Otto Böhner was born on 14 December 1913 at Hamburg. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1935. Böhner learned to fly on gliders and also obtained a University degree in mechanical engineering. He also received a fighter pilot’s training. Böhner was serving with JG 53 at the outbreak of World War 2. Oberleutnant Böhner was assigned to 6./JG 53. He served as the Technischer Offizier of II./JG 53 during the winter of 1939 and 1940. Böhner claimed three victories during the French campaign of May 1940, all French Morane fighters, but was not granted confirmation for any of them. However, on 9 June, he was shot down in aerial combat with French Morane fighters in the Reims area. Böhner baled out into French captivity. Released shortly after the armistice, Böhner was posted to a flying school at Guben where he served as a company commander. In late September or early October 1940, Böhner returned to II./JG 53. In October 1940, Böhner was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 53. The Staffel did not participate in the invasion of Russia along with the rest of II./JG 53. Instead it was assigned Reichsverteidigung duties based initially at Jever then Döberitz. In July 1941, 6./JG 53 relocated to the island of Sylt. Further relocations to Holland followed in August before finally reuniting with the rest of II./JG 53 in November. Böhner led 6./JG 53 to the Mediterranean theatre in late November 1941. Böhner claimed two victories over Malta, both RAF Hurricane fighters, to record his fourth and fifth victories. On 8 March 1942, Böhner relinquished command of 6./JG 53, when he was slightly wounded by anti-aircraft fire. He returned to JG 53 on recovery from his wounds to take up the position of Geschwader Technischer Offizier. In summer 1943, Böhner was transferred to Erprobungskommando 16, a test unit flying the rocket-powered Me 163 fighter based at Bad Zwischenahn. Böhner was to play an influential role in the testing of this revolutionary aircraft. Later, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2./JG 400 and flew 16 combat missions with the fighter. Böhner was captured by US troops at the end of war and was interned until July 1945.
    Otto Böhner was credited with 5 victories and a number of unconfirmed victories. All his victories were recorded over the Western front.
 

No	Date	Time	A/c Type	Unit	Location / Comments
-	22.9.1939	-	E/a	6./JG 53	not confirmed
-	10.5.1940	-	Morane 405	II./JG 53	Metz / not confirmed
-	13.5.1940	-	Morane 405	II./JG 53	Not confirmed
-	13.5.1940	-	Morane 405	II./JG 53	Not confirmed
1	15.11.1940	-	Hurricane	6./JG 53	-
2	20.4.1941	12:28	Spitfire	6./JG 53	SE Dover
3	7.5.1941	6:30	Spitfire	6./JG 53	E Deal
4	29.12.1941	10:05	Hurricane	6./JG 53	Malta
5	25.1.1942	10:57	Hurricane	6./JG 53	Malta

Victories : 5
Awards :
Units : JG 53, EKdo 16