Harold Ernest Goettler (July 21, 1890 – October 6, 1918) was a U.S. Army Air Service aviator killed in action on October 6, 1918, while locating the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division during World War I.

[1] He died of wounds resulting from German fire from the ground during the flight.

Lt. Goettler, with his observer, 2d Lt. Erwin R. Bleckley, 130th Field Artillery, left the airdrome late in the afternoon on their second trip to drop supplies to a battalion of the 77th Division which had been cut off by the enemy in the Argonne Forest.

In the course of this mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machinegun fire from the ground, resulting in the instant death of 1st.

Lt. Goettler showed the highest possible contempt of personal danger, devotion to duty, courage and valor.