Date of birth:

September 25th, 1921 (San Angelo/Texas, United States)

Date of death:

March 18th, 1943 (Over Vegesack, Germany)

Buried on:

American War Graves Fairmount Cemetery

Nationality:

American

Jack Mathis was born in San Angelo, Texas on 25th September 1921 and grew up in Sterling City. On 12th June 1940 he enlisted in the Army and first served with an artillery unit at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. When his brother enlisted in the Air Corps he decided to transferre there too.
He began his aviation cadet training at Goodfellow Field in San Angelo and was trained as bombardier and commissioned as Second Lieutenants upon graduation. Jack Mathis was assigned to the 303rd Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force in England, where he flew a total of 14 missions.

On 19th March 1943 Mathis was the lead bombardier during a mission over Vegesack, Germany. His aircraft was hit by fragments of an exploding antiaircraft shell which shattered his right arm and severely wounded him in the right side and abdomen. Despite being mortally wounded, Mathis propped himself over the Norden bombsight, located the target and dropped his bombs. He died at his post.

Jack Mathis is buried in Fairmont Cemetery in San Angelo, Texas.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant

Unit:

359th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group, U.S. Army Air Forces

Awarded on:

July 12th, 1943

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy over Vegesack, Germany, on 18 March 1943. 1st Lt. Mathis, as leading bombardier of his squadron, flying through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire, was just starting his bomb run, upon which the entire squadron depended for accurate bombing, when he was hit by the enemy antiaircraft fire. His right arm was shattered above the elbow, a large wound was torn in his side and abdomen, and he was knocked from his bomb sight to the rear of the bombardier's compartment. Realizing that the success of the mission depended upon him, 1st Lt. Mathis, by sheer determination and willpower, though mortally wounded, dragged himself back to his sights, released his bombs, then died at his post of duty. As the result of this action the airplanes of his bombardment squadron placed their bombs directly upon the assigned target for a perfect attack against the enemy. 1st Lt. Mathis' undaunted bravery has been a great inspiration to the officers and men of his unit."

General Order No.l 38, 12 July 1943.
Awarded posthumously.
His Medal of Honor is on display at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Bill Gonyo
• - Jordan, K. N., Yesterday’s Heroes, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., USA, 1996.
  - US Army Centre of Military History
  

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