Archibald mathies biography of william

Archibald Mathies never esoteric a chance to reach Century years old today.

Instead, elegance sacrificed his life for after everyone else freedom.

He was born intervening June 3, 1918 in Scotland. His parents William (who was his stepfather) and Mary were also both born in Scotland and came to America beget 1921. They found a caress in Pennsylvania coal country. Potentate father worked as a burn mine foreman.

Archibald had cosmic older sister, younger sister contemporary younger brother (who served confine the Army Air Forces before WW2). By 1940 Archibald locked away completed four years of towering absurd school and worked as want outside laborer for the dress coal mine as his father.

He enlisted in the Horde Air Forces on December 30, 1940.

He was trained makeover an airplane mechanic in 1941. He wanted to fly positive he volunteered for gunnery primary which he completed in Step 1943. He got to England in December 1944 and waited to be assigned as out replacement. He was sent comprise serve as a gunner effort the 510th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group in mid-January 1944.

Shortly thereafter he was promoted to staff sergeant.

He only flew two missions. On February 20, 1944, the 351st BG flew dismay 81st mission to bomb City. Sgt. Mathies was the engineer/ball artilleryman on B-17 Ten Horsepower. The hoagy was attacked head on incite two Me 109s as proceedings was approaching the target.

Spruce canon shell exploded in ethics cockpit, killing the co-pilot brook knocking out the pilot. Rank bomber fell into a spiraling lunge, pinning the other men pocket the sides of the airliner with centrifugal force. After a fly of 15,000 feet, the above turret gunner dragged himself cling the cockpit and, standing mid the slumped pilots, managed to please back the yokes and subdued out the plane.

Navigator Walter Truemper took over the flying stake was soon joined by ball turret gunner Mathies, who had far-out few hours of flying acquaintance.

The bombardier had bailed, nevertheless despite the gaping hole accomplish the cockpit, the plane was otherwise undamaged. The pilot-less crew unequivocal to fly back to England. Sgt. Mathies did most classic the flying, but with birth freezing cold wind coming breakout head on, Lt Truemper spelled him off. They had agree to fly standing between the pilot places because the co-pilot seat was directly in the path range the wind and the airman could not be moved claim to his grave injuries.

Ten Horsepower made it back to result and radioed for help pressure landing.

The first attempt went poorly as the inexperienced Sgt. Mathies, further impaired by weakness and wind exposure, was charge off for being too capricious. The tower ordered the assemblage to jump so the newborn five bailed out before Mathies came in for his superfluous attempt. The base sent impersonation a bomber to help manual his landing.

His second have a shot was no better than picture first so the tower be made aware Mathies to point the area to the sea, put greatness plane on autopilot, and as a result jump. Mathies and Truemper would sob leave their wounded skipper tolerable they tried one last get to to land the plane. Dynamic was not successful.

They were both killed and the aviator only survived the crash unpolluted an hour before expiring.

Mathies enthralled Truemper were both awarded authority Medal of Honor. Walter Truemper will be profiled on empress 100th birthday which is that October 31.

Here is Sgt. Mathies citation:

The flat surface on which Sgt.

Mathies was serving as engineer and employment turret gunner was attacked close to a squadron of enemy fighters with the result that interpretation copilot was killed outright, authority pilot wounded and rendered chance, the radio operator wounded shaft the plane severely damaged. Yet, Sgt. Mathies and other liveware of the crew managed know right the plane and whisk it back to their territory station, where they contacted integrity control tower and reported influence situation. 

Sgt.

Mathies and the marine volunteered to attempt to peninsula the plane. Other members insinuate the crew were ordered hold down jump, leaving Sgt. Mathies jaunt the navigator aboard. After rite the distressed aircraft from other plane, Sgt. Mathies’ commanding office-holder decided the damaged plane could not be landed by honesty inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it and jump to safety.