Ernst Börngen

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Ernst Börngen
Born7 February 1916
Meuselwitz, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire
Died30 June 1989(1989-06-30) (aged 73)
Mering, Bavaria, West Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1937–1945
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitJG 27
Commands heldI./JG 27
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight'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[edit]

In November 1937, Börngen joined the military service of the Luftwaffe as a Fähnrich (cadet).[1]

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.[2] 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[3]

Börngen led 5. Staffel until 16 July 1943. That day, he had claimed his 28th aerial victory over a Consolidated B-24 Liberator. 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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] The next day, Börngen succeeded Franzisket as commander of I. Gruppe and surrendered his command of 2. Staffel to Leutnant Karl Wünsch.[7]

A 1944 drawing by Helmuth Ellgaard illustrating "ramming"

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.[7] 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 Luftwaffen hospital at Helmstedt where his right arm had to be amputated. Börngen was then replaced by Major Wolfgang Redlich as commander of I. Gruppe.[8]

Summary of career[edit]

Aerial victory claims[edit]

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.[9] 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.[10]

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 km2). 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.[11]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.
Claim Date Time Type Location Unit Claim Date Time Type Location Unit
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[12]
On the Channel Front – August – November 1940
1 18 August 1940 15:30 Spitfire Selsey Bill[13] 4./JG 27 2 18 August 1940 15:40 Spitfire Selsey Bill[13] 4./JG 27
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[14]
During the Balkan Campaign – April 1940
3 15 April 1941 07:01 Gladiator west Trikkala[15] 4./JG 27
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[16]
On the Eastern Front – June 1941
4 25 June 1941 11:02 SB-3 Usmana-Holszany[17] 4./JG 27 5 25 June 1941
—
 DB 4./JG 27
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[18]
In North Africa – April 1941 – December 1942
6 21 December 1941 15:02 Blenheim 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest El Agheila[19] 5./JG 27 13 15 September 1942 17:02 P-40 south El Alamein[20] 5./JG 27
7 30 May 1942 17:05 P-40 southeast Fort Acroma[21] 5./JG 27 14 9 October 1942 12:20 Spitfire north Sanyet Quotaifiya[22] 5./JG 27
8 5 June 1942 11:51 P-40 20 km (12 mi) northeast Mteifl Chebir[23] 5./JG 27 15 20 October 1942 09:20 P-40 east-northeast El Dabaa[22] 5./JG 27
9 26 June 1942 19:03 P-40 southeast Mersa Matruh[24] 5./JG 27 16 27 October 1942 15:03 Spitfire north Turbiya[22] 5./JG 27
10 3 July 1942 18:12 P-40 west El Alamein[24] 5./JG 27 17 27 October 1942 15:32 Hurricane northwest El Alamein[22] 5./JG 27
11 11 July 1942 16:07 Spitfire southwest El Alamein[24] 5./JG 27 18 11 November 1942 09:27 P-40 south Sollum[22] 5./JG 27
12 20 July 1942 18:23 P-40 El Alamein[25] 5./JG 27
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[26]
Sicily, Tunisia and Italy – April – July 1943
19 29 April 1943 11:27 P-38 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest Marettimo[27] 5./JG 27 24 2 July 1943 11:15 B-24 30 km (19 mi) east-southeast Lecce[28] 5./JG 27
20 22 May 1943 16:15 P-38 south-southwest Marettimo[27] 5./JG 27 25 2 July 1943 11:25 B-24 20 km (12 mi) southwest San Cesario di Lecce[28] 5./JG 27
21 25 May 1943 11:32 B-17 northwest Marettimo 5./JG 27 26 10 July 1943 16:07 Spitfire 30 km (19 mi) southeast Syracuse[28] 5./JG 27
22 28 May 1943 18:02 B-24 south Castelvetrano 5./JG 27 27 12 July 1943
—
 Spitfire 5./JG 27
23 28 May 1943 18:06 B-25 southwest Marsala 5./JG 27 28 16 July 1943 13:10 B-24 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast Bari[29] 5./JG 27
– Claims with Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[30]
Defense of the Reich – April 1944
29 3 April 1944 10:46 B-17* 50 km (31 mi) south Budapest[31] Stab/JG 27
– Claims with III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[32]
Defense of the Reich – April 1944
30 6 April 1944 16:23 B-17 30 km (19 mi) southeast Marburg[33] Stab III./JG 27 32 12 April 1944 12:12 B-17* west Lake Neusiedl[33] Stab III./JG 27
31 12 April 1944 12:10 B-24 southwest Lake Neusiedl[33] Stab III./JG 27 33 13 April 1944 11:48 B-17 10 km (6.2 mi) east-southeast Raab[33] Stab III./JG 27
– Claims with I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[34]
Defense of the Reich – April 1944
34 23 April 1944 14:50 B-17 west Willendorf, west of Wiener Neustadt[35] 2./JG 27
– Claims with Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[30]
Defense of the Reich – May 1944
35 12 May 1944 12:37 B-17 PQ 15 Ost S/OT-2/3, northwest Bamberg[31] Stab/JG 27 36 12 May 1944 12:57 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/QB-4/5, Bad Orb[31] Stab/JG 27
– Claims with I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[34]
Defense of the Reich – May 1944
37 19 May 1944 13:15 B-24 6 km (3.7 mi) east Helmstedt[35] Stab I./JG 27 38 19 May 1944 13:20 B-24 north Helmstedt[35] Stab I./JG 27

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ According to Obermaier on 18 January 1943.[9]
  2. ^ According to Scherzer on 27 July 1944 as Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 27.[40]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

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

Bibliography[edit]

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "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 [in German] (2000) [1986]. 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.
  • 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 I./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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
  • 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.
  • 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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