Kurt Bühligen

Kurt Bühligen (13 December 1917 – 11 August 1985) was a German World War II flying ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until early 1945. Credited with downing 112 enemy aircraft, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

Military career
He initially joined the Luftwaffe as a mechanic, before transferring to flying training during 1938–39. In July 1940 he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) as an Unteroffizier pilot.

Bühligen claimed his first aerial victory — a Hawker Hurricane over Kent — on 4 September 1940 and was awarded the Ritterkreuz a year later after 20 further claims.

In December 1942 Bühligen served with II./JG 2 in Tunisia and North Africa, claiming some 40 Allied kills before returning to Europe in March 1943. By March 1944 he had scored 96 kills and was now a Major in command of II./JG 2. After 12 more kills Bühligen led JG 2 in carrying out operations against the Soviet advance on the Eastern Front. In early 1945, now Geschwaderkommodore of JG 2, an engine failure caused Bühligen to be taken prisoner by the Soviets, being finally released in 1950.

He shot down some 112 enemy aircraft in over 700 operations, becoming the fourth highest Luftwaffe scorer against the Western Allies. All his victories were claimed over the Western Front and North Africa and included 47 Spitfires and 46 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) victims; 13 P-38, 9 P-47 and 24 four-engine bombers. He was never shot down but had to make emergency landings on 3 occasions. His final command was Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 2 fighter wing.

Awards

 * Wound Badge in Silver
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (24 July 1941)
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "700"
 * Combined Pilots-Observation Badge
 * German Cross in Gold on 25 June 1943 as Leutnant in the 4./JG 2
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd class (10 September 1940)
 * 1st class (29 October 1940)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
 * Knight's Cross on 4 September 1941 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the II./JG 2 "Richthofen"
 * 413th Oak Leaves on 2 March 1944 as Major (war officer) and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./JG 2 "Richthofen"
 * 88th Swords on 14 August 1944 as Major (war officer) and Geschwaderkommodore of JG 2 "Richthofen"