WILLIAM H. MATHEWS, JR., FO, RCAF
William Mathews, Jr. '40
William Hooker Mathews, Jr. was admitted to the Naval Academy from New York on June 15, 1936 at age 19 years 10 months. He was honorably discharged on July 8, 1937 for reason: "Honorably discharged on account of physical disability incurred in line of duty."
Lucky Bag
William Hooker Mathews, Jr. is listed on the page titled “And Some We Knew.”
Photographs
Loss
William was killed in action on November 9, 1942 when the Wellington bomber he was piloting disappeared while on a mission. He and his crew had departed Luqa aerodrome at 2155 on 9 November, "to carry out a duty search and torpedo attack in the Porto Stilo [or perhaps "Faro Capo Stilo"] area." Nothing was heard from the aircraft after that, and no debris were found.
Other Information
Prior to attending the Naval Academy, he attended the University of Michigan from 1934-1936. He later graduated from Cornell University.
His parents lived in California, though possibly originally from Connecticut.
From a letter of recommendation, dated November 20, 1940:
Mathews was one of my advisees while a student at Cornell. He gave me no worry either as a student or as a person of character. He transferred to Cornell after one year at the University of Michigan, which meant that he had to carry a heavier study load than normal each term to make up for first year work required at Cornell which he had not had. Still he graduated well up in the top half of his class. Thus, I am sure you will find him a hard worker and a good student.
He has a pleasant personality, is one who gets along well with, and is liked and respected by others. I am certain you find his character at fault in no way. Further, he is always such the same -- calm, steady, and stable. Kendall C. White, Assistant Professor
Another letter, dated November 22, 1940, from a person at the "Division of United Aircraft Corporation, East Hartford, Connecticut":
Mr. W. H. Mathews, Jr., who until recently was a member of our student training group, has written in advising that he is rather anxious to be accepted for service as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
This writer unhesitatingly recommends Mr. Mathews for service with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Mathews graduated from Cornell University in June of last year and was with us until approximately a month ago. His work here was of the highest order but it seemed to him that his own inclination was in some activity other than in a mess production industry, which the manufacture of aircraft engines is, in a degree, becoming over here in the States.
The feeling of the writer and his associates is that in accepting Mr. Mathews for service, the Allied cause will be making a valuable acquisition. James E. Diamond
From the March 1943 issue of Shipmate:
WILLIAM H . MATTHEWS, JR., '40. It is with great sorrow that Shipmate announces that Bill was reported missing in action as of Nov. 9, 1942, and in view of the lapsed time has now been posted to the Official Casualty List.
Bill enlisted in the R.C.A.F. in late 1940 after refusal to the part of the Navy Department to accept him for flight training at Pensacola.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer about September 1941 and transferred to the R.A.F. Coastal Command for patrol duty off of Prince Edward Island.
In April 1942, he was posted to England, flying a bomber across with his specially trained crew, serving for a period in the Coastal Service off England and later based at Londonderry.
From there, he was posted early in the past summer to Gibraltar and reassigned shortly after that to Malta.
Late in October 1942, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, full details of which we do not have.
He is listed on a memorial marker in Malta.
His entry in the Canadian Virtual War Memorial is here. He was a member of No. 69 Squadron (RAF).
Map
Distinguished Flying Cross
From a letter dated January 20, 1943:
Dear Mr. Mathews:
At this time of great anxiety it is felt that you and the members of your family will wish to know the circumstances surrounding the honour and distinction which have come to your son, Pilot Officer William Hooker Mathews DFC, through the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for great gallantry in the performance of his duty while serving with No. 69 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, prior to having been reported missing on Active Service after air operations on the 9th of November, 1942
The citation on which this award was made reads as follows:
One day in October, 1942 this officer executed a successful attack on a large heavily escorted merchant ship. Pressing home his attack with great skill, Pilot Officer Mathews obtained a hit on the vessel inflicting such damage that later it had to be run ashore and its cargo unloaded. His aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire but he flew it to base. On another night towards the end of the month Pilot Officer Mathews attacked, with telling effect, another enemy merchant ship escorted by three destroyers. Later it was learned that the ship and its valuable cargo and fuel had become a total loss. This officer has displayed outstanding skill and determination to inflict loss on the enemy.
The personnel of the force are proud of your son's fine Service record. Minister of National Defense for Air
Memorial Hall Error
William was a Flight Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force, not a LCDR, USN as is in Memorial Hall. This was correctly reflected in the Honor Roll in the March 1944 issue of Shipmate.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
