K. Buhlingen Abschuss List

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Craig

Arthy/Jessen list the source for the Schülze claim on 30 January 1943 as being Film C. 2031/II, BA-MA RL 7/32. For 14 February 1943 they have Spitfire claims for the following pilots: Leutnant Lothar Werner at 8:21 and 8:23; Oberleutnant Kurt Bühligen at 8:25, 11:00 and 11:02; Unteroffizier Heinz Schülze at 11:03 (his third); Oberfeldwebel Kurt Goltzsch at 11:06 and 11:14; Unteroffizier Erich Engelbrecht at 11:15; Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer at 16:18 and Oberleutnant Kurt Bühligen at 16:21. Please note that Prien has 28 victories listed for Bühligen by the time II./JG 2 transferred to Tunisia in November 1942 while Arthy/Jessen have that he claimed 25 victories up to that time. What I did to compile the victory list was use Prien up to the transfer to North Africa, Arthy/Jessen through his stay in North Africa and then Wood for the rest of the war. I used these as I believe them to be the most reliable sources for each time period. I hope that this helps. Neil, I will update the biography with the information that his first claim was recorded on his 18th mission when I get home.

Horrido!

Leo

[Kapper]

Leo,

It is interesting that for the 30 January claim both Jessen/Arty and Tony woods reference Film C. 2031/II as the source yet have different names. I guess I need to get a copy of the original microfische film data to be sure.

For the claims of the 14th February, match with woods lists, so no problems there.

Regards,

Craig...

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Craig,

The best source for the 30 January 1943 victories is BA-MA RL 7/32, which says that Bühligen claimed two Spitfires (his 40th and 41st victories), and Uffz. Schülze one Spitfire (his 2nd).

Cheers,
Andrew A.

[knusel]

Hello Carlos,

I've compiled 112 claims for Kurt Bühligen but I haven't found the plane type he shot down of 9Jun44 yet:
4,9.40 Hurricane
11,9.40 Hurricane
26,9.40 Spitfire
30,9.40 Spitfire
1,10.40 Hurricane
7,10.40 Hurricane
7,10.40 Hurricane
7,11.40 Hurricane
1940/41 Fesselballon
10,11.40 Spitfire
28,11.40 Spitfire
21,6.41 Spitfire
21,6.41 Spitfire
21,6.41 Spitfire
7,7.41 Spitfire
10,7.41 Spitfire
10,7.41 Spitfire
11,7.41 Spitfire
23,7.41 Spitfire
23,7.41 Spitfire
7,8.41 Spitfire
12,8.41 Hurricane
16,8.41 Spitfire
19,8.41 Spitfire
21,8.41 Spitfire
26,8.41 Spitfire
19,8.42 Spitfire
19,8.42 Spitfire
19,8.42 Spitfire
19,8.42 Spitfire
4,9.42 Spitfire
3,12.42 Spitfire
18,12.42 Spitfire
26,12.42 P-38
26,12.42 P-38
4,1.43 P-40
4,1.43 B-26
8,1.43 P-38
8,1.43 P-38
8,1.43 P-38
14,1.43 P-38
21,1.43 P-40
21,1.43 P-40
28,1.43 P-38
30,1.43 Spitfire
30,1.43 Spitfire
2,2.43 P-40
2,2.43 P-40
2,2.43 P-39
2,2.43 P-40
2,2.43 Spitfire
3,2.43 Spitfire
3,2.43 Spitfire
3,2.43 Spitfire
3,2.43 Spitfire
4,2.43 Spitfire
4,2.43 Spitfire
4,2.43 Spitfire
9,2.43 P-40
9,2.43 P-40
10,2.43 Spitfire
14,2.43 Spitfire
14,2.43 Spitfire
14,2.43 Spitfire
14,2.43 Spitfire
15,2.43 P-38
15,2.43 P-38
15,2.43 P-38
8,3.43 Spitfire
8,3.43 Spitfire
12,3.43 P-38
12,3.43 P-38
12,3.43 P-38
15,5.43 P-51
17,5.43 Typhoon
1,7.43 Typhoon
4,7.43 P-47
4,7.43 Spitfire
14,7.43 Spitfire
15,7.43 Typhoon
16,7.43 Spitfire
18,7.43 Spitfire
30,7.43 B-17
30,7.43 Typhoon
17,8.43 B-17
19,8.43 Spitfire
2,9.43 P-51
6,9.43 B-17
6,9.43 B-17
6,9.43 B-17
6,9.43 B-17
8,9.43 Boston
9,9.43 Spitfire
3,10.43 Spitfire
14,10.43 B-17
26,11.43 B-17
29,1.44 P-47
5,2.44 B-24
5,2.44 P-47
24,2.44 B-17
24,2.44 B-24
25,2.44 B-17
18,3.44 B-24
28,4.44 B-17
6,6.44 P-47
7,6.44 P-47
7,6.44 P-47
9,6.44
12,6.44 P-47
5,7.44 P-47
5,7.44 P-47
5,7.44 P-51

