Strana 42
Fw 190A-6, WNr. 550453, Hptm. Friedrich-Karl Müller, Stab /JG 300,
Bonn-Hangelar, Germany, October 1943
Fw 190A-6, Fw. Günther Josten, 1./JG 51, Bobruysk, the USSR, January 1944
A future Knight’s Cross recipient with 30 night
victories over enemy aircraft, Friedrich-
Karl Müller was born on December 4th, 1912,
in Sulzbach in Saarland. In 1934 he completed
his pilot training and got a job with Lufthansa.
After the outbreak of World War II, he was
ordered to the Luftwaffe. Initially he was flying
as a transport pilot, later as an instrument flying
instructor. In December 1942 he was assigned to
KG 50 operating He 177 aircraft, in the summer
of the following year he responded to Hajo
Hermann call and requested reassignment to
JG 300, famous for its Wilde Sau (single-engine
fighter night interception deployment) tactics.
While serving with this unit he was credited with
19 kills and in January 1944 he was ordered to
form 1./NJGr. 10. In August 1944 he was promoted
to command I./NJG 11 and lead this unit until the
end of World War II, flying a total of 52 combat
missions and achieving 30 victories. He passed
away on November 2nd, 1987. His Focke Wulf
Fw 190A-6 carrying standard camouflage and
green 3 marking retained the factory call signs
on the wing lower surfaces during combat
service. During its service with JG 300 this
aircraft was equipped with deflectors to prevent
the exhaust flashes blinding the pilot. To save
weight the armor head rest was removed.
During the night from 18th to 19th of October
1943, Hptm. Muller scored his 19th kill flying this
aircraft over Hildesheim. British Lancaster crew
from No. 207 Squadron parachuted to safety and
spent the rest of hostilities in the POW camp.
This aircraft featured a search light installed in
the leading edge of the wing.
Eighteen year old Gunther Josten joined the
Lufwaffe in January 1940, completed fighter
training, and after serving with JGr. Drontheim
and Erg.JGr. Ost in Western Europe, he reported
to 3./JG 51 in September 1942. He scored his first
victory on February 23, 1943 and achieved 19 kills
in July and 30 more in August. From September
1943 to February 1944, he served with the
training unit LKS Fürstenfeldbruck. He received
the Ritterkreuz on February 5, 1944, after his
84th victory. On July 20, 1944, he surpassed 100
victories and was soon appointed commander
of 3./JG 51. During the Warsaw Uprising,
on September 18, he shot down a B-17 carrying
supplies for the resistance. He was awarded the
Eichenlaub on March 28, 1945, after his 161st
of 178 kills and was appointed commander of
IV. Gruppe JG 51 on April 18. Josten joined the
Bundesluftwaffe on April 4, 1956 and became
commander of JG 71 in 1962. His final post was
Deputy Commander of 4. Luftwaffendivision.
He retired on March 31, 1981, as an Oberst and
died on July 7, 2004. The camouflage of Josten’s
aircraft was darkened on the fuselage sides
with the same paints applied to the upper
surfaces. The yellow recognition markings, used
on the aircraft operating on the Eastern Front,
were added. To better conceal the aircraft in
the surrounding terrain during winter the upper
and side surfaces were partially painted white.
His brother Reinhard Johannes, Oberleutnant
with I./JG 51, scored 6 victories and was killed
on April 21, 1942.
KITS 05/2025
INFO Eduard42
May 2025