Kidd Hofer - Last of the Screwball Aces
All new Revised Edition Available in August 2024. Watch this space for ordering information
Follow the escapades of a great ace...
...as he blazes a swathe across Western Europe!
Find out what really happened on his last mission that brought his life to a mysterious end!
Here's what people are saying about it...
"This is the last and final story of Kidd Hofer. Also the most important book on a US ace to emerge in some time. Here Hofer is given his rightful place in aerial history. One has to admire a pilot who flew in an orange and blue football jersey and did victory rolls over his base with half of his rudder shot off!. A great read that no WWII 8th AF buff miss. An excellent and needed first book by Troy White. Hopefully many more will follow." Garry Fry author of Debden Eagles , Escort to Berlin and Eagles of Duxford: The 78th Fighter Group in World War II
"I finished reading your book last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. You have done a fantastic bit of research and it shows. I'll recommend it to everyone." Tom Ivie official historian of the 352nd Fighter Group and prolific author. His most recent book is Spitfires And Yellow Tail Mustangs: The 52nd Fighter Group In World War Two
"This book is a perfect example of how good a basically self published book can be. Troy White is an aviation artist who also knows how to tell a darn good story. I must confess that I'd heard of Hofer's plane 'Salem Representative', but knew little else about him. I had no idea that he was the 4th FG's top scoring ace nor that his death in combat remained a mystery for nearly 50 years. I also had no idea that he was from a small Missouri town only about 75 miles from here.
Troy White wrote this book and did the layout at home using his computer and a publishing program. The quality that came from that is absolutely first rate. The depth of the information and the extremely high standard of the photographs matches that of many books I've read of much greater price and is better than most. Just to let you know how new this book is, the author's introduction (usually the last thing written) was Dec 8, 2002 and this book was at my doorstep in late January 2003. Just to do the stats thing, it is over 200 pages on high quality paper. It is, as they say, profusely illustrated with photos of men and machines as well as some of Troy's paintings. It is also card-bound, which seems to be preferred by many who buy books.
Not only does the author go into the missions flown by Hofer, he also gives an excellent background as to the war situation at the time and relates stories and incidents of his contemporaries and compatriots such as Jim Goodson, John Godfrey, Duane Beeson and Don Gentile. The amount of research is superlative and draws from post combat reports as well as recollections of those who knew Ralph Hofer.
Kidd Hofer was in all respects an individual who often shunned standard procedures. This was generally overlooked because he was such an excellent pilot. He got his first victory in his first combat mission, a feat nearly unheard of. He was also an excellent marksman who seemed to instinctively know how to be in the right position to get the best effects from his aircraft. He was also a loner who often left formation to chase after an enemy plane or to strafe a ground target. Even the way he got to be a pilot is a story into itself as it was basically done on a whim! All he wanted to do was fly and had to have promotion from being an enlisted pilot (and the highest scoring one that the USAAF ever had) to 2nd Lt forced on him!
In all respects, this is a book that reads well, is a valuable reference for both the history buff and the modeller and is one that you will find fascinating about a man who was a truly unique and interesting character. Most highly recommended." Scott Van Aken
"I received your book in good order and I’ve read it from cover to cover. It is indeed excellent!!! Your writing is so descriptive that I felt like I had flown the missions, shot down the e/a and dodged their guns!" Cynthia Wolfe
"Excellent job! I really like what I see and want to congratulate you on a superlative recognition of the elusive free spirit of the 4th FG. Blakeslee still says he was beyond all control. Please accept my best wishes. Hope this is only the first of many literary efforts." Bill Hess official historian of the American Fighter Aces Association and author of over 40 books including his most recent 'Down to Earth' Strafing Aces of the Eighth Air Force
"Kidd Hofer - Last of the Screwball Aces" not only covers the life and times of Lt. Ralph Kidd Hofer and but also chronicles his legendary comrades in arms of the 4th Fighter Group. The book is set against the backdrop of pivotal air battles that were fought in the skies over Nazi occupied Europe during 1943 and 1944 in order to wrench air superiority away from the Luftwaffe and seal the fate of Hitler's Third Reich.
With his long hair and football jersey, "Kidd" Hofer stands out as one of the most memorable characters in the 8th Air Force.
After serving in the RCAF Hofer transferred to the 4th Fighter Group in September of 1943 and promptly destroyed an Me 109 on his first mission! He went on to become one of the highest scorers in the 4th with a combined score of 29 victories (15 air and 14 ground).
The large 8.5"x11" card cover book is 200 pages long and features first hand accounts of the European air war told through combat reports, Squadron and Group records, contemporary interviews and recollections. With over 225 photos and illustrations (many published here for the first time) this book is sure to be a welcome addition to the library of any aviation or history buff.
