Staff Sergeant Archibald Mathies

Staff Sergeant ARCHIBALD MATHIES US Army Air Corps, 510th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group Stone at the entrance to Finleyville Cemetery Photo: Mark Sanders
Medal of Honor (Posthumously) Source: U.S. Army Center of Military History MATHIES, ARCHIBALD (Air Mission) Rank and organization: Sergeant, U .S. Army Air Corps, 510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group. Place and date: Over Europe, 20 February 1944. Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa. Born: 3 June 1918, Scotland. G.O. No.: 52, 22 June 1944. Citation: 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 Sgt. 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 plane severely damaged. Nevertheless, Sgt. Mathies and other members of the crew managed to right the plane and fly it back to their home station, where they contacted the control tower and reported the situation. Sgt. Mathies and the navigator volunteered to attempt to land the plane. Other members of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving Sgt. Mathies and the navigator aboard. After observing the distressed aircraft from another plane, Sgt. Mathies' commanding officer decided the damaged plane could not be landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it and parachute to safety. Demonstrating unsurpassed courage and heroism, Sgt. 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 plane crashed into an open field in a third attempt to land. Sgt. Mathies, the navigator, and the wounded pilot were killed.			Text from Library, PA memorial above which was erected by UMWA Local 73: ARCHIE MATHIES STAFF SERGEANT US ARMY AIR CORPS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY BORN JUNE 3, 1918 AT STONEHOUSE SCOTLAND KILLED IN ACTION OVER ENEMY OCCUPIED EUROPE IN THE FLYING FORTRESS MIZPAH FEBRUARY 20, 1944 *Medal of Honor*
Please note: Further research by Mark Sanders, through the Air Force Historical Research Agency, indicated that SSgt Mathies' crew flew to England on the B-17 "Mizpah" but were finally assigned to the B-17G "Ten Horsepower" (#42-31763-A) which SSgt Mathies (Ball Turret Gunner/ Flight Engineer) and 2nd Lt. Walter H. Truemper (Navigator) crash landed 20 February 1944, killing both airmen. They were both awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for their conspicuous gallantry attempting to save pilot 2nd Lt. Clarence R. Nelson and the B-17. 351st Bomb Group
Medals SSgt Mathies earned in addition to the Medal of Honor

Purple Heart	American Defense Service Medal	American Campaign Medal		European African Middle Eastern Campaign	World War Two Victory Medal

510th Bomb Squadron 351st Bomb Group			8th Air Force U.S. Army Air Corps
LINKS History of the 351st Bomb Group 351st Memorials Medal of Honor Citations US Air Force Military Heritage Database Washington County History Pages
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