Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 15th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 1st, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 25th, 1941

According to other source awarded on 7-10-1941.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)

Unit:

x. Staffel, x. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 55, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

August 21st, 1942

According to the Vorschlag of the Ritterkreuz awarded on 7-9-1942.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

January 3rd, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)

Unit:

Staffelkapitän, 1. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 55, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

April 2nd, 1943

Müller’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Hauptmann Müller was awarded the German Cross in Gold after he had demonstrated great courage and outstanding offensive success as both a pilot and commander over the course of flying 223 sorties.

Following this award Hauptmann Müller has continued to distinguish himself over the course of flying another 126 sorties. In this time (during which he flew first as a recon pilot in the Geschwader Stabsstaffel and later as a Staffelführer in the 1./K.G. 55) he has demonstrated the highest bravery and readiness for duty despite the fact that he has served on the frontlines since the beginning of the war.

Whilst serving with the Stabsstaffel as a recon flyer Hauptmann Müller frequently paved the way for offensive successes by his Geschwader on account of the extremely precise and reliable reports concerning the ground situation that he delivered.

In the time period 14.06.-08.12.1942 Hauptmann Müller served as the leader of 1. Staffel. In this capacity he consistently proved himself to be a shining example of dutifulness, talent and bravery. His ability to motivate his crews enabled them to repeatedly achieve success in the face of adversity.

Although he was repeatedly admonished by his superiors to take a respite from time to time, Hauptmann Müller nonetheless never failed to place himself at the spear tip of his Staffel and personally lead it on every mission with magnificent offensive spirit, all without any regard for his own person.

As a result of this relentless physical and mental exertion, Hauptmann Müller crashed near Morosowskaja on the 14.11.1942 after returning from his 4th sortie of the day (a successful night mission). A sudden bout of exhaustion was apparently the cause.

Of Hauptmann Müller’s many successful operations, the following are particularly worthy of note:

1.) On the 10.07.1942 Hauptmann Müller and his Staffel attacked the train station at Lichaja, which was full of trains at the time. Despite a powerful defense by AA guns, Hauptmann Müller and his Staffel were able to set almost the entire station aflame via a textbook-style attack. They thereby inflicted the greatest amount of damage possible.

2.) On the 19.07.1942 Hauptmann Müller launched an attack against railroad bridges and Don crossings in the Rostov battle zone. Whilst doing so he managed to take out a railway bridge and a road bridge east of Rostov via well-placed direct hits by bombs.

3.) Hauptmann Müller and his Staffel were involved in missions to resupply the 22. Pz. Armee [?] and Gruppe Laska, both located in the Perelasowskij/Belowonneje area. These missions were prosecuted with great success despite the prevailing flying conditions (i.e. poor visibility and lower cloud altitude of just 20-50 metres). On every occasion Hauptmann Müller was able to deliver supplies to the ordered locations despite fierce opposition by hostile fighters and AA guns. The successful delivery of these supplies was a decisive factor that facilitated the later breakout of these encircled troops.

4.) The high watermark of Hauptmann Müller’s willpower and aviator skill came during the operations against the city of Stalingrad. In this time Hauptmann Müller flew multiple attacks against the urban areas of Stalingrad day after day, and all with exemplary energy and resilience. The brilliant and confident leadership that he exhibited (combined with his outstanding flying skill) enabled him and his Staffel to achieve meaningful results on every occasion.

Hauptmann Müller appears to be worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross in recognition of his great bravery and success on the battlefield.”

Of Müller’s 349 sorties flown by this time, 12 were flown against Poland, 21 against France, 34 against England and 282 against the Soviet Union.