Max Ritter von Müller
German flying ace / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Max Ritter von Müller (birth name Max Müller) (1 January 1887 – 9 January 1918) PlM, IC, MOMJ was a German World War I fighter ace credited with 36 victories. He was the highest scoring Bavarian pilot of the war.
Max Ritter von Müller | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Blue Max |
Born | 1 January 1887 Rottenburg an der Laaber, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire |
Died | 9 January 1918(1918-01-09) (aged 31) near Moorslede, Belgium |
Allegiance | Germany |
Service/ | Infantry, Flying Service |
Years of service | 1907–1918 |
Rank | Leutnant |
Unit | Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 1b; Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 32; Jagdstaffel 2 (twice); Jagdstaffel 28 |
Commands held | Jagdstaffel 2 |
Awards | Prussian Pour le Mérite; House Order of Hohenzollern; Medal for Bravery (Silver and Gold Awards); Iron Cross (First and Second Class); Military Order of Max Joseph; Military Merit Order (Württemberg); Military Merit Order (Bavaria) Fourth Class with Swords |
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 was then picked to fly the first dedicated fighter aircraft. As German fighter aviation rapidly evolved throughout the war, Müller would progress as a fighter ace. The diminutive ace who had begun his career in the enlisted ranks became the only German airman to be commissioned into the German regular army on 26 May 1917. Müller's victory toll rose to second among German aces, trailing only Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron. After receiving various lower level awards, Müller received the Prussian Blue Max on 3 September 1917. His native Bavaria decided he deserved its equivalent national award, the Military Order of Max Joseph. On 9 January 1918, Müller's Albatros airplane was set on fire by a British reconnaissance plane he was attacking. He fell from the burning craft to his death.