Corgi AA34315 FW190 A-8, JG2, Maj Kurt Buhlingen, Creil, France, June 1944

Kurt Buhlingen joined the Luftwaffe as a mechanic before undertaking pilot training. In July 1940 he was assigned to JG2 ‘Richthofen’ and claimed his first victory during the Battle of Britain. Over the next 12 months Buhlingen added a further 20 victories and was awarded the Knights Cross. In 1942 he deployed to Tunisia where he claimed a further 40 allied aircraft before returning to Europe in March 1943. By March 1944, Buhlingen was a Major in command of II/JG2 and his tally had risen to 96. While operating from Creil in France, Buhlingen saw action against allied aircraft supporting the D-Day landings and claimed his 100th victory on June 7th whilst flying the FW190 A-8. Buhlingen moved to the Eastern front but in 1945 he was forced to land in Soviet held territory where he was captured and imprisoned until 1950. His wartime tally totalled 112 victories.