Books are in stock and ready for shipment but supplies of the first edition are running out and there may not be a second edition!
Find out what really happened on his last mission that brought his life to a mysterious end!
Here's what people are saying about it...
"This is the last and final story of Kidd Hofer. Also the most important book on a US ace to emerge in some time. Here Hofer is given his rightful place in aerial history. One has to admire a pilot who flew in an orange and blue football jersey and did victory rolls over his base with half of his rudder shot off!. A great read that no WWII 8th AF buff miss. An excellent and needed first book by Troy White. Hopefully many more will follow." Garry Fry author of Debden Eagles , Escort to Berlin and Eagles of Duxford: The 78th Fighter Group in World War II
"I finished reading your book last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. You have done a fantastic bit of research and it shows. I'll recommend it to everyone." Tom Ivie official historian of the 352nd Fighter Group and prolific author. His most recent book is Spitfires And Yellow Tail Mustangs: The 52nd Fighter Group In World War Two
"This book is a perfect example of how good a basically self published book can be. Troy White is an aviation artist who also knows how to tell a darn good story. I must confess that I'd heard of Hofer's plane 'Salem Representative', but knew little else about him. I had no idea that he was the 4th FG's top scoring ace nor that his death in combat remained a mystery for nearly 50 years. I also had no idea that he was from a small Missouri town only about 75 miles from here.
Troy White wrote this book and did the layout at home using his computer and a publishing program. The quality that came from that is absolutely first rate. The depth of the information and the extremely high standard of the photographs matches that of many books I've read of much greater price and is better than most. Just to let you know how new this book is, the author's introduction (usually the last thing written) was Dec 8, 2002 and this book was at my doorstep in late January 2003. Just to do the stats thing, it is over 200 pages on high quality paper. It is, as they say, profusely illustrated with photos of men and machines as well as some of Troy's paintings. It is also card-bound, which seems to be preferred by many who buy books.
Not only does the author go into the missions flown by Hofer, he also gives an excellent background as to the war situation at the time and relates stories and incidents of his contemporaries and compatriots such as Jim Goodson, John Godfrey, Duane Beeson and Don Gentile. The amount of research is superlative and draws from post combat reports as well as recollections of those who knew Ralph Hofer.
Kidd Hofer was in all respects an individual who often shunned standard procedures. This was generally overlooked because he was such an excellent pilot. He got his first victory in his first combat mission, a feat nearly unheard of. He was also an excellent marksman who seemed to instinctively know how to be in the right position to get the best effects from his aircraft. He was also a loner who often left formation to chase after an enemy plane or to strafe a ground target. Even the way he got to be a pilot is a story into itself as it was basically done on a whim! All he wanted to do was fly and had to have promotion from being an enlisted pilot (and the highest scoring one that the USAAF ever had) to 2nd Lt forced on him!
In all respects, this is a book that reads well, is a valuable reference for both the history buff and the modeller and is one that you will find fascinating about a man who was a truly unique and interesting character. Most highly recommended." Scott Van Aken
"I received your book in good order and I’ve read it from cover to cover. It is indeed excellent!!! Your writing is so descriptive that I felt like I had flown the missions, shot down the e/a and dodged their guns!" Cynthia Wolfe
"Excellent job! I really like what I see and want to congratulate you on a superlative recognition of the elusive free spirit of the 4th FG. Blakeslee still says he was beyond all control. Please accept my best wishes. Hope this is only the first of many literary efforts." Bill Hess official historian of the American Fighter Aces Association and author of over 40 books including his most recent 'Down to Earth' Strafing Aces of the Eighth Air Force
"Kidd Hofer - Last of the Screwball Aces" not only covers the life and times of Lt. Ralph Kidd Hofer and but also chronicles his legendary comrades in arms of the 4th Fighter Group. The book is set against the backdrop of pivotal air battles that were fought in the skies over Nazi occupied Europe during 1943 and 1944 in order to wrench air superiority away from the Luftwaffe and seal the fate of Hitler's Third Reich.
With his long hair and football jersey, "Kidd" Hofer stands out as one of the most memorable characters in the 8th Air Force.
After serving in the RCAF Hofer transferred to the 4th Fighter Group in September of 1943 and promptly destroyed an Me 109 on his first mission! He went on to become one of the highest scorers in the 4th with a combined score of 29 victories (15 air and 14 ground).
The large 8.5"x11" card cover book is 200 pages long and features first hand accounts of the European air war told through combat reports, Squadron and Group records, contemporary interviews and recollections. With over 225 photos and illustrations (many published here for the first time) this book is sure to be a welcome addition to the library of any aviation or history buff.
Books are in stock and ready for shipment but supplies of the first edition are running out and there may not be a second edition!
