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Adolf Borchers
Born	(1913-02-10)10 February 1913 Wendhausen near Lüneburg
Died	9 February 1996(1996-02-09) (aged 82) Oberstaufen-Steibis
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Condor Legion Luftwaffe
Rank	Major (major)
Unit	Jagdgruppe 88, JG 51, JG 52
Commands	11./JG 51, I./JG 52, III./JG 52
Battles / wars	See battles Spanish Civil War World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Spouse(s)	Christl Cranz
Relations	Walter Borchers Hermann Borchers
Other work	Ski school

Adolf Borchers (10 February 1913 – 9 February 1996) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. He was credited with 132 aerial victories—that is, 132 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in approximately 800 combat missions.

Biography

Borchers was born on 10 February 1913 in Wendhausen near Lüneburg. He had two brothers who also received the Knight's Cross. Major Walter Borchers was a night fighter pilot and wing commander. A second brother, SS-Hauptsturmführer Hermann Borchers served in the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen.

He joined the Luftwaffe in 1937 and participated as an Unteroffizier in the Spanish Civil War, flying with 1. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) in the Condor Legion. After the Spanish Civil War he was transferred to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) which later became 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) on 21 November 1940. In this unit he fought in the Invasion of Poland, Battle of France and Battle of Britain, claiming two aerial victories. On 19 May 1940, he claimed his first aerial victory over a Hawker Hurricane in the vicinity of Le Cateau

Following aerial combat on 31 August 1940, Borchers ditched his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 (Werknummer 5808—factory number) in the Thames Estuary but was rescued. That day, I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 77 lost seven Bf 109s in combat over southeastern England, with one pilot killed in action and five taken prisoner of war.

Eastern Front

During Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he accumulated further victories and by the end of 1941 his score had increased to 23 aerial victories. After being promoted to an Officers rank, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 11. Staffel of JG 51 on 20 August 1942, replacing Leutnant Wolfgang Böwing-Treuding who was transferred to 10. Staffel. On 15 October, Borchers was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) for 31 aerial victories. By the end of 1942, his number of aerial victories had increased to 38.

In early January 1943, IV. Gruppe was based at an airfield named Isotscha, a makeshift airfield built on a frozen lake lokated approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Velikiye Luki. In February, the Gruppe converted from the Bf 109 F-2 to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-4. In that combat area, Army Group Centre had launched Operation Büffel, a series of retreats eliminating the Rzhev salient. For 78 aerial victories, Borchers was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 22 November. He received the award together with fellow JG 51 pilot Joachim Brendel.

Group commander

On 10 June 1944, I. Gruppe was ordered to an airfield named Peloniczna near Lviv. Seven days later, they were moved to Serpneve. On 11 June, Borchers was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) replacing Hauptmann Johannes Wiese. Wiese had been injured on 22 February. Intermittently, the Gruppe had been led by Oberleutnant Paul-Heinrich Dähne. Command of 11. Staffel of JG 51 was then passed to Oberleutnant Horst Walther. On 22 June, Soviet forces launched Operation Bagration, attacking Army Group Centre in Byelorussia, with the objective of encircling and destroying its main component armies. On 24 June, the Gruppe transferred to Galați and again to Peloniczna. Borchers claimed his 100 aerial victory on 24 July 1944. He was the 86th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. The Gruppe reached Grabowiec in eastern Poland on 27 July and Kraków on 1 August. On 12 August they were again relocated and moved to Mzurowa.

His 118th victory claimed on 2 September 1944, is also noted for claiming JG 52 10,000th aerial victory. On 19 September, Borchers made an emergency landing in his Bf 109 G-6 near Tarnów, in an area approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) east of Kraków. Borchers was given command to III. Gruppe of JG 52 on 1 February 1945. He succeeded Hauptmann Wilhelm Batz who was transferred to take command of II. Gruppe of JG 52. Command of I. Gruppe of JG 52 was passed to Hauptmann Erich Hartmann. Together with his comrades he surrendered to U.S. forces only to be turned over to Soviet forces.

