victories claimed to 121.

Wing commander and death

On 23 March 1944, the USAAF Eighth Air Force targeted aircraft factories at Braunschweig and other targets of opportunity in Münster, Osnabrück and Achmer. In defense of this attack, JG 3 lost 16 pilots killed in action including the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) Oberst Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke. On 12 April, Müller was given command of JG 3 by General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland. Command of IV. Gruppe was first passed to Hauptmann Heinz Lang before Major Wilhelm Moritz took command on 18 April. Müller, who had his regular wingman Leutnant Dieter Zink transferred to the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit), claimed eighteen further victories, seventeen of which were four-engined bombers.

On 18 April 776 four-engined bombers and 634 fighters again attacked the industrial targets in the Berlin area. Müller led JG 3 in its attack against the USAAF 3d Bombardment Division. In total, JG 3 claimed the destruction of 25 B-17 bombers plus three further Herausschüsse. In addition, two P-51 and one P-38 fighters were also claimed. Müller was personally credited with two B-17 bombers shot down. For his leadership of JG 3 that day, Müller was honorably referenced in the Wehrmachtbericht on 19 April 1944.

Müller was killed in a landing accident at Salzwedel on 29 May 1944, when his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 410827) stalled on landing approach at low altitude. He was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel). He was interred on the Neuer Friedhof Potsdam. His grave has been leveled since. He was briefly succeeded by Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob as commander of JG 3 before Major Heinz Bär took command on 6 June.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Müller was credited with 140 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 139 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 89 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 50 over the Western Allies, including 24 four-engined bombers.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 39242". The Luftwaffe grid map covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940 1 27 May 1940 09:10 P-36 Hawk northwest of Amiens 5 7 June 1940 16:53? M.S.406 Compiègne 2 3 June 1940 14:55? Hurricane Paris 6 10 June 1940 08:20 M.S.406 southwest of Reims 3 5 June 1940 18:20 M.S.406 Compiègne 7 10 June 1940 08:30 M.S.406 south of Épernay 4 5 June 1940 18:24 M.S.406 Compiègne 8 10 June 1940 08:30 M.S.406 south of Épernay – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 7 June 1941 9? 5 September 1940 16:25 Spitfire 10 6 September 1940 10:25 Spitfire Dungeness – Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 7 June 1941 29 April 1941 Spitfire Dungeness – Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 4 October 1941 11 22 June 1941 16:45 I-17 (MiG-1) 8 August 1941 I-16 12 22 June 1941 16:48 I-17 (MiG-1) 17 23 August 1941 17:55 I-16 vicinity of Velikiye Luki 13 25 June 1941 13:35 SB-3 18 24 August 1941 18:48? I-153 14 26 July 1941 08:00 I-17 (MiG-1) 19 27 August 1941 18:35 I-61 (MiG-3) 15 27 July 1941 10:20 Pe-2 20 9 September 1941 11:45 I-16 northeast of Morowsk 16 30 July 1941 19:24 I-17 (MiG-1) – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Mediterranean Theater — 15 December 1941 – 30 April 1942 21 20 December 1941 09:23 Hurricane La Valetta, Malta 23 10 April 1942 18:18 Hurricane north of Ħal Far, Malta 22 27 December 1941 12:05 Hurricane east of Malta – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Eastern Front — 28 May – 27 September 1942 24 3 June 1942 16:12 I-61 (MiG-3) 63♠ 30 August 1942 17:10 Il-2 southwest of Sarepta 25 28 June 1942 14:38 MiG-1 64♠ 30 August 1942 17:13? Il-2 north of Sarepta 26 2 July 1942 06:50 MiG-1 65 4 September 1942 15:35 