6 th ▁F ighter ▁Wing ), ▁a ▁squad ron ▁of ▁the ▁I . ▁Gruppe . ▁At ▁the ▁time , ▁I . ▁Gruppe ▁was ▁commanded ▁by ▁Haupt mann ▁Johannes ▁Se if ert ▁while ▁ 1 . ▁Staff el ▁was ▁head ed ▁by ▁Ober le ut nant ▁Josef ▁Ha ib ö ck . ▁The ▁Gruppe ▁was ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁the ▁F ock e ▁W ulf ▁F w ▁ 1 9 0   A ▁series ▁and ▁based ▁at ▁Saint - O mer - Ar ques , ▁fighting ▁the ▁Royal ▁Air ▁Force ▁( RA F ). ▁On ▁ 1 1 ▁October , ▁the ▁R AF ▁F ighter ▁Command ▁target ed ▁Saint - O mer ▁with ▁multiple ▁" R ode os ". ▁In ▁defense ▁of ▁this ▁attack , ▁Hof mann ▁claimed ▁his ▁first ▁aer ial ▁victory , ▁a ▁No . ▁ 6 4 ▁Squadron ▁Super marine ▁Sp it fire ▁f ighter ▁shot ▁down ▁ ▁west ▁of ▁Cass el . ▁On ▁ 9 ▁December , ▁he ▁made ▁a ▁forced ▁landing ▁ ▁north ▁of ▁W atten ▁in ▁his ▁F w   1 9 0   A - 4 ▁( W erk num mer ▁ 5 6 1 7 — factory ▁number ) ▁due ▁to ▁engine ▁failure . ▁He ▁sust ained ▁severe ▁inj uries ▁and ▁was ▁hospital ized ▁for ▁many ▁months . ▁ ▁Eastern ▁Front ▁ ▁Following ▁a ▁length y ▁period ▁of ▁con val esc ence , ▁Hof mann ▁returned ▁to ▁ 1 . ▁Staff el ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁I . ▁Gruppe ▁of