Later life

After World War II, Borchers was released from Soviet captivity in 1950. He then traveled to Steibis, part of Oberstaufen in Oberallgäu, Bavaria. There, he was reunited with his wife Christl Cranz, a former German alpine ski racer whom he had married in 1943. The marriage produced three children. In 1947, Cranz had founded a Ski school for children, which the two then jointly operated. Borchers died on 9 February 1996 in Oberstaufen.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Borchers was credited with 132 aerial victories. Spick also lists Borchers with 132 aerial victories, 127 of which on the Eastern Front and five during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, claimed in over 800 combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and also state that Borchers was credited with 132 aerial victories, including two on the Western Front and the others on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47764". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 20 October 1941 as Oberfeldwebel in a Jagdgeschwader
• German Cross in Gold on 15 October 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 11./Jagdgeschwader 51
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 November 1943 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 11./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"

Notes

1. For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
2. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3.
3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin DB-3.
4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin Il-2.
5. ^ The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
6. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.
7. This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Balke and Bock.
8. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 08:06.
9. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:55.
10. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:55.
11. According to Obermaier on 13 October 1941.

References

Citations

1. ^ Dixon 2023, pp. 49–50.
2. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 49.
3. ^ Prien et al. 2001, p. 390.
4. Weal 2006, p. 36.
5. Prien et al. 2002, pp. 96, 107.
6. Prien et al. 2006, p. 350.
7. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 358.
8. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 96–97.
9. Weal 2006, pp. 105–106.
10. Schreier 1990, pp. 140–141.
11. ^ Weal 2004, p. 121.
12. Prien et al. 2022b, p. 67.
13. Prien et al. 2022a, p. 477.
14. Schreier 1990, pp. 137–138.
15. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 141.
16. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
17. Schreier 1990, pp. 142, 144.
18. Weal 2004, p. 117.
19. Bergström 2008, p. 79.
20. Prien et al. 2022b, p. 81.
21. Prien et al. 2022b, p. 85.
22. Barbas 2010, p. 279.
23. Schreier 1990, p. 186.
24. Pinwinkler, Haar & Fahlbusch 2017, p. 121.
25. Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
26. Spick 1996, p. 230.
27. Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 124–127.
28. Planquadrat.
29. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 124.
30. Prien et al. 2002, p. 106.
31. Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 124–125.
32. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 334.
33. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 343.
34. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 125.
35. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 335.
36. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 345.
37. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 336.
38. Prien et al. 2003, p. 337.
39. Prien et al. 2003, p. 339.
40. Prien et al. 2003, p. 341.
41. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 119.
42. Prien et al. 2005, p. 120.
43. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 125–126.
44. Prien et al. 2006, p. 353.
45. Prien et al. 2006, p. 354.
46. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 356.
47. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 357.
48. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 359.
49. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 147.
50. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 151.
51. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 148.
52. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 152.
53. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 153.
54. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 149.
55. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 154.
56. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 150.
57. Prien et al. 2012, p. 155.
58. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 156.
59. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 126.
60. ^ Prien et al. 2022a, p. 481.
61. ^ Prien et al. 2022a, p. 483.
62. Prien et al. 2022a, p. 482.
63. Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 126–127.
64. ^ Prien et al. 2022b, p. 75.
65. ^ Prien et al. 2022b, p. 78.
66. ^ Prien et al. 2022b, p. 76.
67. ^ Prien et al. 2022b, p. 77.
68. ^ Prien et al. 2022b, p. 79.
69. ^ Prien et al. 2022b, p. 80.
70. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 127.
71. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 381.
72. Patzwall 2008, p. 55.
73. Obermaier 1989, p. 92.
74. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 52.
75. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 140.
76. Scherzer 2007, p. 235.

