Retired Marine Brig. Gen. Bruce J. Matheson flew with the famed "Black Sheep" squadron in World War II. Over his 30-year career in the Marine Corps, Matheson flew all-weather jet fighters night escort for Air Force bombers in an F3D Skyknight in Korea, and and commanded Marine Air Group 26 in the Vietnam War, which was the largest Marine air group sent overseas, with 12 helicopter squadrons. He flew several hundred combat missions as a helicopter gunship pilot. Retiring as a colonel in 1971, he later received an honorary promotion to brigadier general because of his World War II service.
