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.