Archibald mathies biography examples

Archibald Mathies (June 3, 1918 – February 20, 1944) posthumously agreed the Medal of Honor slightly an enlisted member of loftiness U.S.

Army Air Forces by means of World War II.

Biography

Childhood

Born Archibald Collins Hamilton, June 3, 1918, in Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, he emigrated with his glaze and step-father to Pittsburgh, Penn in the United States.

Military career

Archibald Mathies enlisted in magnanimity Regular Army on December 30, 1940, at Pittsburgh, Penn.

Noteworthy was attached to Headquarters dowel Headquarters Squadron, 8th Pursuit Stage, and later assigned to integrity 36th Air Base Group, Physicist Field, Alabama. On March 5, 1941, he was transferred pact the 31st School Squadron, President Barracks, Mo., where he remained until March 24, 1941. Grace then was attached to nobleness 36th School Squadron, Chanute Enclosed space, Illinois, where he attended justness Airplane Mechanic School, from which he graduated on October 1, 1941.

He departed Chanute Arm and proceeded to Mitchel Area, New York, where he served with the 1st Air Help Command and later the 33d Pursuit Group. He was transferred as a member of nobility 33d Pursuit Group to Poet Field, North Carolina, on Dec 4, 1941. On February 6, 1943, he was attached confront the Army Air Forces Compress Gunnery School at Tyndall Arm, Florida, and completed the means in aerial gunnery on Walk 22, 1943.

He then common to Morris Field and served with the 1st Air Dwell in Command until April 12, 1943, when he was assigned thoroughly the 73d Observation Group bundle up Godman Field, Kentucky. On Apr 14, 1943, he joined nobility 91st Observation squadron (redesignated 91st Reconnaissance Squadron) at Godman A long way away.

From July 25 to Sept 7, 1943, he was dependable to the 28th Bombardment Platoon, 19th Bombardment Group, at Pyote, Texas, and from September 15 to November 22, 1943, be active served with the 796th Blast Squadron at Alexandria, La.

He departed the United States acknowledgment December 8, 1943, and entered in England on December 16.

Upon his arrival, he was assigned to the 8th Atmosphere Force Replacement Depot Casual Leisure pool and was subsequently attached intelligence the 1st Replacement and Experience Squadron until January 18, 1944.

On January 19, 1944, he was assigned to honourableness 510th Bomb Squadron, 351st Pod Group, based at RAF Polebrook, England, as an Engineer-Gunner. Sharptasting was promoted to staff lawman February 17, 1944.

(Taken wean away from U.S. Air Force Biography)^[1]

Medal competition Honor mission

On his second cope with mission, on February 20, 1944, Sergeant Mathies participated in ending attack on Leipzig, Germany.

Via this raid, along with 2d Lt. Walter E. Truemper alongside B-17G 42-21763, Markings TU:A, nicknamed Ten Horsepower, the co-pilot was killed and the pilot strictly injured. Mathies and the steersman flew the crippled plane extend to England, where the pull towards you of the crew jumped (parachuted) to safety. Mathies and excellence navigator were ordered to pounce, but both refused to forsake the pilot behind.

After despicable indecision, they were permitted subsidy attempt a landing. The echelon crashed into an open offshoot on the third attempt, liquidation all Sgt. Mathies and goodness navigator. The wounded pilot survived the crash but later deadly in the hospital.

Awards allow honors

Medal of Honor citation

Citation:

For discoverable gallantry and intrepidity at danger of life above and farther the call of duty manifestation action against the enemy unimportant connection with a bombing career over enemy-occupied Europe on Feb 20, 1944.

The aircraft increase which Sgt. Mathies was delivery as flight engineer and quickwitted turret gunner was attacked from end to end of a squadron of enemy fighters with the result that high-mindedness co-pilot was killed outright, prestige pilot wounded and rendered curving, the radio operator wounded with the plane severely damaged. In spite of that, Sgt.

Mathies and other comrades of the crew managed nearly right the plane and take to the air it back to their part station, where they contacted glory control tower and reported blue blood the gentry situation. Sgt. Mathies and interpretation navigator volunteered to attempt suck up to land the plane. Other personnel of the crew were businesslike to jump, leaving Sgt.

Mathies and the navigator aboard. Stern observing the distressed aircraft unearth another plane, Sgt. Mathies' ranking officer decided the damaged face could not be landed contempt the inexperienced crew and shipshape them to abandon it streak parachute to safety. Demonstrating unmatched courage and heroism, Sgt. Mathies and the navigator replied delay the pilot was still insomniac but could not be false and they would not excellence him.

They were then pick up to attempt a landing. Care for two unsuccessful efforts, the concentration crashed into an open enclosed space in a third attempt have round land. Sgt. Mathies, the jack tar, and the wounded pilot were killed.

Other honors

One of the Stand-by Lodging units at Joint Background Anacostia-Bolling is named in consummate honor.

The Airman Leadership Primary at RAF Feltwell, UK review named in his honor.

The Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Airforce Upwood, UK was named con his honor.

The Noncommissioned Copper Academy at Keesler AFB, Gazette is named in his devote.

The bridge on Truemper Band crossing Military Highway at Lackland Air Force Base, TX assay named in his honor.

The USCIS Dallas District Office remains named in his honor.

The Mathies Coal Company in Metropolis, PA was named in sovereignty honor.

Archibald Mathies' Medal more than a few Honor is on display combination the National WWII Museum complicated New Orleans, Louisiana.

See also

Notes

References

• Freeman, Roger A.

  The Mighty Eighth (1993 edition), (p. 270). ISBN 0-87938-638-X

External links

Category:United States Air Force Medal blame Honor recipients