Rudolf Müller (pilot)


Rudolf "Rudi" Müller was a Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Müller was credited with 94 victories, though one source lists 101 victories.
Müller was born on 21 November 1920 in Frankfurt am Main.

World War II

When Müller first joined the German army he served with the signal corps. In 1940 he transferred to the Luftwaffe, and underwent pilot training. Müller was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 77 in August of 1941. His first claimed victory came on September 12th 1941 when he shot down a Russian Polikarpov I-16 fighter. 1./JG 77 was re-designated to Jagdgeschwader 5 in January 1942. On 23 April 1942, he claimed five Hawker Hurricanes shot down. Müller received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 June 1942 for 41 aerial victories. The presentation was made by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff at Petsamo, present-day Pechenga in Murmansk Oblast. He was shot down in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 by a Hurricane from 609 IAP on 19 April 1943.

Awards