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.

The Soviet Army forced the Finns to abandon their defensive lines and on 20 June took Viipuri, the second largest city of Finland.

Detachment Kuhlmey's actions in Finland during 16 June and 21 July 1944 was hugely influential in the outcome of the offensive and of the Finnish Continuation War.

Together Finnish Air Force units and Detachment Kuhlmey made 1,020 bombing sorties against the Soviet troops and armour.

Attending courses at Williams and Luke Air Force Base in the US, he received flying training on the F-104 "Starfighter".