Karl Borris
Major
 
Karl Borris

    Karl Borris was born on 3 March 1916 at Heinsdorf in the Juterborg region of Mark Brandenburg. Leutnant Borris joined JG 26 in December 1939 and served with the unit until V-E Day. Leutnant Borris was initially assigned to 5./JG 26. Borris saw combat during the invasion of the low-countries and France. On 13 May 1940, RAF Defiant fighters shot him down over the Dutch coast. Borris baled out of his stricken Bf 109 E-3 near Dordrecht. He managed to return to his unit on 17 May 1940. Borris claimed his first victories during the British Army’s evacuation at Dunkirk in early June 1940. Borris paticipated in the Battle of Britain. By the end of 1940, he had recorded six victories. In March 1941, Borris was serving as Technischer Offizier of II./JG 26 and was ordered to report to the Reichsluftfahrtministerium’s test centre at Rechlin with some 30 selected technicians. Awaiting them there were six pre-production Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-0 fighters. This little force was christened Eprobungstaffel 190. They did much to ensure the Fw 190’s acceptance into service. On 10 November 1941, Oberleutnant Borris was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 26. By the end of 1941 his victory total had reached nine. He continued to add to his tally during 1942 to reach 21 victories by the end of the year. On 14 May 1943, he was hit by return fire from USAAF B-17 four-engine bombers he was attacking over Wevelgem. He baled out of his Fw 190 A-5 (W.Nr. 7326) “Black 19” but his parachute partially collapsed. He suffered numerous broken bones on landing necessitating a lengthy stay in hospital. Hauptmann Borris became Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 26 on 23 June 1943. He was promoted to the rank of Major early in April 1944. On 15 May, Borris left JG 26 for two and one-half months. He returned in early July but did not immediately reclaim command of I./JG 26. On 1 August, Major Borris resumed command of I./JG 26. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 25 November for 41 victories. Borris ended the war based at Flensburg and surrendered to the British forces.
Borris died on 18 August 1981 at Bornum in the Wölfenbuttel region.
    Karl Borris is credited with 43 victories in the West. Included in his victory total are five four-engine bombers and 28 Spitfires.
 
No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location
Comments
1
1.6.1940
12:42
 Spitfire 5./JG 26 NW Dunkirk -
2
2.6.1940
9:10
 Spitfire 5./JG 26 Dunkirk Spitfire of 66, 266 or 611 Sqn, RAF
3
13.8.1940
17:05
 Hurricane 5./JG 26 Maidstone-Detling Hurricane of 56 Sqn, RAF
4
13.8.1940
17:07
 Hurricane 5./JG 26 Maidstone-Detling Hurricane of 56 Sqn, RAF
5
6.9.1940
9:55
 Hurricane  4./JG 26 Folkestone Hurricane of 501 Sqn, RAF
6
25.10.1940
11:04
 Spitfire 4./JG 26 Maidstone Spitfire of 603 Sqn, RAF
7
9.8.1941
18:30
 Spitfire 6./JG 26 Campagne Spitfire of 403 Sqn, RAF
8
20.9.1941
16:57
 Spitfire 6./JG 26 Mardyck -
9
21.9.1941
16:30
 Spitfire 6./JG 26 Etaples Spitfire of 315 Sqn RAF
10
13.3.1942
16:09
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 - Spitfire of 602 Sqn, RAF
11
4.4.1942
11:40
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 Pas de Calais -
12
4.4.1942
11:46
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 3km N Sangatte -
13
15.4.1942
19:04
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 E Cap Gris Nez Spitfire of 222 Sqn, RAF
14
17.4.1942
16:14
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 Channel Spitfire of 121 Sqn, RAF
15
24.4.1942
14:50
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 75km WNW Ostend Spitfire of 122 Sqn, RAF
16
28.4.1942
11:34
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 S Gravelines Spitfire of 121, 222 or 317 Sqn, RAF
17
28.4.1942
11:59
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 - Spitfire of 401 Sqn, RAF
18
17.5.1942
11:50
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 6km NW Sangatte Spitfire of 64 or 122 Sqn, RAF
19
1.6.1942
13:58
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 8km N La Panne Spitfire of 71 or 350 Sqn, RAF
20
30.7.1942
19:20
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 - -
21
19.8.1942
10:15
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 Dieppe Spitfire of 19 or 121 Sqn, RAF
22
3.2.1943
15:21
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 N Poperinghe Spitfire of 416 Sqn, RAF
23
3.2.1943
15:22
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 Poperinghe-Bergues Spitfire of 416 Sqn, RAF
24
7.2.1943
14:46
 Typhoon 8./JG 26 Staden Typhoon of 609 Sqn, RAF flown by F/L P Nankivell, killed
25
4.4.1943
14:40
 B-17 8./JG 26 Rouen-Dieppe B-17 of 303 or 305 BG, USAAF
26
13.5.1943
16:45
 Spitfire 8./JG 26 St. Pol -
27
25.7.1943
15:04
 Spitfire I./JG 26 N Ghent Spitfire of 165 Sqn, RAF
28
25.7.1943
15:09
 Spitfire I./JG 26 N Ghent Spitfire of 165 Sqn, RAF
29
17.8.1943
11:30
 B-17 I./JG 26 10km E Deest B-17 (42-30389) “Dear Mom” of 331 BS, 94 BG, USAAF flown by Lt Bernard W Nayovitz, 6 killed, 4 POW
30
19.9.1943
12:52
 Spitfire I./JG 26 E Ipswich Spitfire of 91 Sqn, RAF
31
7.1.1944
12:30~
 P-47 I./JG 26 SW Cousolre P-47 of 358FG USAAF
32
11.1.1944
13:00
 B-17 I./JG 26 Nordhorn-Zuider Zee B-17 of 306 BG, USAAF
33
29.1.1944
11:40~
 B-17 I./JG 26 E Bonn -
34
8.2.1944
11:15
 P-47 I./JG 26 Hirson-Thiérache  P-47 of 352 FG, USAAF
35
24.2.1944
13:05
 P-47 I./JG 26 N Rheine P-47 of 56 FG, USAAF
-
6.3.1944
14:35
 P-47 I./JG 26 SW Oldenburgh P-47 of 356 FG, USAAF
36
8.3.1944
16:50
 Spitfire I./JG 26 E Utrecht Spitfire of 332 Sqn, RAF
37
19.4.1944
19:05
 Spitfire I./JG 26 ENE Mechelen Spitfire of 310 or 312 Sqn, RAF
38
14.7.1944
14:36
 P-47 I./JG 26 W Paris P-47 of 358 FG, USAAF
39
26.8.1944
9:32
 Spitfire I./JG 26 Rouen Spitfire of 602 Sqn, RAF
40
16.9.1944
17:40
 P-38 I./JG 26 Bonn P-38 of 370 FG, USAAF
41
23.9.1944
17:09
 P-51 I./JG 26 Wesel P-51 of 339 FG, USAAF
42
5.12.1944
13:35
 B-17 I./JG 26 W Lingen B-17 of 452 BG, USAAF
43
14.1.1945
15:45
 Spitfire I./JG 26 Ibbenbüren Spitfire of 331 or 332 Sqn, RAF

Victories : 43
Awards : Ehrenpokal (25 May 1942)
                Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (8 September 1942)
                Ritterkreuz (25 November 1944)
Units : JG 26

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