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Staff Sergeant
ARCHIBALD MATHIES
US Army Air Corps, 510th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group
  


Polebrook England
  

Thanks to Chris Martin for providing these photos and his additional comments:

THESE PHOTOS WERE PART OF MY FATHERS COLLECTION.  HE TOO WAS STATIONED AT POLEBROOK ALONG WITH ARCHIE MATHIES WHERE THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN. POLEBROOK IS ABOUT 65 MILES NORTHEAST OF LONDON.

(PHOTO BELOW)
DAD IS BOTTOM ROW LEFT... HAROLD G. MARTIN
TOP TURRET GUNNER / FLIGHT ENGINEER / B-17
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL W/ 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS. 35 MISSIONS IN OCCUPIED EUROPE DURING SPRING - SUMMER - FALL OF '44.


42-38038 April Girl II 
 Back row (l to r)  Sgt. Forrest H. Gordon, Lt. Sam. H. McClean, Lt. Robert G. Hurley, Lt. Charles M. Walker, Lt. Charles J. Musser, Sgt. John J. Goldthorpe.
Front row (l to r)  Sgt. Harold G. Martin, Sgt. Albert Kocsis, Sgt. William E. Power, Sgt. George J. Derby

  

Archibald Mathies memorial stone in Finleyville, Pa
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

351st Bomb Group
   

   
Medals that 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

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