Medal of Honor: Archibald Mathies – U.S. Army Air Corps – World War II

Name: Archibald Mathies
Rank: Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army Air Corps
Unit: 510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group
Place: Over Europe
Entered Service At: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Born: 3 June 1918, Scotland

Summary of Action

Serving as engineer and ball turret gunner aboard a B-17 during a bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe, Sgt. Archibald Mathies’ aircraft was savagely attacked by enemy fighters. The copilot was killed instantly. The pilot was gravely wounded and rendered unconscious. The radio operator was wounded, and the aircraft was severely damaged.

Despite the chaos, Mathies and other crew members managed to regain control and nurse the crippled bomber back toward England. Upon reaching their home station, they radioed the control tower and reported their dire condition.

Recognizing that the unconscious pilot could not be moved and that the aircraft was badly damaged, Sgt. Mathies and the navigator volunteered to attempt the landing themselves. The rest of the crew was ordered to bail out.

Observing the stricken aircraft from another plane, Mathies’ commanding officer concluded the bomber could not be safely landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it. Mathies and the navigator replied that the pilot was still alive but could not be evacuated—and they would not desert him.

Granted permission to attempt a landing, they tried twice unsuccessfully. On the third attempt, the aircraft crashed into an open field.

Sgt. Mathies, the navigator, and the wounded pilot were killed.

His refusal to abandon a helpless comrade, even when ordered to save himself, stands as one of the most profound examples of loyalty and sacrifice in the history of military aviation.

Medal of Honor Citation

MATHIES, ARCHIBALD (Air Mission)

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.