Wilhelm Hofmann

Oberleutnant

Wilhelm Hofmann was born on 24 March 1921 at Reichelsheim in the Oderwald region of Hessen. Hofmann joined JG 26 following completion of operational training with Ergänzungsjagdgruppe West on 11 June 1942. Unteroffizier Hofmann was assigned to 1./JG 26. He gained his first victory, a RAF Spitfire fighter shot down near Cassel, on 11 October 1942. On 9 December, Hofmann suffered engine failure in his Fw 190 A-4 (W.Nr. 5617) and crash-landed near Watten. He suffered severe injuries that kept him in hospital for four months. He returned to 1./JG 26 on 31 March 1943 by which time the unit had relocated to Eastern front. He shot down a Russian LaGG-3 fighter on 14 May for his 2nd, and only, victory on the Eastern front. In September 1943, Feldwebel Hofmann transferred to 10./JG 26. However his stay was short for he was serving with 8./JG 26 in October. On 29 February 1944 Leutnant Hofmann was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 26. He recorded his 10th victory on 15 March. He was to gain much success over Normandy following the Allied landings. Oberleutnant Hofmann was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 22 July for 26 victories. He brought his score to 30 on 20 August by claiming two USAAF P-47 fighters. On 22 October, Hofmann injured his left eye in a ground accident when, examining a dismounted aircraft machine gun, the bolt closed suddenly. He continued to fly combat missions wearing an eyepatch. Leutnant Hofmann was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 24 October. He had claimed 40 victories at this time. On 1 January 1945, Hofmann led 8./JG 26 on Operation Bodenplatte attacking Brussels-Evere airfield. On 15 January 1945, Hofmann assumed command of 5./JG 26 but retained control of 8./JG 26. However, on 15 February, 8./JG 26 was disbanded and he became the permanent leader of 5./JG 26. Hofmann led a formation of eight Fw 190s from Drope on a Jabojagd mission in the Wesel-Bocholt area on 26 March 1945. The formation encountered USAAF B-26s near Münster and he led a bounce of the RAF Tempest fighter escort shooting down one for his 44th victory. However, during the ensuing confusion Hofmann went missing. It was later determined he had been shot down by his wingman and crashed between Hasselünne and Flechum. He had managed to bale out but was too low for his parachute to deploy.

Wilhelm Hofmann was credited with 44 victories achieved in 260 missions of which 43 were gained on the Western Front including six four-engine bombers. His score also included thirteen P-47s and ten P-51s.



No Date Time A/c Type Unit Location Comments 1. 11.10.1942 15:40 Spitfire 1./JG 26 5km W Cassel Spitfire of 64 Sqn, RAF 2. 14.5.1943 - LaGG-3 1./JG 26 USSR (PQ 41484) 3. 18.10.1943 14:20 Spitfire 8./JG 26 near Ardres Spitfire of 132 Sqn, RAF 4. 4.1.1944 16:10 Spitfire 8./JG 26 near Rue Spitfire of 501 Sqn, RAF 5. 7.1.1944 13:50 B-17 8./JG 26 2km E La Calique 6. 11.1.1944 13:18 B-17 e.V. 8./JG 26 4km NW Rheine 7. 28.1.1944 13:53 Mustang 8./JG 26 between Abbeville a Berck Mustang of 2 Sqn, RAF 8. 29.1.1944 13:30 B-17 8./JG 26 2km N Lutrebois B-17 of 95 BG, USAAF 9. 8.3.1944 14:20 P-51 8./JG 26 17km W Torgau P-51 of 363 FG, USAAF 10. 15.3.1944 12:15 B-24 8./JG 26 NW Gevelsburg B-24 of 392 BG, USAAF 11. 12.4.1944 13:40 B-24 8./JG 26 52km E Charleville B-24 of 445 BG, USAAF 12. 13.4.1944 13:44 P-47 8./JG 26 near Trier P-47 of 78 FG, USAAF 13. 9.5.1944 9:40 P-51 8./JG 26 13km WNW Turnhout P-51 of 357 FG, USAAF 14. 8.6.1944 6:05 Mustang 8./JG 26 NW Caen Mustang of 168 Sqn, RAF 15. 8.6.1944 16:50 P-47 8./JG 26 20km SE Caen 16. 8.6.1944 17:05 P-47 8./JG 26 W Rouen 17. 10.6.1944 14:28 P-47 8./JG 26 NW Lisieux P-47 of 78 FG, USAAF 18. 12.6.1944 6:25 P-47 8./JG 26 40km SE Rouen P-47 of 353 FG, USAAF 19. 17.6.1944 13:35 P-47 8./JG 26 St Lô 20. 22.6.1944 19:10 B-24 HSS 8./JG 26 SE Paris B-24 of 34 BG, USAAF 21. 23.6.1944 13:08 Mustang 8./JG 26 NE Caen Mustang of 414 Sqn, RAF 22. 24.6.1944 7:22 Mustang 8./JG 26 25km WSW Dreux Mustang of 65 Sqn, RAF 23. 24.6.1944 21:32 P-47 8./JG 26 W Dreux P-47 of 373 FG, USAAF 24. 25.6.1944 15:30 P-38 8./JG 26 W Rouen P-38 of 370 FG, USAAF 25. 29.6.1944 8:48 Spitfire 8./JG 26 10km SW Lisieux Spitfire of 222 Sqn, RAF 26. 10.7.1944 11:35 Spitfire 8./JG 26 N Caen 27. 15.8.1944 12:34 P-47 8./JG 26 Versailles P-47 of 373 FG, USAAF 28. 17.8.1944 16:22 Spitfire 8./JG 26 NW Rouen Spitfire of 1 Sqn, RAF 29. 18.8.1944 8:22 Mustang 8./JG 26 Beauvais Mustang of 315 Sqn, RAF 30. 20.8.1944 16:02 P-47 8./JG 26 NW Paris P-47 of 362 FG, USAAF 31. 20.8.1944 20:03 P-47 8./JG 26 W Rouen P-47 of 404 FG, USAAF 32. 23.8.1944 13:46 Spitfire 8./JG 26 NE Paris Spitfire of 421 or 443 Sqn, RAF 33. 25.8.1944 13:53 P-38 8./JG 26 W Beauvais P-38 of 474 FG, USAAF 34. 25.8.1944 19:00 P-51 8./JG 26 N Soissons P-51 of 354 FG, USAAF 35. 25.8.1944 19:04 P-51 8./JG 26 N Soissons P-51 of 354 FG, USAAF 36. 28.8.1944 12:10 Auster 8./JG 26 Melun 37. 17.9.1944 14:40 P-51 8./JG 26 Emmerich P-51 of 4 FG, USAAF 38. 21.9.1944 17:20 C-47 8./JG 26 Deelen C-47 of 38 or 46 Gp, USAAF 39. 21.9.1944 17:33 P-47 8./JG 26 Zwolle P-47 of 353 FG, USAAF 40. 2.10.1944 12:10 Spitfire 8./JG 26 Cleve-Nijmegen Spitfire of 401 Sqn, RAF 41. 28.2.1945 12:23 P-47 5./JG 26 Near Mönchen-Gladbach P-47 of 406 FG, USAAF 42. 1.3.1945 9:32 Auster 5./JG 26 Near Mönchen-Gladbach 43. 1.3.1945 9:36 P-47 5./JG 26 Near Mönchen-Gladbach P-47 of 366 FG, USAAF 44. 26.3.1945 15:32 Tempest 5./JG 26 SW Münster Tempest of 33 Sqn, RAF

Victories : 44

Awards : Knight`s Cross

Units : JG 26