aAzZ09 Posted December 2, 2013 Report Posted December 2, 2013 Another oldie from my collection. I finished it back in 2009. I built it box stock for kicks. I always admired Ralph Hofer's antics with the Fourth Fighter Group in World War II. It appeared as it did on June 6, 1944, D-Day.
Mark Deliduka Posted December 2, 2013 Report Posted December 2, 2013 Sweet job! Excellent bare metal finish. I'd love to hear of Ralph Hofer's antics in WWII. Please tell more!
aAzZ09 Posted December 2, 2013 Author Report Posted December 2, 2013 Hello Duke: Thank you for your reply. Ralph "Kid" Hofer was born in Salem, Missouri in 1921, nicknamed "Kid" by his 334th Squadron mates. He often broke formation during a "show" (mission) to go off on his own and seek individual targets of opportunity. Hofer also had 15 Victories in the air. Strafing seemed to be an addiction. He was tied for ground strafing credits with James Goodson of the 336th Squadron at 15 each, and Hofer couldn't pass up an opportunity to do so after General James Doolittle gave the order to seek out enemy aircraft in the air and on the ground starting with operation "Big Week" in February, 1944. Hofer wore Football Jerseys as his formal attire, in addition to the usual flight gear, and before the war was a Golden Gloves boxer who did fairly well with very few losses. Strafing seemed to be his undoing, however, and on July 2nd, 1944 lost his life on strafing an airfield in Yugoslavia when an anti-aircraft gun, 4. Battery Flak, Regiment 9 "Legion Condor" ( Credit on that information must be given to our Editor, Chris Bucholtz) hit Hofer flying another P-51B. ( It was believed that Erich Hartmann, Luftwaffe's greatest ace brought him down, but that report has been proven false.) (Col. Don Blakeslee, CO of the 4th Fighter Group, often called Hofer on the carpet for breaking formation and going off on his own "rat hunts". No wonder!) Best, Mark Sweet job! Excellent bare metal finish. I'd love to hear of Ralph Hofer's antics in WWII. Please tell more!
Mark Deliduka Posted December 2, 2013 Report Posted December 2, 2013 Wow! Thanks Mark! That would be an incredible book to read. He sure was something else!
ghodges Posted December 3, 2013 Report Posted December 3, 2013 (edited) Great looking Mustang, and a fitting tribute to "the Kid". Duke: Try to find "Escort to Berlin". It's the story of the 4thFG in WWII, starting with the Eagle Squadrons in '41 (which formed the core of the 4th when we Americans finally arrived) through the end of the war. It has several sections, and much of it is in diary form, so you can read from mission to mission what happened. It talks about what it was like to go from Spits to Thunderbolts to Mustangs, as well as what each of the mission "types" was like. It has lots of good pictures, including some in color. The real gem in the back are the appendices. They have info on every combat pilot, including the planes they flew (markings, serial numbers, and distinctive art work where known), and what happened to them. It's a good read AND a great reference! GIL Edited December 3, 2013 by ghodges
aAzZ09 Posted December 3, 2013 Author Report Posted December 3, 2013 Thanks Gil! Our IPMS Journal editor, Chris Bucholtz, has another book, published by Osprey on the Fourth Fighter Group, called "4th Fighter Group, Debden Eagles". It is a very concise and handy reference too. Best, Mark Great looking Mustang, and a fitting tribute to "the Kid". Duke: Try to find "Escort to Berlin". It's the story of the 4thFG in WWII, starting with the Eagle Squadrons in '41 (which formed the core of the 4th when we Americans finally arrived) through the end of the war. It has several sections, and much of it is in diary form, so you can read from mission to mission what happened. It talks about what it was like to go from Spits to Thunderbolts to Mustangs, as well as what each of the mission "types" was like. It has lots of good pictures, including some in color. The real gem in the back are the appendices. They have info on every combat pilot, including the planes they flew (markings, serial numbers, and distinctive art work where known), and what happened to them. It's a good read AND a great reference! GIL
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