Downed WWII Pilot Survives 8 Months in Papua New Guinea Jungle, Saved by Brave Villagers — Later Builds School to Thank Them

Downed WWII Pilot Survives 8 Months in Papua New Guinea Jungle, Saved by Brave Villagers — Later Builds School to Thank Them

Lost Above New Britain In the early months of World War II, American pilot Fred Hargesheimer was flying over New Britain, Papua New Guinea on June 5, 1943, when his aircraft was hit by enemy fire. He was serving with the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, gathering images of the area when his F‑5A Lightning was struck. One of his engines caught fire and the plane became hard to control. Hargesheimer struggled to exit the cockpit when the …