Earl Kelly Hart was born on October 29, 1923, in Chilhowie, Smyth County, Virginia. He was the son of Ambrose G. Hart and Venia Wyatt Hart. He served in the 602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-17 #42-102511 during World War II.

On July 19, 1944, during its 24th mission, the aircraft participated in a bombing raid targeting the Lechfeld airfield near Augsburg, Germany. While en route to the target, the B-17 sustained a direct hit from enemy flak, which struck the #2 fuel tank. This impact caused the aircraft to explode mid-air, disintegrating over the village of Weil, near Epfenhausen, south of Augsburg. The explosion was so severe that only the tail section remained relatively intact, which was later photographed being inspected by German soldiers. Of the nine crew members aboard, eight were killed in action, and the sole survivor was captured by German forces and held as a prisoner of war.

2Lt Hart was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Round Hill Cemetery, Marion, Smyth County, Virginia, USA. Earl K. Hart's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 9, in the top right wing (section B).

Source of information:www.americanairmuseum.com, b17flyingfortress.de, www.398th.org