Bibliography

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• Bergström, Christer (2008). Bagration to Berlin—The Final Air Battles in the East: 1944–1945. Burgess Hill: Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1-903223-91-8.
• Bergström, Christer . "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
• Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) . 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.
• Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
• Pinwinkler, Alexander; Haar, Ingo; Fahlbusch, Michael (2017). Handbuch der völkischen Wissenschaften—Akteure, Netzwerke, Forschungsprogramme [Handbook of Ethnic Sciences—Actors, Networks, Research Programs] (in German). Vol. One. Munich, Germany: De Gruyter Oldenbourg. ISBN 978-3-11-042989-3.
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• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
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v t e German World War II flying aces with 100+ aerial victories
300+	Erich Hartmann (352) Gerhard Barkhorn (301)
250–299	Günther Rall (275) Otto Kittel (267) Walter Nowotny (258)
200–249	Wilhelm Batz (237) Erich Rudorffer (222) Heinrich Bär (220) Hermann Graf (212) Heinrich Ehrler (208) Theodor Weissenberger (208) Hans Philipp (206) Walter Schuck (206) Anton Hafner (204) Helmut Lipfert (203)
150–199	Walter Krupinski (197) Anton Hackl (192) Joachim Brendel (189) Max Stotz (189) Joachim Kirschner (188) Kurt Brändle (180) Günther Josten (178) Johannes Steinhoff (176) Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert (174) Günther Schack (174) Emil Lang (173) Heinz Schmidt (173) Horst Ademeit (166) Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke (162) Hans-Joachim Marseille (158) Heinrich Sturm (158) Gerhard Thyben (157) Hans Beißwenger (152) Peter Düttmann (152) Gordon Gollob (150)
100–149	Fritz Tegtmeier (146) Albin Wolf (144) Kurt Tanzer (143) Friedrich-Karl Müller (140) Friedrich Wachowiak (140)? Karl Gratz (138) Heinrich Setz (138) Rudolf Trenkel (138) Franz Schall (137) Walter Wolfrum (137) Horst-Günther von Fassong (136)? Otto Fönnekold (136) Karl-Heinz Weber (136) Joachim Müncheberg (135) Hans Waldmann (134) Alfred Grislawski (133) Johannes Wiese (133) Adolf Borchers (132) Erwin Clausen (132) Adolf Dickfeld (132) Wilhelm Lemke (131) Gerhard Hoffmann (130) Heinrich Sterr (130) Walther Dahl (129) Franz Eisenach (129) Franz Dörr (128) Rudolf Rademacher (126)? Josef Zwernemann (126) Dietrich Hrabak (125) Wolf-Udo Ettel (124) Herbert Ihlefeld (123) Wolfgang Tonne (122) Heinz Marquardt (121) Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (121) Robert Weiß (121) Friedrich Obleser (120) Erich Leie (118) Franz-Josef Beerenbrock (117) Hans-Joachim Birkner (117) Jakob Norz (117) Walter Oesau (117) Heinz Wernicke (117) August Lambert (116) Wilhelm Crinius (114) Werner Schröer (114) Hans Dammers (113) Berthold Korts (113) Helmut Lent (113) Kurt Bühligen (112) Kurt Ubben (111) Franz Woidich (110) Emil Bitsch (108) Hans Hahn (108) Bernhard Vechtel (108) Viktor Bauer (106) Werner Lucas (106) Günther Lützow (105) Eberhard von Boremski (104) Adolf Galland (104) Heinz Sachsenberg (104) Hartmann Grasser (103) Siegfried Freytag (102) Friedrich Geißhardt (102) Egon Mayer (102) Max-Hellmuth Ostermann (102) Herbert Rollwage (102)? Josef Wurmheller (102) Rudolf Miethig (101) Werner Mölders (101) Josef Priller (101) Ulrich Wernitz (101) Paul-Heinrich Dähne (100) Reinhard Seiler (100)
List of German World War II aces List of top World War II aces   This along with the ? (question mark) indicates doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing.

• Aviation
• Biography

• 1913 births
• 1996 deaths
• People from Lüneburg (district)
• Condor Legion personnel
• German World War II flying aces
• Luftwaffe pilots
• Recipients of the Gold German Cross
• Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
• German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union
• Military personnel from the Province of Hanover
• Military personnel from Lower Saxony