3 ▁of ▁which ▁following ▁the ▁Norm andy ▁invasion . ▁On ▁ 2 1 ▁September , ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Arn hem , ▁Hof mann ▁shot ▁down ▁an ▁un ar med ▁Douglas ▁C - 4 7 ▁Sky train ▁transport ▁aircraft ▁on ▁a ▁mission ▁to ▁drop ▁rein for c ements ▁for ▁the ▁British ▁ 1 st ▁Air bor ne ▁Division . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 1 ▁October , ▁Hof mann , ▁who ▁was ▁flying ▁a ▁F w   1 9 0   A - 9 , ▁was ▁slightly ▁wounded ▁in ▁combat ▁with ▁a ▁P - 3 8 ▁from ▁the ▁ 4 7 4 th ▁F ighter ▁Group ▁south ▁of ▁V iers en . ▁The ▁next ▁day , ▁he ▁was ▁again ▁injured ▁in ▁ground ▁accident ▁while ▁exam ining ▁a ▁removed ▁aer ial ▁machine ▁gun . ▁The ▁b olt ▁closed ▁unexpected ly , ▁striking ▁him ▁in ▁the ▁left ▁eye . ▁He ▁retained ▁sight ▁but ▁lost ▁the ▁ability ▁to ▁focus . ▁Ref using ▁hospital ization , ▁he ▁continued ▁flying ▁combat ▁miss ions ▁we aring ▁an ▁e y ep atch . ▁Tem por arily , ▁command ▁of ▁his ▁ 8 . ▁Staff el ▁was ▁passed ▁on ▁to ▁Le ut nant ▁Wilhelm ▁May er . ▁Hof mann ▁received ▁the ▁Knight ' s ▁Cross ▁of ▁the ▁Iron ▁Cross ▁() ▁two ▁days ▁later . ▁ ▁Ober le ut nant ▁Hein z - G er hard ▁Vog t , ▁the ▁Staff el kap it än ▁of ▁ 5 . ▁Staff el , ▁was ▁killed ▁in ▁action ▁ 1 4 ▁January ▁ 1 9