Yak-1 northwest of Stalingrad 27 2 July 1942 07:00 MiG-1 66 5 September 1942 05:07 Yak-1 west of Stalingrad 28 3 July 1942 18:15 LaGG-3 east of Sossne-Olynn 67 5 September 1942 12:19 Yak-1 Stalingrad 29 6 July 1942 16:37 LaGG-3 68♠ 7 September 1942 07:20 Yak-1 north of Hp. 564 km 30 8 July 1942 11:37 Il-2 69♠ 7 September 1942 11:25 Il-2 north of Hp. 564 km 31 8 July 1942 11:43 Il-2 70♠ 7 September 1942 11:26? Il-2? north of Hp. 564 km 32 12 July 1942 09:05 Boston 71♠ 7 September 1942 15:50 Il-2 north of Kotluban train station 33 26 July 1942 08:43 LaGG-3 72♠ 7 September 1942 15:51 Il-2 south of Hp. 564 km 34 26 July 1942 08:45 LaGG-3 73♠ 7 September 1942 15:53 Il-2 west of Hp. 564 km 35 26 July 1942 08:47 LaGG-3 74♠ 7 September 1942 15:56 Il-2 northeast of Kotluban train station 36 28 July 1942 09:55 R-5 Proletarskaja airfield 75 9 September 1942 05:30 I-153 east of Stalingrad 37 28 July 1942 16:35 U-2 west of Salsk 76 9 September 1942 05:36 I-153 east of Stalingrad 38 29 July 1942 08:32 LaGG-3 northwest of Salsk 77 9 September 1942 09:25 Yak-1 east of Stalingrad 39 29 July 1942 17:50 I-16 north of Salsk 78 11 September 1942 12:25 I-153 east of Stalingrad 40 1 August 1942 07:06 LaGG-3 PQ 39242 north of Kalach 79 11 September 1942 14:40 Il-2 northeast of Kotluban train station 41 2 August 1942 11:27 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 39433 south of Pitomnik 80 11 September 1942 15:25 Yak-1 eastern edge of Stalingrad 42 4 August 1942 13:40 MiG-1 southwest of Beketowskaja 81 13 September 1942 16:45 Yak-1 southeastern sector of Stalingrad 43 6 August 1942 07:00 Il-2 PQ 38232 south of Aksay 82 15 September 1942 12:25 I-153 east of Stalingrad 44 8 August 1942 06:16 Er-2 south of Tinguta 83 15 September 1942 12:35 I-16 east of Stalingrad 45 9 August 1942 12:08 MiG-3 PQ 49173 east of Pitomnik 84 15 September 1942 16:25 P-40 northwest of Stalingrad 46 9 August 1942 16:10 LaGG-3 PQ 39421 southwest of Pitomnik 85♠ 16 September 1942 06:30 Yak-5 east of Stalingrad 47 10 August 1942 17:12 MiG-3 PQ 3975 south of Nizhny Chir 86♠ 16 September 1942 15:22 Yak-1 west of Stalingrad 48 12 August 1942 04:22 Il-2 PQ 38112 north-northwest of Kotelnikowo 87♠ 16 September 1942 15:24 Yak-1 west of Stalingrad 49 12 August 1942 04:29 MiG-3 PQ 3946 southwest of Bassargino 88♠ 16 September 1942 15:28 Yak-1 Petrosch village 50 12 August 1942 04:32 MiG-3 PQ 3946 southwest of Bassargino 89♠ 16 September 1942 15:35 I-153 Gresswaja 51 18 August 1942 07:15 Il-2 northwest of Katschalinskaja 90 17 September 1942 06:28 P-40 northwest of Akhtuba 52 18 August 1942 07:20 Il-2 southeast of Katschalinskaja 91 17 September 1942 16:22 LaGG-3? PQ 49722 north of Gumrak 53 20 August 1942 04:45 Er-2 Panschino 92 17 September 1942 16:30 Yak-1 PQ 4971 northeast of Grebenka 54 21 August 1942 17:25 I-180 (Yak-7) Krassnoarmejsk 93♠ 18 September 1942 05:55 Il-2 PQ 49112vicinity of Gumrak 55 23 August 1942 06:50 I-180 (Yak-7) Gorodishche 94♠ 18 September 1942 05:56 Il-2 PQ 49152vicinity of Gumrak 56 23 August 1942 12:10 I-153 Gorodishche 95♠ 18 September 1942 05:57 Il-2 PQ 49123 north of Gumrak 57 23 August 1942 12:13 LaGG-3 Gorodishche 96♠ 18 September 1942 05:58 Il-2 PQ 49122 north of Gumrak 58 24 August 1942 12:00 LaGG-3 west of Stalingrad 97♠ 18 September 1942 05:59 Il-2 PQ 40793 north of Grebenka 59 25 August 1942 08:45 MiG-3 east of Radkowo ? 