User:Rhhermes/sandbox

Harold H. Hermes
Harold “Hal” or “Red” Hermes (February 11, 1920 to July 31, 1989) was a test pilot for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and later for the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), which became the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1958, where he had a central role in the early days of developing, flight testing, and commercializing the helicopter.

During his 35-year career as a test pilot, Hermes had the opportunity to fly with aviation legends such as Orville Wright, Frank T. Coffyn, Chuck Yeager, Ernest K. Warburton and Edwin E. Aldrin, Sr. His passion, however, was helicopters and he worked alongside rotary-wing pioneers such as Igor Sikorsky, Les Morris, Frank Gregory, Dimitry “Jimmy” Viner, Charles Kaman, Floyd Carlson, Al Bayer, Frank Peterson, Joe Mashman, Stanley Hiller, Frank Piasecki and Charles Siebel during the fascinating start-up era of the helicopter industry.
 * Hermes was the 17th person to solo in a helicopter (June 16, 1943 in a Sikorsky XR-4A).
 * He was a member of the 5-man team that first demonstrated the helicopter’s ability to operate from a ship in the open seas,, a critical proving point for the helicopter.
 * He is also known for giving helicopter lessons to 66-year-old Frank T. Coffyn, a member of Wright brothers flying team.
 * Hermes was co-pilot on the Lockheed C-69 Constellation flight that became known as Orville Wright’s last airplane flight.
 * After joining the CAA after the war, Hermes conducted type certification tests on the Bell 47 helicopter, the first helicopter to receive type certification by the CAA.
 * Later in his career, Hermes had a lead role in the development and adoption of the FAA Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) for helicopters. Hermes and Charles Siebel collaborated on the FAA's first ever IFR certification of a helicopter, the Cessna CH-1C, designed by Seibel. In 1961, they published a technical paper entitled Helicopter Instrument Certification for presentation to the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences.

Early years

Harold Hardy Hermes was born on February 11, 1920 in Independence, Kansas and he grew up in Enid, Oklahoma. His Mother was Kathryn Freeland Lynch. While attending Enid High School, Hermes was a varsity member of the football and basketball teams. As a senior, his classmates elected him as Herald to the May Queen for their annual May Fete – a Spring Dinner and Dance. In 1937, Hermes began mechanical engineering studies at the University of Oklahoma. After two years of studies, with war raging in Europe, Hermes gave up his engineering studies to volunteer for military service.

United States Army Air Forces

On December 2, 1939, at the age of 19, Hermes joined the Oklahoma National Guard. After completing basic training, artillery school and advanced communications training, he was assigned in February 1942 to the USAAF where he progressed through all levels of flight training as well as proved his leadership abilities. While a cadet in primary flying school, Hermes was put in charge of 200 aviation cadets. In basic flying school, he was assigned the duties of Cadet Colonel in charge of approximately 600 cadets.

After his graduation from the USAAF Advanced Flying School at Ellington Field, Texas (Class 43-A), Hermes was then assigned to Air Technical Services Command at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio (later to be called Wright-Patterson Air Force Base). After completing specialized training in performance flight testing, he began duties as a test pilot for all types of military fixed-wing aircraft.

