Kurt Bühligen was a 112 victory ace who over the course of the war rose through the ranks of Jagdgeschwader 2 to eventually become it's commander. He began his combat career during the Battle of Britain in 2nd squadron, where he scored his first kill, a Hurricane, over Dover on September 8, 1940. Soon afterward he would be transferred to 6th squadron, where he would stay until his promotion to leader of 4th squadron in August 1942. By this time, Jg 2 had converted to the Fw 190A. In November, 4./Jg 2 was transferred to Tunisia in response to the Allied landing landings of Operation Torch.
Bühligen's 190A-4 of 4./Jg 2 in February 1943. He scored his 50th victory with this plane. Despite being in North Africa, this plane was never painted in desert colors, but instead only had the white theater marking applied over the standard day fighter grays.
Upon returning to France in late March, 1943 Bühligen was given command of the entirety of II Gruppe, which also converted to the Bf 109G. Despite being relegated to a lesser fighter, Bühligen continued to score victories. On January 1, 1944, he would be promoted to the rank of Major with a score of 96 victories.
Jg 2's commander, Kurt Ubben, was killed in action on April 27th. Bühligen replaced Ubben as Commodore of Jg 2 and would hold the post for the remainder of the war.
Bühligen's 190A-8 of Stab/Jg 2 in June 1944. On June 7, Bühligen would score his 100th victory, a P-47 near Caen. This aircraft features a non-standard splinter scheme made in the day fighter grays of RLM 74 and 75.
Bühligen's final score of 112 aircraft shot down were all achieved against the Western Allies and includes 14 four-engine bombers and 47 Spitfires.
