Paul Otto Hartkopf was born on March 13, 1917. He was the son of Otto A. Hartkopf and Hazel Sheumaker Hartkopf. He was married to Thayne Margie Ruppert Loftus.

Paul served in the 848th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner on the B-17 #43-38131 'Little Miss Mary Kay' during World War II. He was Killed in Action on April 5, 1945, when his B-17 was shot down by German flak boats in the harbor of Middelharnis, Netherlands.

SSgt Hartkopf is now buried in the Atlantic Cemetery, Atlantic, Cass County, Iowa, USA.

Airmen who perished on B-17 (#43-38131):
Roufs, Darril F ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, Minnesota
Barnard, William E ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, Maryland
Emmons, John L ~ S/Sgt, Togglier, Texas
Grant, Donald C ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, Massachusetts
Hartkopf, Paul O ~ S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, Iowa
Koutz, Bernard W ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, Maryland
Pickens, Lilbert D, Jr ~ T/Sgt, Radar Operator, Kentucky
Plein, William J B ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, California
Watson, Wayne E ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, California

Source of information: www.findagrave.com