Max Ritter von Mulzer
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Max Ritter von Mulzer was a World War I flying ace
credited with ten aerial victories. He was the first Bavarian fighter ace, first Bavarian ace recipient of the Pour le Merite
, and first Bavarian knighted for his exploits.
Mulzer graduated from cadet training with the Royal Bavarian Cadet Corps on 10 July 1914, and was commissioned in the 8th Cavalry Regiment on 13 December 1914. He transferred to aviation on 20 August 1915. He was posted to FA 4 on 13 December, but soon joined Oswald Boelcke
and Max Immelmann
in FFA 62. Indeed, Mulzer and Immelmann often flew together, and were referred to, respectively, as "Bavarian Max" and "Saxon Max" to differentiate them. "Bavarian Max"'s first victory, on 13 March 1916, went unconfirmed, but he had three confirmed victories between 20 March and 31 May. When FA 62 shipped out for service in Russia, Mulzer transferred to KEK Nord in June 1916 and tallied three more wins during the month, with the second one occurring during the dogfight during which Immelmann was killed.
Mulzer then had a fleeting assignment to FFA 32, and went on to KEK 'B'. He scored twice for them, on 8 and 22 July; the eight victories were enough at that time to earn him the Blue Max
. He also received the Military Order of Max Joseph
and thus became a non-hereditary knight. He moved on to FA 32, and scored twice more. While test flying an Albatros D.I
from Flug Park 6 in Valenciennes, he crashed to his death. On 26 September, the day after Kurt Wintgens
died, Mulzer had a new airplane to test fly. Apparently prompted by news of his old comrade's death, Mulzer remarked, "Immelmann is dead. Parschau is dead, Wintgens is dead. Now I am next in line." Shortly thereafter, he sideslipped Albatros D.I s/n 426/16 into a hard bank, lost control, and crashed.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with ten aerial victories. He was the first Bavarian fighter ace, first Bavarian ace recipient of the Pour le Merite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
, and first Bavarian knighted for his exploits.
Mulzer graduated from cadet training with the Royal Bavarian Cadet Corps on 10 July 1914, and was commissioned in the 8th Cavalry Regiment on 13 December 1914. He transferred to aviation on 20 August 1915. He was posted to FA 4 on 13 December, but soon joined Oswald Boelcke
Oswald Boelcke
Oswald Boelcke was a German flying ace of the First World War and one of the most influential patrol leaders and tacticians of the early years of air combat. Boelcke is considered the father of the German fighter air force, as well as the "Father of Air Fighting Tactics"; he was the first to...
and Max Immelmann
Max Immelmann
Max Immelmann was the first German World War I flying ace. He was a great pioneer in fighter aviation and is often mistakenly credited with the first aerial victory using a synchronized gun...
in FFA 62. Indeed, Mulzer and Immelmann often flew together, and were referred to, respectively, as "Bavarian Max" and "Saxon Max" to differentiate them. "Bavarian Max"'s first victory, on 13 March 1916, went unconfirmed, but he had three confirmed victories between 20 March and 31 May. When FA 62 shipped out for service in Russia, Mulzer transferred to KEK Nord in June 1916 and tallied three more wins during the month, with the second one occurring during the dogfight during which Immelmann was killed.
Mulzer then had a fleeting assignment to FFA 32, and went on to KEK 'B'. He scored twice for them, on 8 and 22 July; the eight victories were enough at that time to earn him the Blue Max
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
. He also received the Military Order of Max Joseph
Military Order of Max Joseph
The Military Order of Max Joseph was the highest purely military order of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria...
and thus became a non-hereditary knight. He moved on to FA 32, and scored twice more. While test flying an Albatros D.I
Albatros D.I
|-See also:...
from Flug Park 6 in Valenciennes, he crashed to his death. On 26 September, the day after Kurt Wintgens
Kurt Wintgens
Leutnant Kurt Wintgens was a German World War I fighter ace. He was the first military fighter pilot to score a victory over an opposing aircraft in an aircraft armed with a synchronized machine gun. Wintgens was the recipient of the Iron Cross and the Blue Max.-Background:Wintgens was born into a...
died, Mulzer had a new airplane to test fly. Apparently prompted by news of his old comrade's death, Mulzer remarked, "Immelmann is dead. Parschau is dead, Wintgens is dead. Now I am next in line." Shortly thereafter, he sideslipped Albatros D.I s/n 426/16 into a hard bank, lost control, and crashed.
Reference
- Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918 Norman L. R. Franks, et al. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0948817739, 9780948817731.
- Early German Aces of World War I. Greg VanWyngarden, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1841769975, 9781841769974.