Jack Arthur Hargis was born on December 10, 1920, in Lodi district ranch in San Joaquin County, California. He graduated from Lodi Union high school in the class of 1938. He spent two years at the Aero Industries Technical School in Los Angeles, following which he enlisted in the Army Air Forces on March 13, 1942.

Jack received flight instruction at Thunderbird Field, Phoenix, Ariz., and Minter Field, Bakersfield, Calif., before his advanced training at the Victorville Army Air Force Flying School, from which he was graduated on November 25, 1942, winning his wings as a pilot and commission as a Second Lieutenant.

2Lt Hargis was Killed in Action on August 17, 1943, while on a mission to Schweinfurt, Germany, piloting the B-17 #42-2990 'Dame Satan.' An enemy aircraft hit their #2 engine, and 42-2990 dropped back before being hit again. Their plane crashed at Montroeul-au-Bois, near Frasnes-lez-Buissenal, Hainaut, Belgium. Of the crew, two members were Killed in Action, while four of the remaining members were taken as prisoners. 2Lt Hargis was killed when his parachute failed to open. He is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov