Wilhelm Hofmann was born on 24 March 1921 at Reichelsheim in the Oderwald region of Hessen. Hofmann joined JG 26 following completion of operational training with Ergänzungsjagdgruppe West on 11 June 1942. Unteroffizier Hofmann was assigned to 1./JG 26. He gained his first victory, a RAF Spitfire fighter shot down near Cassel, on 11 October 1942. On 9 December, Hofmann suffered engine failure in his Fw 190 A-4 (W.Nr. 5617) and crash-landed near Watten. He suffered severe injuries that kept him in hospital for four months. He returned to 1./JG 26 on 31 March 1943 by which time the unit had relocated to Eastern front. He shot down a Russian LaGG-3 fighter on 14 May for his 2nd, and only, victory on the Eastern front. In September 1943, Feldwebel Hofmann transferred to 10./JG 26. However his stay was short for he was serving with 8./JG 26 in October. On 29 February 1944 Leutnant Hofmann was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 26. He recorded his 10th victory on 15 March. He was to gain much success over Normandy following the Allied landings. Oberleutnant Hofmann was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 22 July for 26 victories. He brought his score to 30 on 20 August by claiming two USAAF P-47 fighters. On 22 October, Hofmann injured his left eye in a ground accident when, examining a dismounted aircraft machine gun, the bolt closed suddenly. He continued to fly combat missions wearing an eyepatch. Leutnant Hofmann was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 24 October. He had claimed 40 victories at this time. On 1 January 1945, Hofmann led 8./JG 26 on Operation Bodenplatte attacking Brussels-Evere airfield. On 15 January 1945, Hofmann assumed command of 5./JG 26 but retained control of 8./JG 26. However, on 15 February, 8./JG 26 was disbanded and he became the permanent leader of 5./JG 26. Hofmann led a formation of eight Fw 190s from Drope on a Jabojagd mission in the Wesel-Bocholt area on 26 March 1945. The formation encountered USAAF B-26s near Münster and he led a bounce of the RAF Tempest fighter escort shooting down one for his 44th victory. However, during the ensuing confusion Hofmann went missing. It was later determined he had been shot down by his wingman and crashed between Hasselünne and Flechum. He had managed to bale out but was too low for his parachute to deploy.
    Wilhelm Hofmann was credited with 44 victories achieved in 260 missions of which 43 were gained on the Western Front including six four-engine bombers. His score also included thirteen P-47s and ten P-51s.
 

No	Date	Time	A/c Type	Unit	Location	Comments
1.	11.10.1942	15:40	Spitfire	1./JG 26	5km W Cassel	Spitfire of 64 Sqn, RAF
2.	14.5.1943	-	LaGG-3	1./JG 26	USSR (PQ 41484)
