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Börngen, Ernst

Date of birth:
February 7th, 1916 (Meuselwitz/Thüringia, Germany)
Date of death:
June 30th, 1989 (Mering/Bavaria, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Ernst Börngen was born on 7 February 1916 at Meuselwitz in Thüringen. On 27 June 1940, Börngen joined JG 27. Leutnant Börngen was assigned to 4./JG 27. He recorded his first victories on 18 August, during the Battle of Britain, when he shot down two RAF Spitfire fighters over Selsey Bill. Börngen participated in the Balkans campaign. He shot down a Greek Gladiator biplane fighter near Kalambaka on 15 April 1941. Following the successful conclusion of the Balkans campaign, Börngen participated in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia. He claimed two Russian DB-3 twin-engine bombers shot down on 25 June to record his fourth and fifth victories. In late September 1941, II./JG 27 was relocated to North Africa. By the end of 1942, Börngen had added 13 British fighters and a solitary RAF Blenheim twin-engine bomber to his growing victory total. On 20 May 1943, Börngen was appointed Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 27. On 11 July, he shot down a Spitfire (11) but received damage to his Bf 109 F-4trop (W.Nr. 102 03) "Black 3" in the combat that required he make a belly-landing at El Alamein. On 20 September, Börngen was wounded in aerial combat. Börngen led 5./JG 27 during the heavy fighting over southern Italy. On 16 July 1943, Oberleutnant Börngen shot down a USAAF B-24 four-engine bomber to record his 28th victory but his Bf109 G-6trop (W.Nr. 183 71) was hit by return fire in the engagement. He again received wounds and was required to make a forced-landing. Following his recovery, Börngen was transferred for a spell of instructing at Jagdgruppe Süd. In March/April 1944 he was transferred to the Geschwaderstab of JG 27 and, later, III./JG 27 on Reichsverteidigung duties. On 13 April 1944, Börngen was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2./JG 27. On 13 May 1944, Hauptmann Börngen was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 27. On 19 May 1944, Börngen rammed a USAAF B-24 four-engine bomber over Helmstedt in Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 441 101). He baled out but lost his right arm in the incident. His wounds resulted in him seeing no further action in the war.
Ernst Börngen was credited with 41 victories in 450 missions. He recorded two victories over the Eastern front. Of the 39 victories recorded over the Western front, 16 were four-engine bombers. Additionally, Börngen recorded 24 unconfirmed victories.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
II. / Jagdgeschwader 27
Awarded on:
May 6th, 1941
Frontflugspange für Jäger in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
5. Staffel, II. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 27, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
August 31st, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Stafflekapitän, 5. Staffel, II. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 27, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
August 3rd, 1944
Awarded for achieving 45 aerial victories (including 24 four-engined bombers and 1 in Russia) over the course of 450 sorties before losing his right arm on the 19.05.1944.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 1942
WIA 20.09.1942
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 1944
WIA 20.09.1942 + 16.07.1943 + 19.05.1944
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Staffelkapitan
Awarded on:
January 25th, 1943
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg

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