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bombers prior to being posted on the 16th August 1944 to No. 578 Squadron, Burn, Yorkshire, and commencing operational flying. With this squadron as pilot of a Halifax bomber he took part in seventeen operational flights comprising of attacks on Sterkrade (3), Watten, Hamburg, Bottrop, and Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, Julich, Munster, Essen, and Duisburg, all in Germany; Lumbres, Le Havre, Calais and Cap Gris Nez in France, and Venlo in Holland.

On the 30th November 1944, Pilot Officer Mathias was pilot of a Halifax bomber which took off on air operations to attack the target of Duisburg. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all member of the crew including Pilot Officer Mathias were classified as missing. Later, information was received that the aircraft had collided with another in mid-air and crashed two miles south of Weert, Holland, all the crew being buried in the British cemetery there. In consequence of this information Pilot Officer Mathias was reclassified as killed. At a later date it was learned that Pilot Officer Mathias has been buried in the Bosh Overbeck Cemetery, Holland.

Find a Grave link with photo of deceased: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12904385/vincent-william-mathias

5/2/10937 A.S.2.
539 hours as pilot.

Mr. H.V. Mathias (F) (right aligned)
27, Holywood Road, (right aligned)
Fendalton, (right aligned)
CHRISTCHURCH. (right aligned)