07/01/2026
The first Naval Aviator to receive the Medal of Honor was a Baltimorean:
After receiving their initial flight training in the United States, the majority of Naval Aviators who deployed overseas during World War I received advanced training on combat-type aircraft with Allied air forces and served in their ranks. They included this group of aviators who flew with Italian naval forces from NAS Porto Corsini, Italy. Seated in the middle of the front row in this photograph is ENS Charles H. Hammann, who as a Landsman for Quartermaster on August 21, 1918 launched from Porto Corsini in a Macchi M-5 single-seat flying boat to participate in a raid against Pola Harbor, Austria. Along with his fellow aviators, after dropping his ordnance Hammann engaged in air-to-air combat against Austrian aircraft. During the air battle, Ensign Pete Parker was shot down, making a forced landing just five miles outside the harbor entrance. Hammann made a landing near Parker's aircraft, took him aboard despite the threat of attack by Austrian aircraft, and flew him to safety. For his heroism, Hammann received the Medal of Honor. His name is familiar from the destroyer named after him, which was sunk while rendering assistance alongside USS Yorktown (CV 5) at the Battle of Midway in June 1942.
