Ernst Börngen

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.

Ernst Börngen
Born	7 February 1916 Meuselwitz
Died	30 June 1989 (aged 73) Mering
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1940–1945
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	JG 27
Commands held	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

Career

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.[1] 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 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6  (Werknummer 18 371—factory number) 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] The next day, Börngen succeeded Franzisket as commander of I. Gruppe and surrendered his command of 2. Staffel to Leutnant Karl Wünsch.[5]

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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

Chronicle of aerial victories
Victory	Date	Time	Type	Location	Unit	Victory	Date	Time	Type	Location	Unit
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[8] On the Channel Front – August – November 1940
1	18 August 1940	15:30	Spitfire	Selsey Bill	4./JG 77	2	18 August 1940	15:40	Spitfire	Selsey Bill	4./JG 77
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[9] During the Balkan Campaign – April 1940
3	15 April 1941	07:01	Gladiator	west Trikkala	4./JG 77
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[10] On the Eastern Front – June 1941
4	25 June 1941	—	SB-3	Usmjany	4./JG 77	5	25 June 1941	—	DB		4./JG 77
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[11] In North Africa – April 1941 – December 1942
6	21 December 1941	15:02	Blenheim	3 km (1.9 mi) southwest El Agheila	5./JG 77	13	15 September 1942	17:02	P-40	south El Alamein	5./JG 77
7	30 May 1942	17:05	P-40	southeast Fort Acroma	5./JG 77	14	9 October 1942	12:20	Spitfire	north Sanyet Quotaifiya	5./JG 77
8	5 June 1942	11:51	P-40	20 km (12 mi) northeast Mteifl Chebir	5./JG 77	15	20 October 1942	09:20	P-40	east-northeast El Dabaa	5./JG 77
9	26 June 1942	19:03	P-40	southeast Mersa Matruh	5./JG 77	16	27 October 1942	15:03	Spitfire	north Turbiya	5./JG 77
10	3 July 1942	18:12	P-40	southwest El Alamein	5./JG 77	17	27 October 1942	15:32	Hurricane	northwest El Alamein	5./JG 77
11	11 July 1942	16:07	Spitfire	southwest El Alamein	5./JG 77	18	11 November 1942	09:27	P-40	south Sollum	5./JG 77
12	20 July 1942	18:23	P-40	El Alamein	5./JG 77
– Claims with II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[12] Sicily, Tunisia and Italy – April – July 1943
19	29 April 1943	11:27	P-38	10 km (6.2 mi) southwest Marettimo	5./JG 77	24	2 July 1943	11:15	B-24	30 km (19 mi) east-southeast Lecce	5./JG 77
20	22 May 1943	16:15	P-38	south-southwest Marettimo	5./JG 77	25	2 July 1943	11:25	B-24	20 km (12 mi) southwest San Cesario di Lecce	5./JG 77
21	25 May 1943	11:32	B-17	northwest Marettimo	5./JG 77	26	10 July 1943	16:07	Spitfire	30 km (19 mi) southeast Syracuse	5./JG 77
22	28 May 1943	18:02	B-24	south Castelvetrano	5./JG 77	27	12 July 1943	—	Spitfire		5./JG 77
23	28 May 1943	18:06	B-25	southwest Marsala	5./JG 77	28	16 July 1943	13:10	B-24	25 km (16 mi) east-northeast Bari	5./JG 77
– Claims with Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[13] Defense of the Reich – April 1944
29	3 April 1944	10:46	B-17	50 km (31 mi) south Budapest	Stab/JG 77
– Claims with III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[14] Defense of the Reich – April 1944
30	6 April 1944	16:23	B-17	30 km (19 mi) southeast Marburg	Stab III./JG 77	32	12 April 1944	12:12	B-17	west Lake Neusiedl	Stab III./JG 77
31	12 April 1944	12:10	B-24	southwest Lake Neusiedl	Stab III./JG 77	33	13 April 1944	11:48	B-17	10 km (6.2 mi) east-southeast Raab	Stab III./JG 77
– Claims with I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[15] Defense of the Reich – April 1944
34	23 April 1944	14:50	B-17	west Willendorf	2./JG 77
– Claims with Stab of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[13] Defense of the Reich – May 1944
35	12 May 1944	12:37	B-17	northwest Bamberg	Stab/JG 77	36	12 May 1944	12:57	B-17	Bad Orb	Stab/JG 77
– Claims with I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[15] Defense of the Reich – May 1944
37	19 May 1944	13:15	B-24	6 km (3.7 mi) east Helmstedt	Stab I./JG 77	38	19 May 1944	13:20	B-24	north Helmstedt	Stab I./JG 77

Awards

• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold (6 May 1941)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 25 January 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän[16][Note 1]
• German Cross in Gold on 31 August 1943 as Hauptmann in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 27[17]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 August 1944 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 27[18][Note 2]

Notes

1. According to Obermaier on 18 January 1943.[7]
2. According to Scherzer on 27 July 1944 as Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 27.[19]

References

Citations

1. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 142.
2. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, pp. 274, 536.
3. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 403.
4. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 404.
5. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 406.
6. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, pp. 407, 550.
7. Obermaier 1989, p. 90.
8. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 552.
9. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 553.
10. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, p. 554.
11. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, pp. 555–560.
12. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1997, pp. 561–562.
13. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 530.
14. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1995, pp. 348–349.
15. Prien, Rodeike & Stemmer 1998, p. 574.
16. Patzwall 2008, p. 55.
17. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 53.
18. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 138.
19. Scherzer 2007, p. 230.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter; Stemmer, Gerhard (1995). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III. und IV./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1938 – 1945 [Messerschmidt 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter; Stemmer, Gerhard (1997). Messerschmidt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei II./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1940 – 1945 [Messerschmidt Bf 109 in Action with I./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1940 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-42-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter; Stemmer, Gerhard (1998). Messerschmidt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei Stab und I./Jagdgeschwader 27, 1939 – 1945 [Messerschmidt 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.