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Ernst Börngen
Born	7 February 1916 Meuselwitz, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire
Died	30 June 1989(1989-06-30) (aged 73) Mering, Bavaria, West Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1937–1945
Rank	Hauptmann (captain)
Unit	JG 27
Commands	I./JG 27
Battles / wars	See battles World War II Battle of Britain Balkan Campaign Operation Barbarossa North African Campaign Italian Campaign Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Ernst Börngen (7 February 1916 – 30 June 1989) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Börngen claimed 41 victories in 450 missions.

Career

Börngen was born 7 February 1916 in Meuselwitz, at the time in the Kingdom of Saxony within German Empire. In November 1937, he joined the military service of the Luftwaffe as a Fähnrich (cadet).

North Africa

Following the withdrawal from the Eastern Front, II. Gruppe arrived in Döberitz on 24 July 1941. The entire personnel then went on vacation, returning to Döberitz on 18 August. Over the next three weeks, the Gruppe converted to the Bf 109 F-4 fighter. Relocation to the North African Theater began on 7 September, with 4. Staffel transferring south on 16 September and 5. Staffel on 27 September, where they were based at an airfield in Ain el Gazala. There, II. Gruppe joined I. Gruppe of JG 27 which was already based in North Africa.

On 20 May 1942, Börngen officially replaced Hauptmann (captain) Ernst Düllberg as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel. Düllberg had been wounded in action on 22 November 1941 and Börngen had already acted as intermittent Staffelführer for some weeks. On 11 July 1942, Börngen's Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 trop (Werknummer 10 203—factory number) was damaged in aerial combat with Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters, resulting in a forced landing east of El Dabaa

Börngen led 5. Staffel until 16 July 1943. That day, he had claimed his 28th aerial victory over a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber. During the attack, his Bf 109 G-6  (Werknummer 18 371) took a cabin hit from the defensive fire of the bomber, wounding him severely. Despite being wounded, he crash landed the aircraft at San Vito dei Normanni.

Defense of the Reich

In May 1944, the Allies initiated the Oil Campaign of World War II, targeting various facilities supplying Germany with petroleum, oil, and lubrication products. On 12 May, the Eighth Air Force sent an attack force of 886 heavy bombers, protected by 980 escort fighters, against the German refineries in central Germany at Leuna, Merseburg, Böhlen and Zeitz. In defense of this attack, I. Gruppe engaged a formation of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers shortly past 12:30 just east of Eschborn. In this encounter, the Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe, Major Ludwig Franzisket was severely wounded. The next day, Börngen succeeded Franzisket as commander of I. Gruppe and surrendered his command of 2. Staffel to Leutnant Karl Wünsch.

On 19 May 1944, the Eighth Air Force targeted Berlin and Braunschweig with 888 heavy bombers, protected by 964 escort fighters. The German aerial defenses under the command Jagdfliegerführer Ostmark ordered I. Gruppe, led by Börngen and at the time based at Fels am Wagram, to take off at 11:43. Börngen's group was ordered to meet up with III. and VI. Gruppe to form a larger combat formation. This formation was then vectored to Magdeburg where at 13:00 they encountered the escort fighters of a formation of Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers northwest of the city. While III. and VI. Gruppe engaged the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and North American P-51 Mustang fighters, the Stabsschwarm and I. Gruppe managed to attack the B-24 bombers. Following the encounter, JG 27 claimed 17 aerial victories, including Herausschüsse (separation shots)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory. In return, JG 27 suffered five aircraft lost, two pilots killed in action and one pilot severely wounded. At 13:15, Börngen had shot down a B-24 near Helmstedt and then at 13:20 engaged another bomber by ramming it with his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 441 101—factory number), sustaining severe injuries. He managed to bail out and was immediately taken to the Luftwaffe hospital at Helmstedt where his right arm had to be amputated. Börngen was then replaced by Major Karl-Wolfgang Redlich as commander of I. Gruppe.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Börngen was credited with 41 enemy aircraft shot down in over 450 combat missions, the majority of which on the Western Front and two on the Eastern Front. This figure includes 16 four-engined bombers. Ring and Girbig list him with 45 aerial victories, including nine heavy bombers. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 35 aerial victory claims, plus four further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes two aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 33 over the Western Allies, including 14 four-engined bombers.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 15 Ost S/OT-2/3". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.

