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. 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. 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. 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. 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 German Cross in Gold on 31 August 1943 as Hauptmann in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 27 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 August 1944 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 27 Notes References Citations Bibliography 1916 births 1989 deaths Luftwaffe pilots German World War II flying aces Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross People from Altenburger Land People from Saxe-Altenburg German amputees Pilots who performed an aerial ramming Military personnel from Thuringia