Medal of Honor, Charles Hazeltine Hammann, World War I, August 21, 1918

Name: Charles Hazeltine Hammann
War: World War I
Date of Action: August 21, 1918

Summary of Action

On August 21, 1918, Ensign Hammann, a U.S. Naval Reserve pilot, was part of a patrol of four seaplanes near Pola, the Austro-Hungarian naval base on the Adriatic. The patrol encountered a superior force of Austrian landplanes, and in the ensuing battle, Ensign George M. Ludlow’s plane was shot down, crashing into the sea five miles off the coast.

Without hesitation, Hammann dived down and landed his fragile seaplane alongside the wreck. Fully exposed to enemy action and knowing his aircraft was not designed to lift the weight of two men, Hammann pulled Ludlow aboard and attempted the perilous takeoff. Despite the risk of being swarmed by enemy aircraft and the danger of his overloaded seaplane breaking apart, he successfully coaxed the aircraft into the air and flew back across the Adriatic. Hammann reached Porto Corsini, bringing his wounded comrade to safety.

His daring rescue under fire marked him as the first U.S. naval aviator to receive the Medal of Honor, and his act of selfless heroism remains a cornerstone in the proud history of naval aviation.

Medal of Honor Citation

For extraordinary heroism as a pilot of a seaplane on 21 August 1918, when with 3 other planes Ens. Hammann took part in a patrol and attacked a superior force of enemy land planes. In the course of the engagement which followed the plane of Ens. George M. Ludlow was shot down and fell in the water 5 miles off Pola. Ens. Hammann immediately dived down and landed on the water close alongside the disabled machine, where he took Ludlow on board. Although his machine was not designed for the double load to which it was subjected, and although there was danger of attack by Austrian planes, he made his way to Porto Corsini.