Fred Hargesheimer

Major Fred Hargesheimer was a pilot of the United States Army Air Forces who served during World War II. In June 1943, while piloting a mission over Papua New Guinea, he was shot down by Japanese forces. He survived the crash and was hidden and cared for by local villagers, who protected him from Japanese patrols at great personal risk to themselves.

Following his rescue and the conclusion of the war, Hargesheimer returned to the United States but never forgot the bravery and kindness of the villagers who saved his life. He became a dedicated philanthropist, raising funds to build a school and a clinic for the village that had sheltered him, establishing a lifelong bond with the community.

For his military service and actions during the war, Hargesheimer was decorated with several U.S. military honors. His legacy remains as much about his postwar humanitarian contributions to the people of Papua New Guinea as it is about his wartime service as a combat pilot.