Ronald Dardis served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a Technical Sergeant and Engineer in the 531st Bomber Squadron, 380th Bomber Group, Heavy, during World War II. On July 10, 1943, he flew in a B-24D bomber (42-40492) on a bombing mission in the Babo region of Papua, New Guinea. The aircraft was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the jungle. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found, and Dardis was declared missing in action, then officially declared dead on December 19, 1945. In 1972, the wreckage was located, and his remains were recovered, and his status was officially changed to "Killed in Action." He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
