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P-51B-10-NA, s/n 42-106448, Cpt. Henry W. Brown, 354th FS, 355th FG, 8th AF,
Steeple Morden, Great Britain, June 1944
P-51B-15-NA, s/n 42-106924, 2nd Lt. Ralph K. Hofer, 334th FS, 4th FG,
8th AF, Debden, Great Britain, June 1944
“Baby” Brown was a fighter ace with 14.2 kills,
damaging three other aircraft. On the ground
he destroyed 14.5 and damaged 10. He achieved
four wins with the Thunderbolt, the others on
the Mustang. He became the 355th FG’s fifth ace
fighter on April 24, 1944, and by May 13, he even
held the status of the most successful fighter of
the entire group. Returning from leave, he then
became the most successful fighter of the entire
8th Air Force in late August after destroying eight
aircraft on the ground and seven in the air in
a 30-day period. Further increases in his score
were halted by a German flak hit that forced
Brown to make an emergency landing on
enemy soil on 3 October 1944. His commander,
Maj. Chuck Lenfest (5.5 kills), landed nearby to
rescue him, but his Mustang bogged down in the
mud and both pilots eventually fell into captivity.
He remained in the service after the war and
led the F-111 development program at Nellis AFB.
Later he was commander of the 48th TFW and
deputy commander of operations for the 7th AF
during the Vietnam War. He retired in 1974 and
died on 19 February 2008 at the age of 85.
Light-hearted, perhaps undisciplined, but all
the more courageous and charismatic was
“Kid” Hofer, one of the USAAF’s most successful
fighters. The nickname was based on his youthful
appearance and flowing and by Army standards
long hair as well as his prevailing good humor.
Until his death, he destroyed 15 enemy aircraft
in the air, damaging two and destroying another
14 on the ground. On July 2, 1944, “Kid” participated
in the escort of bombers to Budapest from the
Italian base Foggia. Prior to reaching the target
area, a group of Bf 109 entered the scene and the
aerial battle started. Hofer’s leader had to make
an emergency landing due to a malfunction and
watched from the ground as a Hungarian Bf 109,
sitting on the tail of his Wingman, opened fire.
Hofer’s Mustang was apparently only damaged
and so he tried to return to the base. Near Mostar,
he decided to strafe a German airfield, his P-51B
“Salem Representative” was hit by flak and “Kid”
Hofer was killed.
KITS 05/2024
INFO Eduard
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May 2024