Hoffman William F.

Name:

William F. Hoffman

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-778471

Unit:

731st Bomber Squadron, 452nd Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1945-02-22

State:

New Jersey

Cemetery:

Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France

Plot:

D

Row:

42

Grave:

12

Decoration:

Purple Heart

Comments:

William F. Hoffman was born on July 7, 1923, in Cranbury, Middlesex County, New Jersey. He was the son of William Cole Hoffman and Sara Isabel Perrine Hoffman. He served in the 731st Bomber Squadron, 452nd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-17 #44-8015 known as "Johnny Reb" during World War II.

On February 22, 1945, the ''Johnny Reb'' set out on its fourth mission to bomb Ulm, Germany. Previously damaged by flak and deemed unfit for flight, it was repaired and sent on the mission. Hit by flak over Ansbach, the aircraft continued but later encountered severe turbulence and prop wash at 17,000 feet. When the pilot lowered the flaps to reduce speed, the plane broke apart mid-air. Seven crew members perished, while three survived and were taken as prisoners of war.

2Lt Hoffman was among the crew members who died in the crash. He is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France. He also has a cenotaph in the Brainerd Cemetery, Cranbury, New Jersey, USA.

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com