Within a few months, Hermes became involved in the Army’s testing of a new rotary-wing aircraft called the helicopter that was still in the experimental stage. Hermes was ordered to train with Igor Sikorsky at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Between June 7 and July 2, 1943, Hermes and a number of other pilots took part in the first helicopter class of its kind (although the United States Army Air Corps did operate an autogyro school at Patterson Field for a few years). The other pilots who were trained or otherwise participated at Sikorsky Aircraft at this time were: The training group also were given lectures by Dr. J. A. J. Bennett, the leading expert at the time in rotary-wing aircraft design and engineering. On July 2, after the conclusion of this training session, Hermes, Cooper, and Peterson were informed that they would be involved in a series of landings on a transport ship. USAT James Parker. This was to be the first open-seas test of the helicopter following a less-rigorous test of a helicopter landing on a ship anchored in a harbor by Frank Gregory in May 1943 who later described it as "merely a practice test". Between July 6 and July 8, 1943, a team of five helicopter pilots (Frank Gregory, Les Morris, Leslie B. Cooper, Harold Hermes and Frank Peterson) conducted extensive testing from the deck of the USAT James Parker 500 miles offshore. “A total of 162 landings and takeoffs (20 hours of flying time) were made in winds ranging from 5 to 25 knots while the ship pitched up to 6 1/2 degrees”. Shipboard observers included senior war planners from American and British Army, Navy and Coast Guard. As a direct result of these test, shortly thereafter, Sikorsky received large orders for military helicopters and "Sikorsky produced over 400 helicopters before the end of World War II." from several branches of the American and British military. Frank Gregory stated that these test pilots “helped make aeronautical history”.
 * 1) Col Frank Gregory, who on July 24, 1940 flew the Sikorsky VS-300 to become the first US military helicopter pilot. In 1942, "he exceeded all world records for helicopter performance".
 * 2) Frank W. Peterson, USAAF test pilot and lifelong friend of Hermes, who performed one of the very first medivac rescue by helicopter in Burma in January 1945.
 * 3) Lt. Commander Frank A. Erickson, who became the first US Coast Guard helicopter pilot, performed the first recorded helicopter mission of mercy, and commanded the first Coast Guard helicopter school..
 * 4) Lt. Commander C.T. Booth, who participated in key tests of the helicopter usefulness in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) during an Atlantic convey to England on the British merchant ship Daghestan in January 1944.
 * 5) Leslie B. Cooper, a WW1 pilot, flew around 3000 hours as a autogyro pilot between the wars, rejoined for WW2 service at age 48, and was second in charge of the USAFF helicopter program. Died in a plane crash in 1944.
 * 6) Frederic John “Jeep” Cable, who died in a helicopter accident in 1950.
 * 7) Reginald Brie, a British WW1 pilot and prisoner of war after being shot down, and a very experienced autogyro pilot.
 * 8) E.A.H. Peat, who commanded the Royal Navy Helicopter School at Floyd Bennett Field and along with Booth, participated in the ASW tests aboard the Daghestan.
 * 9) James G. Ray, a WW1 Army flyer and one of the most experienced autogyro pilots in the world.

Civil Aeronautics Administration/Federal Aviation Agency

After the war, Hermes continued as a test pilot and flight safety engineer with the CAA, while also continuing active service in the Air Force Reserve. During his 30-year career with the CAA and FAA, Hermes was directly involved in the testing and type certification of a wide range of helicopters, including the all models of the Bell 47; Sikorsky S-51; Sikorsky S-55; Kaman K-190; Kaman K-225; Hiller 360; Cessna CH-1C, and the Hughes 269. As well he was involved in the testing and certification of a number of fixed-wing aircraft including the Douglas DC-3; Douglas C-124 Globemaster II; and a wide range light planes including most models of Beechcraft, Cessna and Piper.

Awards

Harold H. Hermes was given the following awards.


 * American Defense Service Medal
 * Good Conduct Medal
 * WW II Victory Medal
 * American Theatre Ribbon
 * Air Force Commendation Medal in 1971 for his service in the Air Force Reserve.
 * Award for Superior Accomplishment, Dept. of Commerce 1952
 * FAA Special Achievement Awards (1966 and 1970) for contribution to "airworthiness standards for light aircraft" as well as for Hermes' work with Charles Seibel in drafting the first guidelines for the FAA Instrument Flight Rules for the Helicopter.

Death Ret. Lt. Col. U.S.A.F Harold “Hal” or “Red” Hermes passed away on July 31, 1989. Hermes was a proud member of the Quiet Birdmen; founding member of Twirly Birds; life member of the Order of Daedalions; life member of Retired Officers Association; life member Reserve Officers Association; member American Helicopter Association; member Helicopter Association International; and a life member of the Air Force Association.

References