William T. Mattison

This month sees the release of the blockbuster movie Red Tails about the United States first African American air fighter group. William T. Mattison is one of Arkansas’ original Tuskegee Airmen and a former Red Tail.  He was born in Conway, Arkansas, and attended Arkansas AM&N College in Pine Bluff and Howard University in Washington DC. Mattison graduated from Tuskegee’s flight program in 1942 and served as operations officer of the 100^th Fighter Squadron, led the 302^nd Fighter Squadron, and was a member of the 332^nd Fighter Group. He rose to the rank of major and earned the Flying Cross, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and two Bronze Service Stars. He died in an airplane crash while flying to Ohio on January 28, 1951. His remains are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. I’m John Kirk of the UALR History Department and this has been an Arkansas moment.