The following recommendation for promotion, dated December 5, 1942, requests promotion for Kurt Bühligen to the grade of first lieutenant. “Lieutenant Bühligen’s intellectual and physical attributes are above average. He is tough and persevering; a decent, open-minded character, very reliable, well-liked by superiors, the men under him and within his circle of comrades. He has good technical capabilities and for weeks substituted for the Technical Officer of the group. Since July 3, 1942, he has been the action commander of the 4th Squadron and (from November 5, 1942 on) as Squadron Commander and has proven himself very well in flying as well as troop duty. He possesses élan, pulls the men in his command along with him and knows how to differentiate between the essential and unessential. Bühligen is generous. Lieutenant Bühligen has proven himself in more than 100 combat missions. On September 6, 1941, he received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. To date, he has shot down 27 enemy planes. Bühligen has initiative and knows how to respond in every situation. He is a National Socialist.” (Luftwaffe Efficiency and Promotion Reports for the Knight’s Cross Winners)