Strana 33
P-51B-15-NA, s/n 42-106924, 2
nd
Lt. Ralph K. Hofer, 334
th
FS, 4
th
FG, 8
th
AF,
Debden, United Kingdom, June 1944
P-51B-5-NA, s/n 43-6425, Maj. Jack T. Bradley, CO 353
rd
FS, 354
th
FG, 9
th
AF,
A.2 Criqueville, France, June 1944
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.
Jack Bradley became an Army pilot with the
rank of 2
nd
Lt on August 27, 1942, and was
assigned to the 384
th
FG/353
rd
FS on January
18 the following year. After moving to England,
he achieved his first kill out of 15 confirmed
(plus three probable and 12.66 damaged) on
December 20. With “Margie Maru” carrying code
FT B, he achieved his first success on December
30, when he contributed a third of the damage
to Do 217. Bradley was promoted to Captain in
mid-January and took command of the 353
rd
FS
at the end of the month. He kept the position
until June 30, when he left for the USA for
leave and took the post again on his return. He
subsequently served as deputy CO of the 354
th
FG and at the end of the war, already at the rank
of Lieutenant Colonel, became the CO. After the
war he stayed with the Air Force, retiring from
the Reserves in December 1962. His Margie Maru
is shown in a state where it bore the symbols
of 15 kills, the invasion stripes on the fuselage
were painted very carelessly. The aircraft was
subsequently given the designation FT W and
the name “Edgewood’s Entry”.
KITS 08/2026
INFO Eduard
33
August 2026