European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday september 26, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 cos give by Nancy l. Torner Luik. Bureau Raf Upwood England the final Retreat has been sounded at the Mathies no Academy . Air forces in Europe professional military Edu cation Center. The american Flag in front of the school which is to close Friday was lowered for the last time during a special ceremony sept. 16. The school s final graduating class of 103 air Force noncommissioned officers participated in the event. Also on hand was David Mathies brother of Archibald Mathies the school s namesake and a posthumous recipient of the medal of Honor. Archibald Mathies was killed in action in 1944 during world War ii just three Days after he had been promoted to staff  feel sad about it David Mathies said of the school s closing. I think they re losing something  ././-.-. -. The school was one of two fully accredited air Force no academies in Europe that offer professional military education to further leadership management and military skills said master sgt. Bill Mcelligott one of the school s instructors. The Academy is being closed As a result of the military draw Down. " the air Force s Only remaining professional Mili tary education Center in Europe is the Kisling no Academy at Kapaun air station in Kaiserslautern Germany Mcelligott said. The Academy at Upwood first opened in 1984under the name Safe no facade my North. It was re named in 1987 in Honor of Archibald Mathies who received the medal of Honor for his heroic actions with the army air forces during the War Mcelligott said. David Mathies also attended the medal of Honor ceremony. The final graduating class of 103 students was the largest Ever forthe school Mcelhi Gutt said. In total the school has graduated 6,776 students. Students who were interviewed at the sept. 16 ceremony said that they were unhappy that the school was closing but that know ing they were the last graduating class Proba Bly made them work harder. The entire class graduated. It was an Honor for the school and for All of us that All the students graduated. I think by being the last class people put More Effort into it said tech sgt Ahmed Barton of Raf Lakenheath. He also said that the instructors built us As Leader so we could accomplish this goal he said. Tech. Sgt. Terry Casey of Raf Mildenhall said he too was saddened by the school s closing. It was a rallying Point for students he said. To commemorate the Academy a time capsule is being put together that will be opened in 25 years rans said. The capsule will be kept at heritage Hall at the Gunter Annex of Maxwell fab Ala.,where much of the school s Memorabilia that be longed to Archibald Mathies also will be sent. Final Casey .".-. / v. Is Mark Mcfann David Mathies views a portrait of his brother Archibald Mathies at the air Force Neq Academy at Raf up Wood England. The Academy named for Archibald Mathies is to close won t for heroic deeds during in by Nancy l. Torner. . Bureau Raf Upwood England the Mathies no Academy-. Air forces in Europe is filled with Memorabilia connected to its namesake Archibald Mathies whose memory will be kept alive at two separate air Force bases when the school closes this month. The bulk of the school s Memorabilia such As photo graphs of Mathies the medals he earned and old news paper articles about his heroism will go to the senior no Academy at heritage Hall at the Gunter Annex of Maxwell fab Ala. They be been drooling Over this stuff since i told them we had it said master sgt. Bill Mcelligott an instructor at the Upwood Academy. The school is closing because of the . Military draw Down in Europe. Other items such As parts of the aircraft in which Mathies crashed during world War ii will be placed at Raf fell Well England. The pieces were discovered by members of the school who obtained permission from the British government to scour the crash site with a Metal Detector the site is about nine Miles from the school Mcelligott said. I think it needs to stay in England Mcelligott said of the wreckage. The school s namesake was killed in action feb. 20,1944, just three Days after he had been promoted to staff sergeant. The 25-year-old Ball Turret gunner was on his second Mission during the War when his plane was hit by enemy fire and ultimately crashed at Denton Hill eng land Mcelligott said Mathies b-17 bomber was hit during a raid Over Ger Many according to information from the school and from Mathies brother David Mathies. The co Pilot was killed and the Pilot was injured and unconscious. The Bombardier bailed out of the plane Over Ger Many. The rest of the Crew managed to return the air Craft to England. Mathies who had Only two hours of flying instruction and 2nd it. Walter h. Truemper a navigator volunteered to attempt to land the plane. Five other Crew members of the 351st bomb group,510th bomb so were ordered to bail out Over the Home base at Polebrook England according to Archibald. Mathies medal of Honor citation. After observing the aircraft from the ground Mathies commander decided the plane was too damaged to land and ordered Mathies and Truemper to bail out As  unsurpassed courage and heroism sgt. Mathies and the navigator replied that the Pilot was still alive but could not be moved and that they would not desert him the citation reads. Mathies and Truemper made two unsuccessful at tempts to land and crashed on a third attempt the Cita Tion says. Both men were killed in the crash and the Pilot died shortly after the crash. I was just devastated recalled David Mathies. In memory of his brother David Mathies named his son Archibald who has in turn Given his son the  Mathies said his son wears a ring that belonged to the world War ii gunner and eventually will pass it Down to his own  of the Academy s Memorabilia was Given to the school by David Mathies although he retained the Origi Nal medal of Honor and keeps it in a Safe Deposit Box. David Mathies said that it saddened him to see the school close but that he supported passing his brother s things to other military installations. V i Felt As Long As they put it to Good use at another Academy they could have it David Mathies said. Mar expo to examine issues with touch of adventure Heidelberg Germany is clubs child care fitness and entertain ment will be among the topics explored at the third annual mar expo in Hei Delberg next month. " the morale welfare and recreation exposition with the 26th area support group playing Host will be held oct. 22 26 in Patrick Henry Village at the Village Pavilion formerly the officers and civil ians club and at the old Dominion club. Morning sessions will offer in depth in formation in 11 mar Fields such As club management child development services sports and marketing. In the afternoon general topics applicable to staff in different areas such As commercial sponsorship and leadership will be covered. The keynote speaker will be British army col. John Blashford Snell a real life adventurer who has led expeditions on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia the 2,700 mile Zaire River and More than 60 other destinations. A graduate of the Royal military Academy at Sandhurst England he has organized and conducted numerous adventure trips for Young people including a two year sail around the world involving 400 British youngsters. This expedition dubbed operation Drake was sup ported by Prince Charles. The exposition also will have More than 90 Vendor Booths allowing mar specialists to see the latest in food service supplies weightlifting equipment and More. Last year s mar expo Drew More than 1,100 mar specialists from throughout the . European come