Hartman was the oldest of six children born to Fred Andrew and Ethel Mae (Neyhart) Hartman. He grew up on a farm seven miles west of Gettysburg, South Dakota and attended the West Sanner Grade School. After his father's death in 1934, he moved into Gettysburg and attended two years of high school. He then moved to Santa Ana, California, with a farm family from the Gettysburg area.
Because of his love of horses, he enlisted in the 11th Cavalry in Monterey, California on January 25, 1940. He acted as radio operator of his squad. When the Cavalry was disbanded, he was transferred to an armored unit near Salt Lake City, Utah and later transferred to the Army Air Corp.
On August 14, 1942, Hartman was assistant radio operator and gunner on B-17E 41-2656 'Chief Seattle', assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 435th Bombardment Squadron. He volunteered for this flight to fill in for another crew member who was sick. They were flying from RAAF Base Townsville Australia on an extended reconnaissance mission of New Guinea, Rabaul and the Solomons area. The plane and crew were never seen again. It is believed the aircraft was intercepted by Japanese fighters.
Hartman received the Purple Heart.
He is also is also memorialized on the Tablets of the missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
Because of his love of horses, he enlisted in the 11th Cavalry in Monterey, California on January 25, 1940. He acted as radio operator of his squad. When the Cavalry was disbanded, he was transferred to an armored unit near Salt Lake City, Utah and later transferred to the Army Air Corp.
On August 14, 1942, Hartman was assistant radio operator and gunner on B-17E 41-2656 'Chief Seattle', assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 435th Bombardment Squadron. He volunteered for this flight to fill in for another crew member who was sick. They were flying from RAAF Base Townsville Australia on an extended reconnaissance mission of New Guinea, Rabaul and the Solomons area. The plane and crew were never seen again. It is believed the aircraft was intercepted by Japanese fighters.
Hartman received the Purple Heart.
He is also is also memorialized on the Tablets of the missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
Hartman was the oldest of six children born to Fred Andrew and Ethel Mae (Neyhart) Hartman. He grew up on a farm seven miles west of Gettysburg, South Dakota and attended the West Sanner Grade School. After his father's death in 1934, he moved into Gettysburg and attended two years of high school. He then moved to Santa Ana, California, with a farm family from the Gettysburg area.
Because of his love of horses, he enlisted in the 11th Cavalry in Monterey, California on January 25, 1940. He acted as radio operator of his squad. When the Cavalry was disbanded, he was transferred to an armored unit near Salt Lake City, Utah and later transferred to the Army Air Corp.
On August 14, 1942, Hartman was assistant radio operator and gunner on B-17E 41-2656 'Chief Seattle', assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 435th Bombardment Squadron. He volunteered for this flight to fill in for another crew member who was sick. They were flying from RAAF Base Townsville Australia on an extended reconnaissance mission of New Guinea, Rabaul and the Solomons area. The plane and crew were never seen again. It is believed the aircraft was intercepted by Japanese fighters.
Hartman received the Purple Heart.
He is also is also memorialized on the Tablets of the missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
Because of his love of horses, he enlisted in the 11th Cavalry in Monterey, California on January 25, 1940. He acted as radio operator of his squad. When the Cavalry was disbanded, he was transferred to an armored unit near Salt Lake City, Utah and later transferred to the Army Air Corp.
On August 14, 1942, Hartman was assistant radio operator and gunner on B-17E 41-2656 'Chief Seattle', assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 435th Bombardment Squadron. He volunteered for this flight to fill in for another crew member who was sick. They were flying from RAAF Base Townsville Australia on an extended reconnaissance mission of New Guinea, Rabaul and the Solomons area. The plane and crew were never seen again. It is believed the aircraft was intercepted by Japanese fighters.
Hartman received the Purple Heart.
He is also is also memorialized on the Tablets of the missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
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