Ernst Bormann
Born(1897-11-05)5 November 1897
Kirchbrak
Died1 August 1960(1960-08-01) (aged 62)
Düsseldorf
Allegiance German Empire
 Weimar Republic (to 1920)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftstreitkräfte
Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1915–20, 1934–45
RankGeneralmajor
UnitJagdstaffel "Boelcke"
Commands heldKG 76
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Ernst Bormann (5 November 1897 – 1 August 1960) was a German World War I Luftstreitkräfte flying ace and a Generalmajor of the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

He surrendered to the Soviet forces on 10 May 1945 and was released on 9 October 1955.[1]

Career

Ernst Bormann was born on 5 November 1897 in Kirchbrak.

He joined Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 82 on 17 August 1915 as a cadet.[2] Bormann transferred to aviation, being sent to Fliegerersatz-Abteilung 7 ("Replacement Detachment 7") on 7 March 1917. He moved on to FEA 12 on 24 October 1917. He was at Armee-Flug-Park (Army Flight Park) 9 when he received his first operational assignment; on 8 January 1918, he was posted to Feldflieger Abteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 42.[2] On 4 May 1918, Leutnant Bormann was posted to a prestigious fighter squadron, Carl Bolle's Jagdstaffel 2, which was equipped with Germany's best fighter of the war, the Fokker D.VII. Beginning 3 July 1918, Bormann was credited with downing 17 enemy aircraft, most of them fighters, by 4 November 1918.[2][3]

Ernst Bormann was a flying instructor from 1 August 1925 to 30 September 1930, at the nascent Luftwaffe's covert aviation training center at Lipetsk, the Soviet Union. He returned to Germany to instruct there. In 1934, after Hitler's rise to power, Bormann was commissioned as a captain in the Luftwaffe. From 1 April 1935 to 31 May 1938, he was a staffelkapitän for Kampfgeschwader Boelcke.[2] From 1 July to 31 October 1938, he commanded III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 132.[4] His next assignment was the command of Lehrgeschwader (Advanced Training Wing) 1; this posting lasted until July 1940.

During World War II, Bormann succeeded to command of Kampfgeschwader 76. As a major general, he was the Fliegerführer Crimea from February to June 1943. He was taken prisoner by the Soviet forces on 10 May 1945.[2] Bormann returned from imprisonment in the Soviet Union in October 1955. He earned a Doctorate before dying in Düsseldorf on 1 August 1960.[2]

Awards

References

Citations

  1. ^ Schumann 2007, p. 32.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Franks et al 1993, p. 82.
  3. ^ Ernest Bormann biography at The Aerodrome Forum
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2000, pp. 144–145.
  5. ^ a b c d e Thomas 1997, p. 67.
  6. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 235.
  7. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 140.
  8. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 61.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [First published 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.
  • Franks, Norman (2004). Jasta Boelcke. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-904010-76-0.
  • Kaiser, Jochen (2010). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger—Band 1 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Bomber Fliers—Volume 1] (in German and English). Bad Zwischenahn, Germany: Luftfahrtverlag-Start. ISBN 978-3-941437-07-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
  • 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.
  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
  • Schumann, Ralf (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 des LG 1 (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 978-3-86619-013-9.
Military offices Preceded byOberst Stefan Fröhlich Commander of Kampfgeschwader 76 26 February 1941 – 7 January 1943 Succeeded byMajor Wilhelm von Friedburg
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