Published: July 09, 2008 08:23 am      

Area woman part of award-winning Air Force unit

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Shandra Mathes and her squadron were recently honored as the 2008 recipients of the coveted Raytheon Trophy.

Mathes, 25, serves in the USAF’s 493rd Fighter Squadron, the ‘Grim Reapers,’ a unit within the 48th Fighter Wing of Lakenheath England.

Mathes is the daughter of Van and Rose Anna Messner, owners of Messner Ranch of Slapout. She is the granddaughter of Milton and Bebe Ann Messner of Slapout and Walter and Shirley Prather of Woodward. Mathes’ husband, Christopher Mathes, is a native of Woodward.

The Raytheon Trophy is awarded by the Raytheon Systems Corporation, a company specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets. It is awarded annually to the Air Force squadron that best demonstrates control of the skies.

“It’s an air superiority award,” Mathes said. “It’s given out by the Raytheon people to the best fighter squadron in the Air Force.”

According to a press release from the 493rd, the squadron executed seven deployments and 11 separate exercise taskings in 2007, all without a hitch.

Mathes said the 493rd carried out several high-profile missions last year, which she thinks probably led, at least in part, to their winning the trophy. “We did a lot of presidential escorts and that kind of stuff last year,” she said. “I guess they like that.”

The 493rd earned the praise of some top brass for their achievement.

“In 2007, the 493rd Fighter Squadron established itself as USAFE’s premier engagement squadron,” said Brig. Gen. John W. Hesterman III, 48th Fighter Wing commander. “The Reapers are undoubtedly the finest air superiority squadron in the United States Air Force.”

Mathes said she joined the Air Force in 2003, about a year after she completed high school. “I wanted a job that was different,” Mathes said.

“I grew up on a cattle ranch my whole life and I wanted to do something that got me out...something that no one else was doing,” Mathes said.

Mathes serves as an F-15C crew chief, a job she admits is somewhat lackluster.

“I’m basically a mechanic,” she said, though being a crew chief does have its perks.

“I guess the exciting thing about the job is you get your name on a jet,” she said.

Mathes and her unit are currently stationed at the Royal Air Force base in Lakenheath, England. Lakenheath is in East Anglia county in the eastern part of the country, about 70 miles from London.

Mathes said she enjoys living in England. “It’s nice--there’s a lot of close things.

We just got back from Italy,” Mathes said. “It’s not Oklahoma,” she also noted.

Mathes said she’s been stationed in England for about one year. She was previously stationed at the Air Force base in Langley, Va.

She said her current enlistment expires in 2011, at which time she plans to re-enlist.