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 24 four-engine bombers and 47 Supermarine Spitfire fighters.
According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bühligen was credited with 112 aerial victories. [1] Spick and Obermaier also list him with 112 aerial victories, of which 40 were claimed over the North Africa, 72 over the Western Front including 24 four-engined heavy bombers, claimed in over 700 combat missions. [2] [3] Forsyth also lists him with 24 four-engined bombers shot down. [4] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for more than 99 aerial victory claims, plus nine further unconfirmed claims. All of his victories were claimed on the Western Front and include 13 four-engined bombers. [5]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 05 Ost 1157". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size. [6]
Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[7] At the Channel and over England — 26 June – September 1940 | |||||||||
1 | 4 September 1940 | 10:00 | Hurricane | Dover [8] | |||||
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[7] At the Channel and over England — September – November 1940 | |||||||||
2 | 11 September 1940 | 16:35 | Hurricane [9] | 6 | 7 October 1940 | 16:52 | Hurricane | südlich Portland [9] | |
3? [Note 1] | 26 September 1940 | —
|
Spitfire [9] | 7? [Note 1] | 7 October 1940 | —
|
Hurricane | südlich Portland | |
4 | 30 September 1940 | 12:28 | Spitfire [9] | north of Portland | 8 | 7 November 1940 | 15:28 | Hurricane | southeast of the Isle of Wight [9] |
5? [Note 1] | 1 October 1940 | —
|
Hurricane | südlich Bournemouth [9] | |||||
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[7] At the Channel and over England — November 1940 – 21 June 1941 | |||||||||
—
[Note 2]
|
10 November 1940 | 15:45 | Spitfire | east of Portland | 10 | 21 June 1941 | 16:50 | Spitfire [11] | Boulogne- Le Touquet |
—
[Note 2]
|
28 November 1940 | 17:20 | Spitfire | Isle of Wight | 11 | 21 June 1941 | 16:51 | Spitfire [11] | Boulogne-Le Touquet |
9 | 21 June 1941 | 16:36 | Spitfire [11] | Boulogne- Hardelot | |||||
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[7] At the Channel and over England — 22 June – August 1941 | |||||||||
12 | 7 July 1941 | 15:32 | Spitfire [12] | 16 | 23 July 1941 | 13:23 | Spitfire [13] | Forest of Éperlecques | |
13 | 10 July 1941 | 12:18 | Spitfire [13] | 17 | 23 July 1941 | 13:27 | Spitfire [13] | Forest of Éperlecques | |
14 | 10 July 1941 | 12:21 | Spitfire [13] | 18 | 7 August 1941 | 17:48 | Spitfire [13] | ||
15 | 11 July 1941 | 14:55 | Spitfire [13] | ||||||
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[7] At the Channel and over England — 22 June – 31 December 1941 | |||||||||
19 | 12 August 1941 | 19:07 | Hurricane [13] | 22 | 21 August 1941 | 15:09 | Spitfire [14] | ||
20 | 16 August 1941 | 19:42 | Spitfire [13] | 23 | 26 August 1941 | 16:22 | Spitfire [14] | ||
21 | 19 August 1941 | 12:01 | Spitfire [14] | 24? [Note 1] | 4 September 1941 | —
|
Spitfire [14] | ||
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[7] At the Channel and over England — 1 January – 17 November 1942 | |||||||||
25 | 19 August 1942 | 08:10 | Spitfire [15] | 27? [Note 1] | 19 August 1942 | 13:24 | Spitfire | 60 km (37 mi) north of Saint-Valery [15] | |
26 | 19 August 1942 | 13:24 | Spitfire | Dieppe harbor [15] | 28? [Note 1] | 19 August 1942 | 16:53 | Spitfire | 60 km (37 mi) north of Saint-Valery [15] |
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[16] Mediterranean Theater — 17 November – 31 December 1942 | |||||||||
29 | 3 December 1942 | 10:55 | Spitfire | south of Tebourba [17] | 31 | 26 December 1942 | 13:22 | P-38 | 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Djebel Abiod [17] |
