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Staff Sgt. Archibald Mathies was one of four enlisted people to receive the nation's highest military honor during World War II.After a bombing mission, he attempted to land a disabled aircraft with the navigator to save a badly wounded pilot who could not bail out; they all died on the third unsuccessful try. His unselfish actions and ultimate sacrifice earned him the Medal of Honor posthumously. (U.S. Air Force illustration)
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Staff Sgt. Archibald Mathies
Posted 1/13/2011
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For his devotion to his comrades and heroism, Staff Sgt. Archibald Mathies was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was one of only four enlisted Airmen to receive the nation's highest military honor during World War II.
Mathies was a naturalized citizen, born in Scotland in 1918. H was a coal miner in Finleyville, Penn. when he enlisted in the Army in 1940 in Pittsburgh. He attended Airplane Mechanic School at Chanute Field, Ill., and graduated Oct. 1, 1941, just weeks before the United States entered the war.
He went to Mitchel Field, N.Y., where he served with the 1st Air Support Squadron and later the 33rd Pursuit Group. He transferred to Morris Field, N.C., Dec. 4, 1941. Two years later he was attached to the Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School at Tyndall Field, Fla., and completed the course in March 1943. He returned to Morris Field with the 1st Air Service Command, and then joined the 91st Observation Squadron at Godman Field, Ky. He was then assigned to a U.S. Army Air Corps bomber group and trained in Pyote, Texas and later moved to Alexandria, La., for further training.
He departed the United States Dec. 8, 1943 and arrived in England eight days later where he was assigned to the 8th Air Force Replacement Depot Casual Pool. Mathies was subsequently attached to the 1st Replacement and Training Squadron until January 1944. For his final assignment, he went to the 351st Bomb Group as an engineer-gunner with the B-17 Flying Fortress. He was responsible for servicing the airplane in flight and on the ground. His job was a critical link between the pilot, bomber and its crew.
While on his second and final bombing mission over Europe Feb. 20, 1944, his aircraft was attacked by a squadron of enemy fighters near Leipzig, Germany. The copilot was killed, the pilot and radio operator were wounded and unconscious, and the plane was severely damaged.
With his limited piloting experience, Mathies and other crewmembers righted the disabled bomber and flew it back to their airfield in England, where they contacted the control tower and reported the situation. Mathies and the navigator volunteered to attempt to land the plane. Other members of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving Mathies and the navigator aboard.
After observing the distressed aircraft from another plane, the commanding officer decided the damaged plane could not be landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it and bail out. They replied that the pilot was still alive but could not be moved and they would not abandon him. They were then told to go ahead and attempt a landing. After two unsuccessful efforts, the plane crashed in a third attempt to land. The unconscious pilot survived the crash, but died shortly after. Sergeant Mathies and the navigator perished in the crash.
Sergeant Mathies was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. His citation reads:..."For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy in connection with a bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe on 20 February 1944. The aircraft on which Sergeant Mathies was serving as engineer and ball turret gunner was attacked by a squadron of enemy fighters with the result that the copilot was killed outright, the pilot wounded and rendered unconscious, the radio operator wounded and the aircraft severely damaged. Nevertheless, Sergeant Mathies and other members of the crew managed to right the airplane and fly it back to their home station, where they contacted the control tower and reported the situation. Sergeant Mathies and the navigator volunteered to attempt to land the plane. Other members of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving Sergeant Mathies and the navigator aboard. After observing the distressed aircraft from another airplane, Sergeant Mathies' commanding officer decided the damaged airplane could not be landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it and parachute to safety. Demonstrating unsurpassed courage and heroism, Sergeant Mathies and the navigator replied that the pilot was still alive but could not be moved and they would not desert him. They were then told to attempt a landing. After two unsuccessful efforts, the airplane crashed into an open field in a third attempt to land. Sergeant Mathies, the navigator, and the wounded pilot were killed."
His other decorations include: Purple Heart (Posthumous), American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star for participation in the Air Offensive Europe Campaign and World War II Victory Medal.
Information from military personnel records and the Air Force Office of Historical Studies. |
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