Staff Sergeant Archibald Mathies Memorial - Lackland AFB, Texas
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 29° 23.383 W 098° 37.145
14R E 536961 N 3251224
Plaque honoring World War II B-17 gunner awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions. The memorial is located adjacent to the main parade field at Lackland Air Force Base.
Waymark Code: WM3CBM
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/14/2008
Views: 71
B-17
...an enlisted story.
Staff Sergeant Archibald Mathies
Archibald Mathies emigrated as an infant with his family from
Scotland in 1918 and settled near Pittsburgh, Penn. Archibald
returned to the British Isles 26 years later as a ball turret gunner aboard a
B-17. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940 and later became an aircraft
engineer and gunner. On Feb. 20, 1944, he was on his second combat mission
when his B-17 was severely damaged by German fighters. The co-pilot was
killed and several crewmembers, including the pilot, were severely wounded.
Sergeant Mathies and 2nd Lt. Walter E. Truemper, the navigator, fought to
control the damaged bomber. Upon reaching their home field in England,
they were ordered to bail out. Authorities modified their order when they
learned of the critical condition of the wounded pilot. The resulting
landing attempt proved fatal to Mathies, Truemper and the wounded pilot.
Their heroic effort earned lasting recognition. Both Sergeant Mathies and
Lieutenant Truemper received the Medal of Honor posthumously. ~ text of
plaque