Alfred.W.Muller WW1/WW2 Ace

[Johannes]

Hi guys

Am trying to find details of Alfred.W.Mullers"Kugelblitz" WW1 claims, I know the dates 4th March 1917 & 25th March 1917, however I do not know aircraft type, the time, the place or even the Jasta/unit. He was born on 29th October 1894 and died on 11th August 1980. Was Staffelkapitan of 4./Jg3 in 1940 where he confirmed three claims 21st May 1940&5th June 1940x2 , later went onto various units including Jgr.Sud and Jg104.

Also I suspect that Major Helms of St.II./Njg1 is Alfred Helms a WW1 1916-1918 pilot with Jasta 10 and earlier Kampfstaffel 30, who died on 14th February 1965. Later Kommandeur of Kg172....possibly 1944-45, also with the Staff of II./Njg2 and claimed a British Wellington on 18th August 1942 with Njg1, can anybody confirm this please.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Tom Semenza]

Johannes,

Interesting information regarding Müller. This is the first I've read about his WWI claims. By way of elimination, he appears not to have been a Jasta pilot. In The Jasta Pilots by Franks, Bailey & Duiven, there are two pilots with the name "Alfred Müller." One was an Unteroffizier who served in Jasta 7 in Aug. 1918 and had no claims. The other was a Vizefeldwebel who made three claims with Jasta 39 in Aug.-Sept. 1918. So neither of these would appear to be the individual in question. In the same authors' book The Jasta War Chronology there are no claims for Müller on the two dates you mention.

As for Maj. Helm, you are correct in your assumption. According to Theo Boiten in Nachtjagd War Diaries, Alfred Helm was serving with Erprobungsstelle Werneuchen and from June to August 1942 was detached to II./NJG 2 flying a number of operational missions during which he made three claims as follows:
30.06.42 (02.14) Halifax (flying Bf 110 R4+BA)
20.07.42 (02.40) Halifax
18.08.42 (02.35) Wellington

He also had three claims in WWI with 30./KG 5, details of which are lacking. Do you have any specifics on these claims? When did he serve in Jasta 10? There is no mention of him in The Jasta Pilots.

Regards,
Tom

[VtwinVince]

Mueller was an old friend of my uncle's, and was his CO at 4\JG 3. They shared the distinction of scoring victories in both conflicts. My uncle went on to be CO of 9. Staffel, but kept in touch with Mueller. I have a nice photo from Bernd Barbas showing the staffel scoreboard during this period.

[Johannes]

Hi Guys

Thankyou for the information. Claims from both conflicts, and especailly those how made ace status are extremely rare, I can think of only three others Theo Osterkamp(1892-1975) twenty-nine in WW1 and two in WW2, Erich Mix(1898-1971) two in WW1 and four in WW2, and Alfred Lindenberger(1897-????) 10 in WW1(plus three as an air-gunner) and four in WW2. I wonder if Helms could be as an air-gunner? Lindenberger is still vague to me, I have all his claims, but no information between WW1 and 30th June 1944 when he becomes Kommandeur of II./Jg300. Osterkamp would be the oldest to claim at forty-eight, but Lindenberger the latest in 1944. Osterkamp made lots of unconfirmed claims in both wars, Mix several in WW2. Forward your personnal e.mail address to me if you desire my biographies.

Regards

Johannes

[Johannes]

Guys

With regards to Helms claims the first two do not appear on the micro Films, simply they do not exist for St.II./NJG 2 prior to August 1942! however the third is actually for St./NJG1 not NJG2, even the staffel number confirms this, though apparently Njg1 was aloud to second pilots at will for a night.

Regards

Johannes