serviceyears branch death_place death_date birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
? -- 1945 luftwaffe bissel 26 march 1945 reichelsheim nazi germany knight 's cross of the iron cross world war ii 24 march 1921 oberleutnant karl-wilhelm hofmann
 karl-wilhelm hofmann
karl-wilhelm hofmann

karl-wilhelm hofmann -lrb- 24 march 1921 -- 26 march 1945 -rrb- was a german luftwaffe ace and recipient of the knight 's cross of the iron cross during world war ii .
the knight 's cross of the iron cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership .
karl-wilhelm hofmann was killed on 26 march 1945 over bissel , germany .
during his career he was credited with 44 aerial victories in 260 missions with 1 over the eastern front and 43 over the western front .
