Ralph Kidd Hofer (born Ralph Halbrook, June 22, 1921 – July 2, 1944) was an American

fighter pilot A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat and sometimes electronic warfare while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and ...

and flying ace with the United States Army Air Forces in World War II.

United States Army Air Forces

With his long hair and football jersey, "Kid" Hofer stands out as one of the most memorable characters in the

Eighth Air Force The Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force's Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The command serves as Air Force ...

. After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Hofer transferred to the

4th Fighter Group The 4th Fighter Group was an American element of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force during World War II. The group was known as the Debden Eagles because it was created from the three Eagle Squadrons of the Royal Air Force: ...

in September 1943 and promptly destroyed a

Bf 109 The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. The Bf 109 first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War an ...

on his first mission. Hofer was known for not maintaining radio discipline, and incurred the wrath of group commander Colonel

Don Blakeslee Donald James Matthew Blakeslee (September 11, 1917 – September 3, 2008) was an officer in the United States Air Force, whose aviation career began as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force flying Spitfire fighter aircraft during World War II. H ...

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

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 Foggia (, , ; nap, label= Foggiano, Fògge ) is a city and former ''comune'' of Apulia, in Southern Italy, capital of the province of Foggia. In 2013, its population was 153,143. Foggia is the main city of a plain called Tavoliere, also known ...

, Italy. 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. 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) 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

Among Hofer's decorations are the Distinguished Flying Cross with six oak leaf clusters and three

Air Medals The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establish ...

.Hess, p.101. USAAF Wings

Army Air Forces Pilot Badge

Notes

References

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) * (The Aces: Lt. Ralph K. Hofer, pages 101–104) *Scutts, J. (1994). Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. *

External links

*
4th Fighter Group Association WWII
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hofer, Ralph K. 1921 births 1944 deaths American World War II flying aces Aviators from Missouri Aviators killed by being shot down Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) United States Army Air Forces officers United States Army Air Forces personnel killed in World War II People from Salem, Missouri