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.
Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!