30 | 18 December 1942 | 11:06 | Spitfire | 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Djebel Quantra [17] | 32 | 26 December 1942 | 13:40 | P-38 | south of Djebel Taboussa [17] |
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[18] Mediterranean Theater — 1 January – 22 March 1943 | |||||||||
33 | 4 January 1943 | 10:40 | P-40 | 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Fondouk
[19] 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Tdidjana |
51 | 4 February 1943 | 16:12 | Spitfire | south of Ousseltia [19] |
? [Note 3] | 4 January 1943 | 10:44 | B-26 | Pont du Fahs
[19] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Tdidjana |
52 | 4 February 1943 | 16:13 | Spitfire | southwest of Ousseltia [19] |
34 | 8 January 1943 | 14:41? [Note 4] | P-38 | 40 km (25 mi) southwest of
Gabès
[19] 20 km (12 mi) south of Kairouan |
53 | 4 February 1943 | 16:16 | Spitfire | 20 km (12 mi) south of Ousseltia [19] |
35 | 8 January 1943 | 15:29 | P-38 | 5 km (3.1 mi) south of
Porto Farina
[19] 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Djebel Touil |
54 | 9 February 1943 | 13:51 | P-40 | Djebel Bou Dabous [19] |
36 | 8 January 1943 | 15:42 | P-38 | southwest of Kairouan
[19] south of Djebel Abeid |
55 | 9 February 1943 | 13:53 | P-40 | south of Djebel Bou Dabous [19] |
37 | 14 January 1943 | 12:50 | P-38 | 40 km (25 mi) east of Gabès
[19] 40 km (25 mi) east of El Ayaisch |
56 | 10 February 1943 | 13:45 | Spitfire | east of Sidi Bouzid [19] |
38 | 21 January 1943 | 08:39 | P-40 | south of Pichon [19] | 57 | 14 February 1943 | 08:25 | Spitfire | Hajeb El Ayoun [20] |
? [Note 5] | 21 January 1943 | 08:44 | P-40 | west of Djebel-Trozza [19] | 58 | 14 February 1943 | 11:00 | Spitfire | 20 km (12 mi) west of Sidi Bouzid [20] |
39 | 28 January 1943 | 14:15 | P-38 | 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of Kairouan [19] | 59 | 14 February 1943 | 11:02 | Spitfire | 25 km (16 mi) west of Sidi Bouzid [20] |
40 | 30 January 1943 | 07:38? [Note 6] | Spitfire | 30 km (19 mi) west-northwest of Kairouan
[19] northwest of Djebel el Rahan |
60 | 14 February 1943 | 16:21 | Spitfire | northwest of Djebel-Trozza [20] |
41 | 30 January 1943 | 07:40 | Spitfire | 35 km (22 mi) northwest of Kairouan [19] | 61 | 15 February 1943 | 14:59 | P-38 | 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Fondouk [20] |
42♠ | 2 February 1943 | 08:14 | P-40 | 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Kairouan [19] | 62 | 15 February 1943 | 15:03 | P-38 | east of Djebel Merhiba [20] |
43♠ | 2 February 1943 | 08:16 | P-40 | south of Djebel Dret Dabous [19] | 63 | 15 February 1943 | 15:13 | P-38 | north of Djebel-Trozza [20] |
44♠ | 2 February 1943 | 08:17 | P-39 | 20 km (12 mi) west of Kairouan [19] | 64 | 8 March 1943 | 09:38 | Spitfire | 7 km (4.3 mi) west of Kairouan [20] |
45♠ | 2 February 1943 | 08:20 | P-40 | 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kairouan [19] | 65 | 8 March 1943 | 09:39 | Spitfire | 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Djedeida [20] |
46♠ | 2 February 1943 | 09:15 | Spitfire | 14 km (8.7 mi) northeast of Kairouan [19] | ? [Note 7] | 12 March 1943 | 04:27 | P-38 | southeast of Mateur |
47 | 3 February 1943 | 09:00 | Spitfire | 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Kairouan [19] | 66? [Note 8] | 12 March 1943 | 14:22 | B-17 | east of La Sebala [20] |
48 | 3 February 1943 | 09:02 | Spitfire | 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Kairouan [19] | 67 | 12 March 1943 | 14:24 | P-38 | east of La Sebala [20] |
