Kurt Bühligen, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetKurt Bühligen
German World War II fighter pilot
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Granschütz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
About Kurt Bühligen
- Kurt Bühligen (13 December 1917 – 11 August 1985) was a Luftwaffe wing commander and fighter ace of Nazi Germany during World War II.
- He was credited with 112 enemy aircraft shot down in over 700 combat missions.
- His victories were all claimed over the Western Front and included 14 four-engine bombers and 47 Supermarine Spitfire fighters. Born in Granschütz, Bühligen, volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1936.
- Initially trained as an aircraft mechanic, after the outbreak of World War II, he was trained as a pilot.
- In June 1940, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing).
- He fought in the Battle of Britain and claimed his first aerial victory in that campaign on 4 September 1940.
- Promoted to an officers rank, Bühligen was appointed squadron leader of the 4.
- Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 2 in April 1942.
- In November 1942, his unit was transferred to the Mediterranean and theatre where he claimed his 50th aerial victory in February 1943.
- Back on the Channel Front, he was appointed commander of the II.
- Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 2 in April 1943.
- Following his 96th, Bühligen was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves in March 1944.
- In April 1944, he replaced Kurt Ubben as commander of JG 2.
- He claimed his 100th victory on 7 June 1944 and in August received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords after 104 aerial victories.
- In May 1945, he was taken prisoner of war by Soviet forces and released in 1949. Bühligen then settled in Nidda where he worked in automotive sales.
- He died on 11 August 1985 in Nidda.
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