Have a nice weekend,

Michael

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Michael

I should point out that according to Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 13/IV by Prien and others there is no mention of a victory claimed on 9 June 1944. The claims included in that particular publication arrive up to the three victories claimed on 5 July 1944 (102-104).

Horrido!

Leo

[knusel]

Hello Leo,

the idea that Bühligen scored on 9Jun44 is from "Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Western Front" by John Weal p56:
"...Oberstleutnant Bühligen had been a member of the Geschwader since 1940 [...] and the 100th would be scored on 9th June 1944 north of Paris..."

May this be a typo for 7th June ?

Cheers,

Michael

[Rottler]

Hello Michael,

victories 102-104 on 5 July 1944, see post #15.
In the source JFV 13/IV are listed:
6 June 1944 98
7 June 1944 99 and 100
12 June 1944 101.

Regards
Leo

[knusel]

Good morning Leo,

if the 9Jun claim mentioned by Weal was indeed scored on the 7th, we arrive at a score of 111 aircraft shot down (conf+unconf). Do you think Bühligen included the balloon kill that you mentioned in your Bühligen biography in his score of 112 ?

Have a nice Wednesday,

Michael

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Michael

Assuming the total he is usually credited with, 112 victories on the Western Front is correct, and we now know that many previously accepted totals have been needed to be revised as new information has come to light, my hunch is that the remainder of the claims were made from July 1944 onwards. Another definite possibility is that his official total was 104 and perhaps some unconfirmed claims were included in the total of 112. I do not believe that the balloon was included in his total.

Horrido!

Leo

[Johannes]

Hi Guys

I am in agreement with Leo. I believe 112 represents claims including unconfirmed. Firstly we have been told as fact twenty-four viermots, which is just not true, it's about half of that.
Secondly JG2 as a whole scored an amazingly few "kills" during 1945. None are known for Bühligen, and perhaps, or even likely he got none.
Thirdly it's not really possible to identify Bühligen's claims, especially trying to match another type i.e perhaps a mis-identification, as Bühligen like many JG2 top claimers just wasn't very reliable in his claims.
This cannot be explained away with the confusion factor, as other very honest claimers can be matched.

JG2 is the only unit where I have found double awards i.e "viermots" claimed by two pilots with the same anerk.nummer.

Some individuals included unconfirmed in the totals, others just the confirmed, this is across all Geschwader, others may include one or two unconfirmed, but they thought they were confirmed, confirmation sometimes took more than a year to be processed, so if you know you have followed the system exactly, some just assumed it would be confirmed.

Kind Regards

Johannes

P.S

Please note that Joachim Prien series is almost perfect regarding claims. However with II./JG2 in Africa(only)there must have been an excel mis-sort, all the dates/times/types e.t.c are correct, with the exception of the pilots names, ALL are completely incorrect !