World War II Honoree

Fred Hargesheimer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lincoln, Nebraska

Honored By

George Weck

Relationship

Friend

PROUDLY SERVED AS A P-38 PILOT WITH THE 8TH PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON. ON JUNE 5, 1943, HE WAS SHOT DOWN BY A JAPANESE FIGHTER WHILE ON A MISSION OVER THE JAPANESE-HELD ISLAND OF NEW BRITAIN IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. HE PARACHUTED INTO THE TRACKLESS JUNGLE, WHERE HE BARELY SURVIVED FOR 31 DAYS UNTIL FOUND BY LOCAL HUNTERS. THEY TOOK HIM TO THEIR COASTAL VILLAGE AND FOR SEVEN MONTHS HID HIM FROM JAPANESE PATROLS, FED HIM AND NURSED HIM BACK TO HEALTH FROM TWO ILLNESSES. IN FEBRUARY 1944, WITH THE HELP OF AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS WORKING BEHIND JAPANESE LINES, HE WAS PICKED UP BY A U.S. SUBMARINE OFF NEW BRITAIN BEACH.