3.	18.10.1943	14:20	Spitfire	8./JG 26	near Ardres	Spitfire of 132 Sqn, RAF
4.	4.1.1944	16:10	Spitfire	8./JG 26	near Rue	Spitfire of 501 Sqn, RAF
5.	7.1.1944	13:50	B-17	8./JG 26	2km E La Calique
6.	11.1.1944	13:18	B-17 e.V.	8./JG 26	4km NW Rheine
7.	28.1.1944	13:53	Mustang	8./JG 26	between Abbeville a Berck	Mustang of 2 Sqn, RAF
8.	29.1.1944	13:30	B-17	8./JG 26	2km N Lutrebois	B-17 of 95 BG, USAAF
9.	8.3.1944	14:20	P-51	8./JG 26	17km W Torgau	P-51 of 363 FG, USAAF
10.	15.3.1944	12:15	B-24	8./JG 26	NW Gevelsburg	B-24 of 392 BG, USAAF
11.	12.4.1944	13:40	B-24	8./JG 26	52km E Charleville	B-24 of 445 BG, USAAF
12.	13.4.1944	13:44	P-47	8./JG 26	near Trier	P-47 of 78 FG, USAAF
13.	9.5.1944	9:40	P-51	8./JG 26	13km WNW Turnhout	P-51 of 357 FG, USAAF
14.	8.6.1944	6:05	Mustang	8./JG 26	NW Caen	Mustang of 168 Sqn, RAF
15.	8.6.1944	16:50	P-47	8./JG 26	20km SE Caen
16.	8.6.1944	17:05	P-47	8./JG 26	W Rouen
17.	10.6.1944	14:28	P-47	8./JG 26	NW Lisieux	P-47 of 78 FG, USAAF
18.	12.6.1944	6:25	P-47	8./JG 26	40km SE Rouen	P-47 of 353 FG, USAAF
19.	17.6.1944	13:35	P-47	8./JG 26	St Lô
20.	22.6.1944	19:10	B-24 HSS	8./JG 26	SE Paris	B-24 of 34 BG, USAAF
21.	23.6.1944	13:08	Mustang	8./JG 26	NE Caen	Mustang of 414 Sqn, RAF
22.	24.6.1944	7:22	Mustang	8./JG 26	25km WSW Dreux	Mustang of 65 Sqn, RAF
23.	24.6.1944	21:32	P-47	8./JG 26	W Dreux	P-47 of 373 FG, USAAF
24.	25.6.1944	15:30	P-38	8./JG 26	W Rouen	P-38 of 370 FG, USAAF
25.	29.6.1944	8:48	Spitfire	8./JG 26	10km SW Lisieux	Spitfire of 222 Sqn, RAF
26.	10.7.1944	11:35	Spitfire	8./JG 26	N Caen
27.	15.8.1944	12:34	P-47	8./JG 26	Versailles	P-47 of 373 FG, USAAF
28.	17.8.1944	16:22	Spitfire	8./JG 26	NW Rouen	Spitfire of 1 Sqn, RAF
29.	18.8.1944	8:22	Mustang	8./JG 26	Beauvais	Mustang of 315 Sqn, RAF
30.	20.8.1944	16:02	P-47	8./JG 26	NW Paris	P-47 of 362 FG, USAAF
31.	20.8.1944	20:03	P-47	8./JG 26	W Rouen	P-47 of 404 FG, USAAF
32.	23.8.1944	13:46	Spitfire	8./JG 26	NE Paris	Spitfire of 421 or 443 Sqn, RAF
33.	25.8.1944	13:53	P-38	8./JG 26	W Beauvais	P-38 of 474 FG, USAAF
34.	25.8.1944	19:00	P-51	8./JG 26	N Soissons	P-51 of 354 FG, USAAF
35.	25.8.1944	19:04	P-51	8./JG 26	N Soissons	P-51 of 354 FG, USAAF
36.	28.8.1944	12:10	Auster	8./JG 26	Melun
37.	17.9.1944	14:40	P-51	8./JG 26	Emmerich	P-51 of 4 FG, USAAF
38.	21.9.1944	17:20	C-47	8./JG 26	Deelen	C-47 of 38 or 46 Gp, USAAF
39.	21.9.1944	17:33	P-47	8./JG 26	Zwolle	P-47 of 353 FG, USAAF
40.	2.10.1944	12:10	Spitfire	8./JG 26	Cleve-Nijmegen	Spitfire of 401 Sqn, RAF
41.	28.2.1945	12:23	P-47	5./JG 26	Near Mönchen-Gladbach	P-47 of 406 FG, USAAF
42.	1.3.1945	9:32	Auster	5./JG 26	Near Mönchen-Gladbach
43.	1.3.1945	9:36	P-47	5./JG 26	Near Mönchen-Gladbach	P-47 of 366 FG, USAAF
44.	26.3.1945	15:32	Tempest	5./JG 26	SW Münster	Tempest of 33 Sqn, RAF

Victories : 44
Awards : Knight`s Cross
Units : JG 26