Mission History
Took off from Dobudura Airfield on a photo reconnaissance of West New Britain coast, searching for Japanese barges.  He circled Rook Island twice and found nothing, then circled Cape Gloucester Airfield and saw no activity, next around Lolobau Island. Then, he observed what appeared to be a new airfield (Ubili Airfield (Sule) and circled it. 

The School That Fell From the Sky, page 35-36:
"I spotted what looked like the construction of a new airfield. I leveled off and circled the area for a better look. The least I could do was shoot a set of pictures and let the photo interpreters back at the base decide if this was an important field. I carefully lined up for a low-altitude pass over what looked like a runway and set the camera intervelometer for a series of overlapping pictures. The cameras were rolling when I was startled by a series of sharp staccato sounds. Eager Beaver quivered a bit as I made a hurried check of the engine instruments. Everything seemed normal. Suddenly a long jagged tear appeared in the port engine cowling. An instant later a puff of black smoke shot out from the hole, followed by a burst of flame. Instinctively I sent Eager Beaver into a screaming dive with throttles wide open; only then did I dare sneak a glance at the rearview mirror. I was afraid to look - but afraid not to. Turing my head, I stared straight into the flaming snout of a twin-engine enemy fighter."

Hargesheimer was attacked from behind by a single Ki-45 Nick of the 13th Sentai who shot him down.

Escape
Hargesheimer bailed out near Pandi River and Nakunai Mountains, and wandered the jungle for 31 days alone, before finding friendly villagers. He was rescued by a party of villagers from Nantabu village who paddled up the Pandi River. Hidden from the nearby Japanese soldiers for six months, he was cared for and later taken to the the camp of Australian Commandos who arranged his rescue, along with other American and Australian aviators behind enemy lines. On February 5, 1944 the USS Gato that surfaced in Open Bay near the village of Maitanakunai, and dropped them at Finschafen. From there, he was sent back to the USA.

Gordon Manuel adds in 70,000 to One:
"We had gone out about fifty yards when one of the sailors spotted a signal from shore. It was dark now, but we could see a flashlight signaling. They turned the boat back to shore and rowed in the direction of the light. Three men were waiting for us - three men I had never seen before. They had been with Captain Stokey. They introduced themselves as Wing Commander Townsend, Flight Officer McClamont and Fred Hargesheimer."

Generosity To The People Who Helped Him
Back in America, Hargesheimer wondered what he could to to repay the villagers who had saved his life. Hargesheimer concluded that education and health services would be his gifts to the Nakanai people. He saved and returned to New Guinea in 1964 to established two schools: Ewasse Airmen's Memorial school and the Noau Primary school in West New Britain.  He and his wife even lived among the people to serve as teachers.  A health center was dedicated in 1969, with an oil palm plantation to fund the projects. Nearly every year, he returns to visit the school.  In July 2004, he visited New Guinea and the schools.

Wreckage
In July 2006, he returned again and was taken to the wreckage of his P-38, discovered by locals.

Cecilie Benjamin adds:
"90 year old [Hargesheimer] reunited with his plane in the depths of the PNG jungle after 63 years. He said "well I'm glad I didn't end up in that!" when I showed him the burnt out wing section where he had been hit. Craig, John and I had spent a total of 5 hours with the wreckage. It has been washed down a beautiful rainforest rocky creek. Progressing along it we saw bits of boom, manifolds, tail sections, a radio, wing, back strut, you name it until we got back to the main body of props, engine, left wing cowling, possible inverted cockpit etc."

References
The School That Fell From the Sky by Hargesheimer
Hostages to Freedom covers his escape
Paradise Magazine May-June Issue by Cecilie Benjamin

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October 1, 2009

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