Ralph K. Hofer

Ralph K. Hofer
Ralph Kidd Hofer in his P-47 Thunderbolt
Nickname(s)	"The Kidd"
Born	(1921-06-22)June 22, 1921 Salem, Missouri, United States
Died	July 2, 1944(1944-07-02) (aged 23) Mostar, Yugoslavia
Buried	Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Allegiance	Canada United States
Service/branch	Royal Canadian Air Force (1941–43) United States Army Air Forces (1943–44)
Years of service	1941–1944
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	4th Fighter Group
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross (7) Air Medal (3)

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]

United States Army Air Forces

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

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.

Decorations

Among Hofer's decorations are the Distinguished Flying Cross with six oak leaf clusters and three Air Medals.^[5]

Army Air Forces Pilot Badge

	Distinguished Flying Cross with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
	Purple Heart
	Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Presidential Unit Citation
	American Campaign Medal
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars
	World War II Victory Medal
	Croix de Guerre, with Palm (Belgium)
	Canadian Volunteer Overseas Service Medal

Notes

^ "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

Air 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.