18 September 1942 Il-2 60♠ 30 August 1942 13:18 MiG-1 Kotluban train station 98 19 September 1942 08:40 LaGG-3? PQ 4075 north of Gumrak 61♠ 30 August 1942 13:22 MiG-1 Dubowy 99 19 September 1942 08:52 LaGG-3 PQ 4912 north of Gumrak 62♠ 30 August 1942 17:08 Il-2 southwest of Sarepta 100 19 September 1942 08:53 LaGG-3 PQ 4913 north of Grebenka – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Mediterranean Theater — 1 October – 31 December 1942 101 27 November 1942 11:15 Spitfire northeast of Majaz al Bab 103 28 November 1942 15:43 P-38 east of Mateur 102 28 November 1942 15:35 Spitfire east of Mateur – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –North Africa — 1 January – May 1943 104 23 January 1943 11:55 B-17 southwest of Majaz al Bab 110 19 April 1943 17:00 Spitfire Tunis E-19 airfield 105 31 January 1943 12:08 B-17 southeast of Tabarka 111 19 April 1943 17:08 Spitfire west-southwest of Tunis E-21 airfield 106 31 January 1943 12:10 P-38 southeast of Tabarka 112 20 April 1943 09:53 Spitfire west of Tunis E-21 airfield 107 25 February 1943 12:15 Spitfire west of Souk El Khemis 113 24 April 1943 16:12 Spitfire west of Bir Melarga 108 10 March 1943 15:55 P-38 Souk El Arba 114 24 April 1943 16:14 Spitfire west of Defienne 109 23 March 1943 12:48 P-38 west of Cap Serrat 115 30 April 1943 12:15 P-40 northwest of Cap Bon – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Sicily — May 1943 116 19 May 1943 13:40 P-38 east of Marettino 117 23 May 1943 16:25 Spitfire northeast of La Valetta – IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 –Defense of the Reich — March 1944 118 6 March 1944 13:05 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/GF-8Klaistow 121 8 March 1944 15:30 B-24 PQ 15 Ost S/FA-5Potsdam-Brandenburg 119 6 March 1944 13:14 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/GH-4Erkner 122 8 March 1944 15:34 B-24* PQ 05 Ost S/FUPotsdam-Brandenburg 120 8 March 1944 13:30 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/HD-2southwest of Burg – Stab of Jagdgeschwader 3 –Defense of the Reich — April – May 1944 123 8 April 1944 14:16 B-24 north of Braunschweig 132 22 April 1944 19:46 B-24 PQ 05 Ost S/NQ-OQMorsbach/Diersdorf 124 9 April 1944 11:40 B-24 north of Rügen 133 22 April 1944 19:46 B-24 PQ 05 Ost S/NQ-OQMorsbach/Diersdorf 125 9 April 1944 11:40? B-24* north of Rügen 134 24 April 1944 13:35 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/CCeast of Augsburg 126 11 April 1944 11:00 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/HB, Braunschweig 135 24 April 1944 13:50 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/CDnorth of Munich 127 11 April 1944 11:04 B-17 west of Magdeburg 136 8 May 1944 09:30 B-24 PQ 15 Ost S/FA-9west of Gifhorn 128 13 April 1944 14:00 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/RT-QTvicinity of Aschaffenburg 137 8 May 1944 12:12? P-51 PQ 05 Ost S/FT-1north of Hanover 129 13 April 1944 14:05 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/RT-QTvicinity of Aschaffenburg 138 8 May 1944 12:25 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/FT-1southwest of Hoya 130 18 April 1944 14:32 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/FFNauen, west of Berlin 139 12 May 1944 12:32 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/QRWiesbaden 131 18 April 1944 14:38 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/FFNauen, west of Berlin 140 12 May 1944 12:37 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/PRvicinity of Giessen/Frankfurt am Main

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (17 April 1940) 1st Class (20 June 1940) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 19 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 53 126th Oak Leaves on 23 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 53 German Cross in Gold on 15 November 1943 as Major in the I./Jagdgeschwader 53 Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 13 December 1943 as Hauptmann and pilot Named reference in the Wehrmachtbericht on 19 April 1944

Dates of rank 1 June 1937: Gefreiter 25 June 1937 Fahnenjunker 26 March 1938: Fähnrich (officer candidate), effective as of 1 March 1938 30 June 1938: Oberfähnrich, effective as of 1 June 1938 8 November 1938: Leutnant (Second Lieutenant), effective as of 1 September 1938 1 September 1940: Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) 24 October 1942: Hauptmann (Captain) 1 July 1943: Major (Major), with a rank age dated 1 January 1944