managed to bail out at but opened his parachute too soon, causing it to partially collapse. He sustained multiple broken bones, requiring a lengthy period in hospitals and convalescence. On 22 June, Major Fritz Losigkeit the commander of I. Gruppe was transferred. In consequence, Oberst Josef Priller, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 26, was forced to appoint a new Gruppenkommandeur (group commander). While Borris was still in a hospital, Priller called him and gave him command of I. Gruppe. 24 July marked the beginning of a period in the Combined Bomber Offensive which was referred to as "Blitz Week". As part of the offensive, the next day, U.S. Martin B-26 Marauder bombers attacked the Ghent coke furnaces. I. Gruppe, led by Borris, was scrambled at Woensdrecht to intercept the attack on Ghent. The Gruppe engaged the escorting fighters and claimed four Spitfires destroyed plus a further Spitfire damaged, without loss. Following this aerial battle, Borris was credited with two aerial victories over two No. 165 Squadron Spitfires claimed shot down north of Ghent at 15:04 and 15:09 respectively. The USAAF targeted the German aircraft industry on 17 August 1943 in the Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission. In defense of this attack, Borris, who had returned to his unit, claimed the first of 60 B-17 bombers lost by the USAAF that day. At 11:30, he had shot down a B-17 from the 94th Bombardment Group which came down east of Deest. On 17 September 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Market Garden, the operation to secure a bridgehead over the River Rhine. As part of this operation, the Allies flew resupplies to the combat area around Arnhem on 23 September. The transport aircraft were protected by 519 fighters from the VIII Fighter Command and 40 Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters from the Ninth Air Force. German fighters dispatched by Luftflotte Reich never reached the transports. Borris led I. Gruppe to the Goch-Wesel area where he shot down a North American P-51 Mustang fighter from the 339th Fighter Group. Operation Bodenplatte and defeat On 24 November 1944, Priller with his Geschwaderstab of JG 26 and Borris with his I. Gruppe moved to an airfield near Handrup and Fürstenau. The next day, two pilots of JG 26 were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), Borris for 41 aerial victories, and Leutnant Heinz-Gerhard Vogt from 5. Staffel for 46 aerial victories. The presentation of the