Charles Hazeltine Hammann

Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War I

Ensign Charles Hazeltine Hammann (16 March 1892 - 14 June 1919) was a U.S. Navy officer and aviator who received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War I.

Charles Hazeltine Hammann was born on 16 March 1892 in Baltimore, MD. He was appointed to the provisional rank of Ensign, Naval Reserve, Flying Corps, on 14 October 1918, while serving overseas. Ensign Hammann was awarded the Medal of Honor, when, as a pilot of a Macchi M.5 seaplane on 21 August 1918, off the Austro-Hungarian coast, he dived down and landed next to a downed fellow pilot, brought him aboard, and although his plane was not designed for the double load, brought him to safety amid constant danger of attack by Austrian planes.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve Fleet.

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.

Hammann was killed while on active duty at Langley Field, VA, on 14 June 1919.

Honors

Two ships have been named USS Hammann for him. The first was the USS Hammann (DD-412), a World War II-era Sims-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy. The second was the USS Hammann (DE-131), an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II.

Death and Burial

Ensign Charles Hazeltine Hammann died on 14 June 1919. He is buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Eastpoint, Baltimore County, MD.