Kurt Kuhlmey
| Kurt Kuhlmey | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
19 November 1913 Insterburg, East Prussia |
| Died | 30 April 1993 (aged 79) Bonn |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe.svg){kind=small} German Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1934–45, 1956–71 |
| Rank | Oberst(Wehrmacht), Generalmajor (Bundewswehr) |
| Commands held | 1./StG 1, II/SG 3, SG 3, SG 2 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
| Other work | Generalmajor in the Bundeswehr |
Kurt Kuhlmey (19 November 1913 – 30 April 1993) was a Stuka pilot of the Second World War. He flew over 500 combat missions, and in July 1942 was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), which was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Kuhlmey began his career as a pilot at the age of 15, when he began flying gliders. In 1934 he joined the Luftwaffe, which trained him as a pilot. He was commissioned and transferred in 1936 to the 162nd dive bomber division in Schwerin, where he began flying Stukas.
Kuhlmey was Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 (StG 1) at the outbreak of war and participated in the German campaigns in Poland, Norway, France, and the Battle of Britain.
He also took part in operations against Malta, including the 10 January 1941 Stuka attack on Illustrious.
As part of I./StG 2 Kuhlmey participated in the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. He served in North Africa, becoming Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II./StG 3 in April 1942. On 18 October 1943 he was promoted to Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander), Schlachtgeschwader 3 (SG 3).
On 9 June 1944 the Soviet Union launched a major offensive on the Karelian Isthmus. The Soviet Army forced the Finns to abandon their defensive lines and on 20 June took Viipuri, the second largest city of Finland. As a reinforcement SG 3 was posted to Finland in June 1944, forming Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey (Detachment Kuhlmey) with Oberst Kuhlmey commanding a composite unit comprising elements of I./SG 3, I./SG 5, II./JG 54 and NAGr.1.
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