Karl-Wilhelm Hofmann

Karl-Wilhelm Hofmann (24 March 1921 – 26 March 1945) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II who is credited with 44 aerial victories, which were achieved during 260 combat missions.

All but one of his victories were claimed over the Western Front and in Defence of the Reich.

Born in Reichelsheim, Hofmann grew up in the Weimar Republic and then in Nazi Germany.

He joined the military service in the Luftwaffe and was trained as a fighter pilot.

Hofmann was born on 24 March 1921 in Reichelsheim, in the People's State of Hesse.

Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing), a squadron of the I. Gruppe.

At the time, I. Gruppe was commanded by Hauptmann Johannes Seifert while 1.

Staffel was headed by Oberleutnant Josef Haiböck.

The Gruppe was equipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A series and based at Saint-Omer-Arques, fighting the Royal Air Force (RAF).

On 11 October, the RAF Fighter Command targeted Saint-Omer with multiple "Rodeos".

In defense of this attack, Hofmann claimed his first aerial victory, a No. 64 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down 5 km west of Cassel.

On 9 December, he made a forced landing 5 km north of Watten in his Fw 190 A-4 (Werknummer 5617—factory number) due to engine failure.

He sustained severe injuries and was hospitalized for many months.

Following a lengthy period of convalescence, Hofmann returned to 1.

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.

After his flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in June 1942.

Flying with this wing, Hofmann claimed his first aerial victory on 11 October 1942 on the Western Front over a Royal Air Force fighter aircraft.

On 11 June 1942, Hofman was transferred from the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe West, a supplementary training unit for fighter pilots destined to fight on the Western Front, to 1.

In early 1943, elements of JG 26 were moved to the Eastern Front where Hofmann claimed one Soviet aircraft destroyed.

His unit redeployed to the Western Front in June 1943.

Staffel on 31 March 1943.

I. Gruppe of JG 26 had been ordered to the Eastern Front in late January 1943 as part of the plan to exchange JG 26 with Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing).

In February 1944, he was appointed squadron leader of 8.

Staffel (8th squadron) of JG 26 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 24 October 1944 for 40 aerial victories claimed.

In January 1945, he was transferred to take command of 5.

Staffel of JG 26.

On 26 March 1945, Hofmann was killed in action by friendly fire.

At the time of Hofmann's return to his unit, the Gruppe was based at Dno and fighting in the vicinity of Demyansk in support of the 16th Army and 18th Army.

He claimed his only aerial victory on the Eastern Front on 14 May when he shot down a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter in combat east of Bryansk.

In late May, Major Seifert was replaced by Major Fritz Losigkeit as commander of I. Gruppe.

On 6 June, the Gruppe started relocating back to the Western Front, at first to Warsaw, and then to Brandenburg-Briest and Rheine.

Before, the relocation was completed, Losigkeit was replaced by Hauptmann Karl Borris as Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe.

The Gruppe arrived in France on 10 June and was based at an airfield at Poix-de-Picardie.

Hofmann was transferred from 1.

Staffel to 10.

Staffel on 28 September.

Commander of 10.

Staffel was Hauptmann Rudolf Leuschel, the Staffel was renamed on 1 October and from then on was known as 8.

Staffel and a squadron of III.

Gruppe commanded by Major Klaus Mietusch.