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Casualty Info
Home Town Los Angeles, CA
Last Address La Mesa, CA
Casualty Date Mar 11, 1952
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Korea, North
Conflict Korean War
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Lieutenant Junior Grade Hoff was the pilot of a F9F-2P Pantherjet photographic fighter with Detachment H, Composite Squadron 61, aboard carrier USS VALLEY FORGE (CV-45). On March 11, 1952, while on a photographic mission 13 miles west of Jangdok, North Korea, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire, crashed and exploded. His remains were not recovered.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 466541
Silver Star
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Alan N. Hoff (NSN: 0-466541), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as pilot of an unarmed jet photographic reconnaissance plane attached to Composite Squadron SIXTY-ONE (VC-61), and serving with Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN (VF-111), embarked in U.S.S. VALLEY FORGE (CV-45), during an important and dangerous mission taking aerial photographs of concentrated anti-aircraft gun positions that were located on the vital main rail line located west of Yangdok, North Korea on 11 March 1952. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hoff flew his plane at a dangerously low altitude on a straight course while taking the pictures, thereby denying him the advantage of using evasive tactics. He was taken under a withering and accurate cross fire by automatic and radar controlled heavy anti-aircraft guns, and even after receiving severe damage to his plane he continued on course through the increasing barrage of deadly flak. A few moments later his plane received additional hits, mortally wounding him. The plane rolled over and dived into the side of a mountain exploding upon impact. His complete disregard for his own safety and courageous devotion to duty reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Board Serial 316 (May 2, 1953) Action Date: March 11, 1952 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade Battalion: Fighter Squadron 111 (VF-111) Division: U.S.S. Valley Forge (CV-45)
Description On 23 June 1951 Jacob Malik, Deputy Foreign Minister of the U.S.S.R., made a statement in a recorded broadcast in New York implying Chinese and North Korean willingness to discuss armistice terms to end the Korean War. When Communist China indicated that it also desired peace, President Truman authorized General Ridgway to arrange for an armistice conference with the North Korean commander. Both aides agreed to begin negotiations at Kaesong on 10 July 1951. The chief delegate for the U.N. at the conference was Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy. The enemy delegation was led by Lt. Gen. Nam Il.
It was agreed at the first meeting that military operations would continue until an armistice agreement was signed. However, neither aide was willing to start any large-scale offensive while peace talks were in progress. U.N. military action in this period was limited to combat patrolling, artillery and air bombardment, and the repulsing of enemy attacks.
In August of 1951 the strength of all U.N. ground forces under Eighth Army command totaled 549,224. This included 248,320 U.S. ground troops, Army and Marines, 268,320 in the ROK Army, and 32,874 in the ground units of the seventeen other United Nations.
Truce negotiations were broken off by the Communists on 22 August. Van Fleet then launched a series of limited-objective attacks to improve the Eighth Army's defensive positions. The U.S. X and ROK I Corps in east-central Korea fought for terrain objectives five to seven miles above Line KANSAS, among them Bloody and Heartbreak Ridges, to drive enemy forces from positions that favored an attack on Line KANSAS. By the last week in October these objectives had been secured.
Along the western portion of the front, action in September was characterized by local attacks, counterattacks, and combat patrols. By 12 October five divisions of the I Corps had advanced the front three to four miles to a new Line JAMESTOWN to protect the Ch'orwon-Seoul railroad. The IX Corps followed with aggressive patrolling toward Kumsong. On 21 October it seized the commanding heights just south of the city.
On 25 October armistice negotiations were resumed at the new site of Panmunjom.
