Archibald Mathies

Archibald Mathies was an enlisted member of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. Serving as a flight engineer and gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress, Mathies demonstrated extraordinary courage during a bombing mission over Europe.

On February 20, 1944, during a mission over Germany, his aircraft was severely damaged by enemy fighter attacks, which left the pilot unconscious and the co-pilot mortally wounded. Mathies and the navigator successfully flew the damaged bomber back to their base in England.

Rather than abandoning the aircraft, Mathies and the navigator made a courageous attempt to land the plane to save the life of the unconscious pilot. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed during their third landing attempt, killing all on board. Mathies was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant and awarded the nation's highest military decoration for his selflessness and bravery.