Ralph Hofer
4th Fighter Group 05/24/1944
B. 24 May 44
C. 334 Fighter Squadron
D. 1025 hours
E. East Hamburg District
F. Navy
G. FW 190
H. 2 FW 190s Destroyed
I. Narrative — I was flying Cobweb white 3 35,000 feet and had rendezvous with bombers. We 30 plus bandits at 35,000 feet were sighted coming in at 12 o'clock to us. We had climbed up to 30,000 feet when I sighted a Me-109s come in below. I attacked but lost sight of them in the haze. I pulled up and sighted 3 FW-190s attacking a B-17 that was returning. We bounced and I started shooting. Two to one them off but they didn't seem to see me, finally closed on one, getting strikes. The aircraft started smoking, the hood was jettisoned, and the pilot bailed out. The other two FW-190s up to the left. I then pulled up to make Lt. Fraser, my wing man, behind me. 2 FW-190s had a similar fighter following. I then broke into the leader, preventing him from firing at Lt. Fraser. He did a split "S" and I followed, at 14,000 feet. I got a few scattered hits and at 10,000 feet below the clouds, I got more strikes in a tight turn. He pulled sharply up into a cloud and jettisoned his hood. I did see the pilot bail out but the a/c crashed in a field burning, and it's ammo exploding at intervals. I took a picture of this. 460 Rounds Fired
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Ralph Hofer of the 4th Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Ralph Hofer's combat experience.
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