1 9 4 3 . ▁In ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁squad ron ▁leader ▁of ▁ 8 . ▁Staff el ▁( 8 th ▁squad ron ) ▁of ▁J G   2 6 ▁and ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Knight ' s ▁Cross ▁of ▁the ▁Iron ▁Cross ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁for ▁ 4 0 ▁aer ial ▁vict ories ▁claimed . ▁In ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁he ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁take ▁command ▁of ▁ 5 . ▁Staff el ▁of ▁J G   2 6 . ▁On ▁ 2 6 ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁Hof mann ▁was ▁killed ▁in ▁action ▁by ▁friendly ▁fire . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁Hof mann ▁was ▁born ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁March ▁ 1 9 2 1 ▁in ▁Reich els heim , ▁in ▁the ▁People ' s ▁State ▁of ▁H esse . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁in ▁Europe ▁began ▁on ▁Friday ▁ 1 ▁September ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁when ▁German ▁forces ▁inv aded ▁Poland . ▁On ▁ 1 1 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁Hof man ▁was ▁transferred ▁from ▁the ▁Er g än z ungs - J ag d gruppe ▁West , ▁a ▁supp lement ary ▁training ▁unit ▁for ▁f ighter ▁pil ots ▁dest ined ▁to ▁fight ▁on ▁the ▁Western ▁Front , ▁to ▁ 1 . ▁Staff el ▁of ▁Jag d gesch w ader ▁ 2 6 ▁" Sch lag eter " ▁( J G   2 6 — 2