Wartime diary of Karl Borris of II./JG26

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I'm trying to locate a copy of the wartime diary of Karl Borris, an officer in II./JG26, at least the parts relating to 1939 and 1940. Can anyone help?

Thanx,

[markjsheppard]

Larry

Axel was in contact with the family as he was a major part in his JG26-Dora 9 book.

Assume you have seen the publications

http://www.luftfahrtverlag-start.de/...ehomepage.html

His email is

Axel Urbanke <Axel-Urbanke(at)Luftfahrtverlag-Start.de>

regards

Mark

[Kevin McKendy]

Hi there. I am new to this forum, so please excuse me if I am posting in the wrong place.

I am also interested in the Wartime diary of Karl Borris. Also, what is known of his life after the war? Did he have a family?

Thanks,

Kevin

[markjsheppard]

Kevin

Drop Axel an email and he might be able to provide you with confirmation.

regards

MS

[Doug Stankey]

Here is what we have about Karl Borris:

BORRIS, Karl (Carl).
(DOB: 03.03.16 in Heinsdorf/Brandenburg).
01.11.35 entered service with the Luftwaffe.
01.11.37 trf to 1.(Schuler-Kp.)/LKS Dresden (to 30.11.38).
01.12.38 trf to I./JG 130 (Desau).
01.02.39 trf to a cadet course (to 31.08.39).
01.09.39 trf to JFS Schleissheim.
06.12.39 trf to II./JG 26 (Werl).
05.40 Lt. in 5./JG 26.
13.05.40 MIA - shot down by an RAF Defiant and crashed near Dordtrecht.
17.05.40 returned to his unit.
03.41 Techn.Offz. with II./JG 26.
04.41 trf to Eprobungstaffel 190 - tested the first 6 examples of the Fw 190 A-0 for operational evaluation.
10.11.41 Oblt., appt Staka 8./JG 26 (to 22.06.43).
21.09.42 Oblt., awarded the DKG.
23.06.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./JG 26 (to 14.05.44).
04.44 promo to Maj.
14.05.43 WIA after combat with B-17s over Wevelgem and not released from hospital and convalescence until 01.08.44.
01.08.44 Maj., re-appt Kdr. I./JG 26 (to 07.05.45).
25.11.44 Maj., awarded the Ritterkreuz.
05.45 POW at Flensburg.
Noted as being the only pilot to serve continuously with JG 26 through the entire war. Credited with 43 air victories.
†18.08.81 at Bornum.


Unfortunately, it says nothing about his post war activities.

You could also cruise the Tony Woods claims and losses compilations to gather info about his fighter claims.

We hope that this helps.

HLdZ
DGS

[Kevin McKendy]

I contacted Axel Urbanke and he replied with the following information:

1. He has not seen and does not know anything about any wartime diaries.
2. Karl Borris worked as a Taxi Driver in the DDR after the war - apparently his wartime career prevented him from doing anything else.
3. Borris had children and they are (apparently) alive, but we don't know more than that, or how to contact them.

I can tell you that Borris shot down my father's Spitfire (RCAF 416 Squadron) over Belgium on February 3, 1943 - his 23rd victory. My father managed to bail out, and hid in a barn with the help of a local farmer in the village of Wylder. He was discovered by occupying forces and spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft 3.

[montana]

Hi Kevin !

If I am not mistaken the 416 Squadron lost 4 Spit IX on that day : F/O Gofton (POW), F/O Turp (killed), F/O McKendy (POW) and F/O Rainville (wounded and safe). I know F/O Gofton's Spit crashed at Woesten (Belgium), F/O Turp was killed near Calais and F/O Rainville was lost over sea. Can you confirm your father parachuted down near Wylder (France) ? May I ask you the first name of your father and how he was captured too ? Thanks for your help.

[Kevin McKendy]

Yes, I can confirm that my father, John S. McKendy, parachuted down into the village of Wylder, France. He was hidden in the barn of a local farmer where the occupying forces missed him the first two times they came looking. They did find him on their third visit and took him away for interrogation and he spent the remainder of the war in Stalag Luft 3.

They came for the farmer and took him away for interrogation as well. Fortunately, he and my father had agreed that if caught, both would claim no knowledge of each other. Their stories matched up and this very likely saved the farmer's life; he was returned to the farm the following day.

I hope this is helpful.

Kevin

[montana]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks a lot for your useful information. So your father was the second victory of the day for Hptm. Borris. The first one was F/O Gofton at 15.21 h North of Poperinge (Belgium). This young pilot (19) broke his left arm when he parachuted down.