Vernon Francis Hofmann was born on October 28, 1923 in Albany, Stearns County, Minnesota. He was the son of Francis Xavier Hofmann and Gertrude Mary Ohmann Hofmann. He attended high school for 4 year. He enlisted at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 30 July 1943. Vernon served in the 563rd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy as a Sergeant and Radio Operator of #43-38869 "Paula Sue" aircraft during World War II.

On April 7, 1945, their airplane was rammed by a ME-109, hitting it between the left wing and the tail. It immediately broke in half with the forward section of the plane nosing done in a flat spin and the tail section floating down. The B-17 disintegrated. Eye witnesses stated that the enemy plane was not firing as it came in and they believed that the pilot was dead. The entire crew of ten was killed. Sgt Hofmann is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, www.fieldsofhonor-database.com