P-51 Mustang of the 4th Fighter Group, Debden Airfield, England
With his long hair and football jersey, "Kid" Hofer stands out as one of the most memorable characters in the Eighth Air Force. After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Hofer transferred to the 4th Fighter Group in September 1943 and promptly destroyed a Bf 109 on his first mission. Hofer was known for not maintaining radio discipline, and incurred the wrath of group commander Colonel Don Blakeslee on more than one occasion. Hofer was also one of the top strafers in the Eighth Air Force with 14 confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground. He scored his first two victories in P-47s but is usually associated with P-51B 42-106924 QP—L, nicknamed Salem Representative.
Deathedit
On July 2, 1944 the 4th Fighter Group joined the 352nd and 325th Fighter Groups in a bomber escort mission to Budapest, Hungary, flying from bases in Foggia, Italy.[3] Over the Budapest area, they encountered a force of Bf 109s. A tough battle followed. In all, four P-51s were shot down on the mission.[4] Of the four downed pilots, two were made prisoners of war, and two were killed. The last was Hofer. Luftwaffe records show he was brought down by anti-aircraft fire (flak) while strafing a German fighter base at Mostar Sud airfield in then-Yugoslavia (now Bosnia-Herzegovina) [citation needed] some 500 kilometers away from the aerial battle . His body was recovered from the wreckage of P-51B, QP-X and the Red Cross ultimately notified Hofer's unit. Hofer is buried in a mass grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
Air Classics:Last of the Bad Boy Aces book review of "Kidd Hofer-- The Last of the Screwball Aces"
at www.starduststudios.com (painting of Kidd Hofer in flight)
Hess, William. America's Top WWII Aces in their Own Words, Eighth Air Force. ISBN9781610607025. (The Aces: Lt. Ralph K. Hofer, pages 101–104)
Scutts, J. (1994). Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN1-85532-447-4
Troy L. White (13 January 2003). Kidd Hofer-- the Last of the Screwball Aces: The Story of Lt. Ralph K. Hofer and the 4th Fighter Group in WWII. Stardust Studios. ISBN978-0-9727413-8-5.
ralph, hofer, ralph, kidd, hofer, born, ralph, halbrook, june, 1921, july, 1944, american, fighter, pilot, flying, with, united, states, army, forces, world, ralph, kidd, hofer, thunderboltnickname, kidd, born, 1921, june, 1921salem, missouri, united, statesdi. Ralph Kidd Hofer born Ralph Halbrook 1 June 22 1921 July 2 1944 was an American fighter pilot and flying ace with the United States Army Air Forces in World War II 2 Ralph K HoferRalph Kidd Hofer in his P 47 ThunderboltNickname s The Kidd Born 1921 06 22 June 22 1921Salem Missouri United StatesDiedJuly 2 1944 1944 07 02 aged 23 Mostar YugoslaviaBuriedJefferson Barracks National CemeteryAllegianceCanadaUnited StatesService wbr branchRoyal Canadian Air Force 1941 43 United States Army Air Forces 1943 44 Years of service1941 1944RankLieutenantUnit4th Fighter GroupBattles warsWorld War IIAwardsDistinguished Flying Cross 7 Air Medal 3 Contents 1 United States Army Air Forces 2 Death 3 Decorations 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksUnited States Army Air Forces edit nbsp P 51 Mustang of the 4th Fighter Group Debden Airfield England With his long hair and football jersey Kid Hofer stands out as one of the most memorable characters in the Eighth Air Force After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force Hofer transferred to the 4th Fighter Group in September 1943 and promptly destroyed a Bf 109 on his first mission Hofer was known for not maintaining radio discipline and incurred the wrath of group commander Colonel Don Blakeslee on more than one occasion Hofer was also one of the top strafers in the Eighth Air Force with 14 confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground He scored his first two victories in P 47s but is usually associated with P 51B 42 106924 QP L nicknamed Salem Representative Death editOn July 2 1944 the 4th Fighter Group joined the 352nd and 325th Fighter Groups in a bomber escort mission to Budapest Hungary flying from bases in Foggia Italy 3 Over the Budapest area they encountered a force of Bf 109s A tough battle followed In all four P 51s were shot down on the mission 4 Of the four downed pilots two were made prisoners of war and two were killed The last was Hofer Luftwaffe records show he was brought down by anti aircraft fire flak while strafing a German fighter base at Mostar Sud airfield in then Yugoslavia now Bosnia Herzegovina citation needed some 500 kilometers away from the aerial battle His body was recovered from the wreckage of P 51B QP X and the Red Cross ultimately notified Hofer s unit Hofer is buried in a mass grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis Missouri Decorations editAmong Hofer s decorations are the Distinguished Flying Cross with six oak leaf clusters and three Air Medals 5 nbsp Army Air Forces Pilot Badge nbsp nbsp nbsp Distinguished Flying Cross with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters nbsp Purple Heart nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters nbsp Presidential Unit Citation nbsp American Campaign Medal nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars nbsp World War II Victory Medal nbsp Croix de Guerre with Palm Belgium nbsp Canadian Volunteer Overseas Service MedalNotes edit Ralph Kidd Hofer Hall of Valor Military Times Retrieved 8 December 2017 Original Coverage of Ralph K Hofer s Career The Salem News 2017 05 09 Retrieved 2018 05 31 Scutts p32 Scutts p33 Hess p 101 References editAir Classics Last of the Bad Boy Aces book review of Kidd Hofer The Last of the Screwball Aces Kidd Hofer Top Ace of the 4th Fighter Group in WWII at www starduststudios com painting of Kidd Hofer in flight Hess William America s Top WWII Aces in their Own Words Eighth Air Force ISBN 9781610607025 The Aces Lt Ralph K Hofer pages 101 104 Scutts J 1994 Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force Oxford Osprey Publishing ISBN 1 85532 447 4 Troy L White 13 January 2003 Kidd Hofer the Last of the Screwball Aces The Story of Lt Ralph K Hofer and the 4th Fighter Group in WWII Stardust Studios ISBN 978 0 9727413 8 5 External links editRalph K Hofer at Find a Grave 4th Fighter Group Association WWII Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ralph K Hofer amp oldid 1211038688, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
