Ernst Bormann


Ernst Bormann was a German World War I Luftstreitkräfte flying ace and a Generalmajor of the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
He surrendered to the Soviet forces on 10 May 1945 and was released on 9 October 1955.

Career

Ernst Bormann was born on 5 November 1897 in Kirchbrak. He joined Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 82 on 17 August 1915 as a cadet. Bormann transferred to aviation, being sent to Fliegerersatz-Abteilung 7 on 7 March 1917. He moved on to FEA 12 on 24 October 1917. He was at Armee-Flug-Park 9 when he received his first operational assignment; on 8 January 1918, he was posted to Feldflieger Abteilung 42. On 4 May 1918, Leutnant Bormann was posted to a prestigious fighter squadron, Karl Bolle's Jagdstaffel 2, which was equipped with Germany's best fighter of the war, the Fokker D.VII. Beginning 3 July 1918, Bormann was credited with downing 17 enemy aircraft, most of them fighters, by 4 November 1918.
Ernst Bormann was a flying instructor from 1 August 1925 to 30 September 1930, at the nascent Luftwaffe's covert aviation training center at Lipetsk, the Soviet Union. He returned to Germany to instruct there. In 1934, after Hitler's rise to power, Bormann was commissioned as a captain in the Luftwaffe. From 1 April 1935 to 31 May 1938, he was a staffelkapitän for Kampfgeschwader Boelcke. From June to October 1938, he commanded 3 Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2. His next assignment was the command of Lehrgeschwader 1; this posting lasted until July 1940.
During World War II, Bormann succeeded to command of Kampfgeschwader 76. As a major general, he was the Fliegerführer Crimea from February to June 1943. He was taken prisoner by the Soviet forces on 10 May 1945. Bormann returned from imprisonment in the Soviet Union in October 1955. He earned a Doctorate before dying in Düsseldorf on 1 August 1960.

Awards