49 | 3 February 1943 | 09:04 | Spitfire | 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Pichon [19] | 68 | 12 March 1943 | 14:27 | P-38 | southeast of La Sebala [20] |
50 | 3 February 1943 | 09:06 | Spitfire | 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Pichon [19] | |||||
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[18] On the Western Front — May 1943 | |||||||||
69 | 15 May 1943 | 07:16 | P-51 | 30 km (19 mi) north-northwest of
Berck
[10] PQ 05 Ost 1157 |
70 | 17 May 1943 | 10:58 | Typhoon | north of
Caen
[10] PQ 15 West 1067 |
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[21] On the Western Front — July – 31 December 1943 | |||||||||
—
[Note 2]
|
1 July 1943 | —
|
Typhoon | Hook of Holland | ? [Note 9] | 2 September 1943 | 09:50 | P-51 | northwest of Auxi-le-Château |
71 | 4 July 1943 | 13:22 | P-47 | 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Cap D'Antifer [10] | 81 | 6 September 1943 | 09:48 | B-17 | Vailly [22] |
72 | 4 July 1943 | 17:32 | Spitfire | Flixecourt/ Vauchelles [10] | 82? [Note 8] | 6 September 1943 | 13:00 | B-17 | 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Melun [22] |
73 | 14 July 1943 | 09:05 | Spitfire | 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Trouville [22] | 83 | 6 September 1943 | 13:10 | B-17 | 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Fécamp [22] |
74 | 15 July 1943 | 16:34 | Typhoon | Tours-en-Vimeu [22] | 84 | 6 September 1943 | 14:35 | Spitfire | PQ 05 Ost 0178 [22] |
75 | 16 July 1943 | 20:10 | Spitfire | 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Baie de Somme [22] | 85? [Note 8] | 8 September 1943 | 09:00 | Boston | 20 km (12 mi) south of Lille [22] |
76 | 18 July 1943 | 18:35 | Spitfire | PQ 05 Ost RD-5, Foucaucourt [22] | 86 | 9 September 1943 | 15:53 | Spitfire | PQ 05 Ost 1167 [22] |
77 | 30 July 1943 | 09:25 | B-17 | north of Rotterdam [22] | 87 | 3 October 1943 | 18:45 | Spitfire | south of Aumale [23] |
78 | 30 July 1943 | 16:00 | Typhoon | PQ 05 Ost 1159 [22] | 88 | 14 October 1943 | 13:45 | B-17 | vicinity of Sneek [23] |
79 | 17 August 1943 | 17:22 | B-17 | south of Tongeren [22] | 89 | 26 November 1943 | 10:38 | B-17 | southeast of Paris [23] |
80 | 19 August 1943 | 12:43 | Spitfire | 9 km (5.6 mi) west of Abbeville [22] | |||||
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[24] On the Western Front — 1 January – 28 April 1944 | |||||||||
90 | 29 January 1944 | 11:15 | P-47 | PQ 05 Ost PL
[25] vicinity of Durbuy |
94 | 24 February 1944 | 12:30 | B-24 | PQ 05 Ost FR-9/GR-3
[25] 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Dümmer See |
91 | 5 February 1944 | 11:00 | B-24 | vicinity of Vendôme [25] | 95 | 25 February 1944 | 12:33 | B-17 | PQ 05 Ost TJ/TK
[26] Dordrecht/Rotterdam |
92 | 5 February 1944 | 11:50 | P-47 | southwest of Étampes [25] | 96 | 18 March 1944 | 13:21 | B-24 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south-southwest of Forges [26] |
93 | 24 February 1944 | 12:28 | B-17* | PQ 05 Ost FR [25] | 97 | 28 April 1944 | 12:05 | B-17 | PQ 04 Ost N/HF, 40 km (25 mi) east of Bourges [26] |
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
[24] On the Western Front — June – July 1944 | |||||||||
98 | 6 June 1944 | 11:57 | P-47 | PQ 15 West UU-1/4, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Orne Estuary [27] | 102 | 5 July 1944 | 10:55 | P-47 | PQ 15 West UU-6
[27] vicinity of Dreux |
99 | 7 June 1944 | 19:07 | P-47 | vicinity of Carpiquet [27] | 103 | 5 July 1944 | 15:49 | P-47 | PQ 05 Ost UB-8
[27] vicinity of Bernay |
100 | 7 June 1944 | 19:09 | P-47 | PQ 15 West UU-1, north of Caen [27] | 104 | 5 July 1944 | 15:52 | P-51 | PQ 05 Ost UB
[27] vicinity of Bernay |
101 | 12 June 1944 | 06:04 | P-47 | PQ 04 Ost N/AC-5
[27] vicinity of Dreux |