During the Korean War, in 1950, Dean Hess was appointed commander of the Boat one group (the group taught South Koreans to fly F-51 Mustang fighters). In Korea, Hess flew 250 combat missions and helped rescue 950 Korean orphans. Together with Reverend D. Blaisdell and Staff Sergeant M. Strang, they organized an airlift (Kiddy Car Airlift) for the removal of orphans before the start of the Chinese offensive