Awards

• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold (6 May 1941)
• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 25 January 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän
• German Cross in Gold on 31 August 1943 as Hauptmann in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 27
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 August 1944 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 27

Notes

1. According to Obermaier on 18 January 1943.
2. According to Scherzer on 27 July 1944 as Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 27.

References

Citations

1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 90.
2. Dixon 2023, p. 134.
3. Prien et al. 2004, p. 208.
4. Weal 2003, p. 49.
5. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 142.
6. Prien et al. 2004, p. 283.
7. Forsyth 2011, p. 29.
8. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, pp. 274, 536.
9. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 403.
10. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 404.
11. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 406.
12. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, pp. 407, 550.
13. Weal 2006, p. 74.
14. Ring & Girbig 1994, p. 321.
15. Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 131–132.
16. Planquadrat.
17. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 552.
18. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 402.
19. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 553.
20. Prien et al. 2003a, p. 202.
21. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 554.
22. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 168.
23. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, pp. 555–560.
24. Prien et al. 2004, p. 261.
25. Prien et al. 2004, p. 273.
26. Prien et al. 2004, p. 264.
27. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 274.
28. Prien et al. 2004, p. 266.
29. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 268.
30. Prien et al. 2004, p. 269.
31. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, pp. 561–562.
32. ^ Prien et al. 2010, p. 210.
33. ^ Prien et al. 2010, p. 211.
34. Prien et al. 2010, p. 212.
35. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 530.
36. ^ Prien et al. 2019, p. 242.
37. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, pp. 348–349.
38. ^ Prien et al. 2019, p. 323.
39. ^ Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 574.
40. ^ Prien et al. 2019, p. 263.
41. Dixon 2023, p. 135.
42. Patzwall 2008, p. 55.
43. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 53.
44. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 138.
45. Scherzer 2007, p. 230.

Bibliography

• Bergström, Christer . "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
• Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) . Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Forsyth, Robert (2011). Luftwaffe Viermot Aces 1942–45. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 101. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-438-3.
• Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
• Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter; Stemmer, Gerhard (1995). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III. und IV./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1938 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the III. and IV./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1938 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-30-4.
• Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter; Stemmer, Gerhard (1997). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei II./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1940 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with II./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1940 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-42-7.
• Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter; Stemmer, Gerhard (1998). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei Stab und I./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1939 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the Headquarters Unit and I./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1939 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-46-5.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/I—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26 June 1940 bis 21 June 1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/I—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-63-2.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
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• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis December 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-95-3.
• Prien, Jochen; Balke, Ulf; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried (2019). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/V—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/V—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-21-5.
• Ring, Hans; Girbig, Werner (1994) . Jagdgeschwader 27 Die Dokumentation über den Einsatz an allen Fronten 1939–1945 [Jagdgeschwader 27 The Documentation on the Deployment on all Fronts from 1939 to 1945] (in German) (8th ed.). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-215-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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v t e Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of Jagdgeschwader 27
Karl-Heinz Bendert Ernst Börngen Ernst Düllberg Wolf-Udo Ettel (Oak Leaves) Ludwig Franzisket Fritz Gromotka Gerhard Homuth Max Ibel Erbo Graf von Kageneck (Oak Leaves) Willy Kientsch (Oak Leaves) Friedrich Körner Wolfgang Lippert Hans-Joachim Marseille (Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds) Karl-Wolfgang Redlich Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert (Oak Leaves & Swords) Hans Remmer Gustav Rödel (Oak Leaves) Joachim Schlichting Herbert Schramm (Oak Leaves) Werner Schröer (Oak Leaves & Swords) Otto Schulz Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt (Oak Leaves) Günter Steinhausen Peter Werfft
Knight's Cross with JG 3. Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves with JG 77. Oak Leaves with JG 53. Swords with JG 3.

• Aviation
• Biography

• 1916 births
• 1989 deaths
• Luftwaffe pilots
• German World War II flying aces
• Recipients of the Gold German Cross
• Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
• People from Altenburger Land
• People from Saxe-Altenburg
• German amputees
• Pilots who performed an aerial ramming
• Military personnel from Thuringia