Memorial details

Memorial type
Board / Plaque / Tablet
District
East Northamptonshire
Town
Polebrook, Peterborough
County
Northamptonshire
Country
England
Commemoration
Second World War (1939-1945)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
70329

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Current location

On the north wall of the north transept.
All Saints' Church
Hemington Road
Polebrook
Peterborough
East Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
PE8 5LT
England

OS Grid Ref: TL 06843 87071
Denomination: Church of England

View location on Google Maps
Description
Rectangular metal plaque, with etched images of both men, which flank the image of the Medal of Honor. There is a framed copy of the accompanying citation below.
Inscription
The plaque is divided into three sections: The first section has an etched image above the words: Second Lieutenant Walter Edward Truemper The second section has an image above the words: The Medal of Honor./ The Medal of Honor, the highest decoration in the/ armed forces, is awarded in the name of Congress to any/ person who has distinguished himself in conflict with the/ enemy by gallantry and courage, at the risk of his life/ and above and beyond the call of duty. The third section has an etched image above the words: Sergeant Archibald Mathies The framed citation reads: On February 20th 1944 the Flying Fortress, Ten Horsepower,/ was sent with the 510th Squadron on a bombing raid/ to Leipzig in Germany. When the plane was attacked by German/ fighter aircraft, the Flight officer was killed instantly and the Captain/ severely wounded and unconscious. Ten Horsepower was/ spiralling out of control until the Navigator, Lt Walter Truemper,/ assisted by Sgt Archie Mathies, though unqualified to pilot a plane,/ took charge. Still under bombardment and with their plane crippled, they/ limped back to Polebrook. They refused to bail out with the other living/ crew members, because they felt unable to leave the severely injured Captain/ Nelson to his fate. The Base Commander, Col. Eugene Romig, and Major/ Ledoux took off in another plane to try fly alongside them to try to ensure a/ safe landing. Several attempts proved futile. They deliberately avoided/ further damage to personnel and planes on the ground by heading for an/ open field where they ploughed into Denton Hill./ Walter Truemper and Archie Mathies died instantly. Their outstanding/ courage is hereby recognised.
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Mathies, Archibald
Truemper, Walter Edward
See details for all 2 names
Commemorations
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 2
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 2
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Rank, forename and surname.
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Plaque
    Measurements: depth 20mm, height 420mm, width 800mm
    Materials: Metal
  • Other structure
    Measurements: height 170mm, width 210mm
    Materials: Paper
Listing information
Condition
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference
  • Valor at Polebrook: the last flight of Ten Horsepower, by Rick School & Jeff Rogers. (ISBN -10 : 0965249158).

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-70329

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