Charles Frank Hess made his mark on history as a truly heroic individual. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming a military pilot. However, after being rejected by the Army Air Corps, he didn’t give up. Instead, Charles tenaciously pursued his dream, which ultimately led him to success.
Philadelphiayes.com tells the story of Charles Frank Hess, one of Philadelphia’s most heroic military pilots.
Early Years
Hess was born on October 22, 1922, in Philadelphia. His parents worked on one of Pennsylvania’s large farms.
He graduated from high school in 1940.
Interestingly, Charles was known by many as a deeply religious man. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
As for his hobbies, he was an avid fan of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
An Unsuccessful Attempt
Immediately after finishing school, Charles wanted to become a pilot in the Army Air Corps. However, his eyesight fell short of the requirements.
After this setback, he began eating large quantities of carrots, hoping to improve his vision. At the time, pilots were required to have perfect 20/20 eyesight.
At the same time, Charles enrolled in university. After studying there for two years, he tried again to join the Army Air Corps. This time, he was successful and was accepted into the program.
Training
From 1942 to 1943, Charles underwent military flight training, which earned him the rank of Second Lieutenant.
He soon began flying B-17 bombers. Later, Hess was sent to England, where he joined the Eighth Air Force.
It is worth noting that Hess served with the 613th Bombardment Squadron of the 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy). This unit was based at an airfield near Deenethorpe.
A Multifaceted Personality
Interestingly, his fellow servicemen later remembered Charles as an excellent pilot. They also noted that he was incredibly resourceful, with what many called ‘golden hands.’ He could make a useful item out of ordinary scrap.
For instance, during his service, he managed to build a bed, ashtrays, and even lamps, all of which were later used by the soldiers.
Operations and Awards
During one combat mission, Hess’s bomber was severely damaged, losing two engines. The entire crew faced near-certain death, but everyone, including Charles, managed to survive.
According to one crew member, enemy fire took out two of their engines. At such a high altitude, it was impossible to return to base and save everyone on board. Therefore, the crew made the decision to save themselves by bailing out with parachutes.
Hess was later decorated for this mission.
On June 12, 1944, he successfully led a raid on a major German airfield. This was a highly significant operation, and for his role, Charles was awarded the prestigious Oak Leaf Cluster.
It’s important to note that each of Charles’s awards was a testament to his immense courage and skill as a pilot.
The operations and combat missions he carried out were successful and produced incredible results.
A Fateful Accident
Later, Charles was assigned to the 1st Scouting Group based in Honington, England. This assignment was to participate in testing the new P-51 Mustang fighters. It was during this time that Charles was promoted to the rank of Captain.
On October 24, 1944, Hess was conducting a test flight in a P-51 Mustang. Shortly after takeoff, the engine began to smoke and rapidly lose power. Charles tried to manage the situation, but the aircraft was losing altitude. He soon realized all his attempts to regain control were futile. He decided to bail out, but he jumped at too low an altitude, and his parachute did not have time to open. This tragically led to his death.
Captain Charles Frank Hess was buried with full military honors. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.