|
Matthaus
was killed during an incendiary raid against Tokyo, May
26, 1945, when a 105mm anti-aircraft shell scored a direct
hit on his tail compartment. Reportedly, this was the
first fatality, in battle, of the 39th Bomb Group.
The
funeral service and internment took place at the Military
Cemetery on Guam, May 27, 1945. The ten survivors of his
crew along with a friend from Crew
43 - Tom Mayfield,
were among those in attending the service. The 39th Group
Chaplain, Chester Pelt,
was the Officiating Minister.
Matthaus
received the Air
Medal and was awarded the Purple
Heart posthumously.
The
whereabouts of his parents who resided in Miami is unknown.
His wife, Marge, since remarried and a daughter are survivors.
Lloyd
Volkmar recalls that Matt and Marge were married in Salina
during training days. They were expecting before Matt left
for Guam. The exact date of Karen's birth date is not known.
She, along with her husband and one-year-old son, were in
attendance at Crew 44's first reunion at Lake Texoma and
Fort Worth, Texas, July 6-11, 1965. At that time, Karen
was a sophomore in college in or near Springfield, Missouri. |
![airmedal.gif [The Air Medal]](../../../images/medals/airmedal.gif)
