Werner Hoffmann (nightfighter pilot)
Encyclopedia
Werner Hoffmann was a German Luftwaffe
night fighter
ace
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Werner Hoffmann claimed 51 aerial victories, 50 of them at night.For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.
. He was awarded his Pilot's Badge in June 1938 and was then posted to 7./JG 234. III./JG 234 was eventually redesignated I./ZG 52 in May 1939,and was equipped with the new Bf 110 Zerstörer fighter. Leut. Hoffmann was assigned to 4./ZG 2 in early 1940 and participated in the Battle of France
. He claimed his first victory -a Royal Air Force
(RAF) fighter over Calais- on 24 May 1940. He was slightly wounded in June, and was hospitalised.
In July 1940 Hoffmann was transferred to Ergänzungs-Zerstörergruppe Værløse as an instructor, with the rank of Oberleutnant
, and appointed Staffelkapitän
(squadron leader). He remained with the unit until 3 August 1941, when the unit was disbanded. Hoffmann was posted as Staffelkapitän to 5./NJG 3, based at Schleswig.
On the night of 25/26 June 1942 Hoffmann shot down two twin-engine bombers during the 1,000-bomber raid on Bremen
. Hauptmann Hoffmann was appointed Staffelkapitän of 4./NJG 5 on 11 February 1943. He then served with I./NJG 1, based at St Trond, in May, and was acting Gruppenkommandeur
(group leader) of I./NJG 5 in July 1943.
On 15 November, Hoffmann was awarded the German Cross
in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) for 15 victories and by the end of 1943 had a victory total of 18. On 20 January 1944 Hoffmann had to bale out over Berlin when his aircraft was damaged by return fire from an RAF Lancaster. On the night of 28–29 January, he shot down three Halifax bombers raiding Berlin and claimed two Lancaster bombers shot down the next night.
Hauptmann Hoffmann was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 31 victories in May 1944. On 29 June Hoffmann downed a four-engine bomber shot down but again bailed out when his aircraft received hits from defensive fire from the bomber. On the night of 7–8 July, he shot down three RAF bombers. In late July 1944, I./NJG 5 was withdrawn to Stendal for re-equipment with the Ju 88 G-6. Deployed to East Prussia, Hoffmann claimed four victories over Soviet flown aircraft around Libau
during December 1944.
By early 1945 Hoffmann had 44 victories. Following the Soviet offensive on 12 January 1945, Major Hoffmann flew ground-attack operations against ground forces. Hoffmann claimed a further seven victories during 1945. On the night of 16–17 March, Hoffmann shot down three Lancaster bombers before he was shot down in a Ju 88 G-6 near Nüremberg by a Mosquito Mk. XXX night-fighter flown by ace F/L Dennis Hughes (5 victories) of No. 239 Squadron RAF
. Hoffmann suffered severe bruising to his chest following a heavy after his bailing out.
On 1 May 1945, Hoffmann joined 7./NJG 3, based at Husum. Following three months internment in the POW camp at Wiedelah, Hoffmann was released. After the war he studied pharmacy and opened a Dispensary in Goslar
. In 1957, Hoffmann was engaged by Hoechst AG
in Bremen in an advisory role.
Werner Hoffmann was credited with 51 victories in 192 missions. He recorded one victory by day and four were recorded over the Eastern front. Hoffmann was recommended for the award of the Eichenlaub.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
night fighter
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Werner Hoffmann claimed 51 aerial victories, 50 of them at night.For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.
Career
Hoffmann began flying gliders during 1932 and joined the Luftwaffe in December 1936, learning to fly with the Luftkriegschule near PotsdamPotsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
. He was awarded his Pilot's Badge in June 1938 and was then posted to 7./JG 234. III./JG 234 was eventually redesignated I./ZG 52 in May 1939,and was equipped with the new Bf 110 Zerstörer fighter. Leut. Hoffmann was assigned to 4./ZG 2 in early 1940 and participated in the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. He claimed his first victory -a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) fighter over Calais- on 24 May 1940. He was slightly wounded in June, and was hospitalised.
In July 1940 Hoffmann was transferred to Ergänzungs-Zerstörergruppe Værløse as an instructor, with the rank of Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
, and appointed Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
(squadron leader). He remained with the unit until 3 August 1941, when the unit was disbanded. Hoffmann was posted as Staffelkapitän to 5./NJG 3, based at Schleswig.
On the night of 25/26 June 1942 Hoffmann shot down two twin-engine bombers during the 1,000-bomber raid on Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
. Hauptmann Hoffmann was appointed Staffelkapitän of 4./NJG 5 on 11 February 1943. He then served with I./NJG 1, based at St Trond, in May, and was acting Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
(group leader) of I./NJG 5 in July 1943.
On 15 November, Hoffmann was awarded the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) for 15 victories and by the end of 1943 had a victory total of 18. On 20 January 1944 Hoffmann had to bale out over Berlin when his aircraft was damaged by return fire from an RAF Lancaster. On the night of 28–29 January, he shot down three Halifax bombers raiding Berlin and claimed two Lancaster bombers shot down the next night.
Hauptmann Hoffmann was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 31 victories in May 1944. On 29 June Hoffmann downed a four-engine bomber shot down but again bailed out when his aircraft received hits from defensive fire from the bomber. On the night of 7–8 July, he shot down three RAF bombers. In late July 1944, I./NJG 5 was withdrawn to Stendal for re-equipment with the Ju 88 G-6. Deployed to East Prussia, Hoffmann claimed four victories over Soviet flown aircraft around Libau
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
during December 1944.
By early 1945 Hoffmann had 44 victories. Following the Soviet offensive on 12 January 1945, Major Hoffmann flew ground-attack operations against ground forces. Hoffmann claimed a further seven victories during 1945. On the night of 16–17 March, Hoffmann shot down three Lancaster bombers before he was shot down in a Ju 88 G-6 near Nüremberg by a Mosquito Mk. XXX night-fighter flown by ace F/L Dennis Hughes (5 victories) of No. 239 Squadron RAF
No. 239 Squadron RAF
No. 239 Squadron RAF was an anti-submarine squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War I. During World War II the squadron performed as an army co-operation squadron and later as a night intruder unit. After the war the squadron was disbanded....
. Hoffmann suffered severe bruising to his chest following a heavy after his bailing out.
On 1 May 1945, Hoffmann joined 7./NJG 3, based at Husum. Following three months internment in the POW camp at Wiedelah, Hoffmann was released. After the war he studied pharmacy and opened a Dispensary in Goslar
Goslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
. In 1957, Hoffmann was engaged by Hoechst AG
Hoechst AG
Hoechst AG was a German chemicals then life-sciences company that became Aventis Deutschland after its merger with France's Rhône-Poulenc S.A. in 1999...
in Bremen in an advisory role.
Werner Hoffmann was credited with 51 victories in 192 missions. He recorded one victory by day and four were recorded over the Eastern front. Hoffmann was recommended for the award of the Eichenlaub.
Awards
- FlugzeugführerabzeichenAviator BadgeAn Aviator Badge is an insignia used in most of the world’s militaries to designate those who have received training and qualification in military aviation...
(2 June 1938) - Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
in Gold - Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(28 February 1944) - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (15 November 1943) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 4 May 1944 as HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
and GruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of the I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
- Knight's Cross on 4 May 1944 as Hauptmann