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name
MATHIS, Rhude Mark Jr - Date of
birth
14 February 1918 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas -
Hometown
Tom Green County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-662289 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
359th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
14 May 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, near Heligoland, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Rhude M. Mathis (father)
Avis (Canon) Mathis (mother)
Jack W. Mathis (brother)
Harrell C. Mathis (brother)
Carol D. Mathis (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5243 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: FDR's Formerly Patato Peeler Kids
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boats yards
MACR: 15593
More information
Rhude Mathis was a mechanic.He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in San Angelo, Texas on 30 April 1941.
The airplane was shot down by enemy aircraft. Crew members of other B-17's in the group reported seven parachutes leaving the plane. It ditched near the island of Heligoland.
The entire crew of ten men was killed. The remains of nine men were never recovered. Only the body of waist gunner Francis W. O'Reilly washed ashore.
Six crew members are commemorated at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten, three men are commemorated at the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com, Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 42-10, Midland Army Flying School, Texas.