Heinrich Hoffmann (pilot)

Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Hoffmann (8 March 1913 – 3 October 1941) was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. Hoffmann is credited with 63 aerial victories in 261 combat missions and was the first non-commissioned officer and first soldier of the Wehrmacht to be awarded posthumously the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
Heinrich Hoffmann received his pilot's license while serving in the Military reserve force before World War II. He began active service at the outbreak of World War II. On 18 May 1940, Unteroffizier Hoffmann was assigned to the 3./Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77). The squadron was later re-designated 12./Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51). He claimed his first aerial victory over a Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft on 7 September 1940 in the Battle of Britain.

Hoffmann's most successful period as a fighter pilot began in July 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. He claimed 20 aerial victories during July and 25 in August. He often flew as wingman to Heinrich Bär, contributing to Bär's record of 220 claimed kills, pilot slang for the destruction of an enemy aircraft. On 22 July 1941 Hoffmann claimed his 23rd aerial victory of the war over an Ilyushin Il-2. The Il-2 Shturmovik was a heavily armoured ground attack aircraft which was very difficult to shoot down. Hoffmann became an expert by aiming for the Il-2's non-retractable oil cooler. These kills are listed as "R-3s" on his personal victory list.

He achieved his 33rd aerial victory on 2 August 1941, shooting down three Polikarpov R-5s, one Polikarpov I-15 and two Neman R-10 bombers, making him an Ace in a Day. Hoffmann received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) after 40 aerial victories on 12 August 1941. He also destroyed three locomotives and 10 trucks in numerous ground support missions He claimed his 50th aerial victory on 2 September 1941 by destroying four R-3s, which may have been R-5s or Polikarpov R-Zs. Two days later he claimed two Ilyushin DB-3s and one Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 On 8 September, Hoffmann claimed two more Tupolev SBs, bringing his total to 55 aerial victories. These were his last successes on the Leningrad front. His unit, IV./JG 51, was relocated further south.

On 3 October 1941, the Luftwaffe officially listed Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Hoffmann as missing in action after a low altitude engagement with several Il-2s near Shatalovo in the early evening hours. He was flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 Werknummer (factory number) 12876 and may have been shot down by the Soviet 233 IAP's (233rd Fighter Aviation Regiment) Starshiy Leytenant Sergeyev, who claimed his first aerial victory in the vicinity where Hoffmann disappeared.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (10 July 1941)
 * 1st Class (28 July 1941)
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 12 August 1941 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 12/JG 51
 * 36th Oak Leaves on 19 October 1941 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 12/JG 51