UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES (USAAF) IN BRITAIN, 1942-1945
© IWM FRE 12363
Lieutenant Ralph L. "Kid" Hofer a pilot of the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group and a dog mascot in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang (QP-L, serial number 42-106924) nicknamed "Salem Representative", 4 June 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Kid Hofer, June 1944. 334FS/4FG.' Second Handwritten caption on reverse: '4-6-44. Salem Representative, 106924[sic], Q ?.' Press printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Associated Press, SHAEF Field Press Censor and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Caption on reverse: 'HAS DESTROYED 30 NAZI PLANES. By destroying three German training-planes on the ground recently , Lieut. Ralph Hofer of Salem, Mo., Ties Major James Goodson, of 23 Sultan Street, Toronto, Canada, for the leading ground score in ETO. Both Hofer and Goodson have destroyed fifteen Nazi planes on the ground and fifteen in the air. - The highest score of any American fighter pilots now on comabt duty in this theatre. Both are members of a Mustang group commanded by Col. Donald Balkeslee, of Fairport Harbor, Ohio. with which Capt. Don S. Gentile, of Piqua, Ohio, amassed his score of twentythree "Kills"in the air and seven on the ground. Associated Press Photo shows:- Lieut. Hofer with his German Police dog mascot, "Mutt".' [caption]. ' passed for publication 5 Jun 1944' [stamp].