Charles Frank Hess
Military ROLL OF HONOURHess family photo ( https://www.chescoheroes.org/468/Hess-Charles-F )
Completed 25 bombing mission as a Pilot with the 401st Bomb Group between 26-Nov-43 and 12-Jun-44. He was Pilot of B-17 42-39840, hit by Flak on the 1-Dec-943 mission to Solingen/Leverkusen, Germany. Six crew members baled out (1 of them managed to evade capture; five others, initially evaded, were made Prisoners of War). Charles Hess and Co-Pilot John W. Mitchell brought the Fortress back to base. (see the pages for the evaders at www.evasioncomete.be > Fiches). Having completed his tour, Charles Hess returned to the US and visited his family in Russellville, Pennsylvania. He then went back to England and was assigned to the experimental 1st Scouting Force, based at Honington. On his first checkout flight from there on 24-Oct-44, piloting Mustang P-51B 43-6768 with the 555th Fighter Training Squadron of the 496th FTG, the engine started smoking and losing power right after take-off. Trying to regain control, turn around and land, he lost too much altitude and, bailing out too low, his parachute didn't fully deploy. Died Non-Battle (DNB).
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (3OLC), EAME (2 x Battle Stars), PH.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16066267
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Role/Job: Ball Turret gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13116815
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 37398663
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37545202
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Lopin Lobo
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hells Angels Out Of Chute 13, Grossly Inadequate
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Black Lace
- Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 December 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Pennsylvania, USA | 23 October 1922 | Son of George and Caroline A [Mueller] Hess. |
Enlisted |
Philadelphia, PA, USA | 30 October 1940 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Died Killed in Training (KIT) |
Goxhill, Barrow-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire DN19, UK | 24 October 1944 | Killed in Training (KIT) (DNB) in P-51B 43-6768 of 496th FTG/555th FTS, on first checkout flight. Engine trouble, lost too much altitude and parachute didn't deploy. |
Buried |
25 October 1944 | Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial Coton, Cambs, UK. Plot F, Row 6, Grave 37. | |
Other Detached Service (DS) |
Detached Service from 401BG with which he had completed 25 missions. Went home on rotation and upon return to England, was assigned to 1st Scouting Force (Experimental), in training unit (496 FTG/ 555 FTS. | ||
Russellville, Chester County, PAA |
Revisions
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Casualties for Chester County, Pennsylvania
ABMC website
Details in an April 2005 posting by nephew Charles W. Hess
https://www.chescoheroes.org/468/Hess-Charles-F
Merged with duplicate entry to include details :
drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia /
The Mighty Eighth Combat Chronology Supplement, 1942-45; p. 171.,
http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=123