| “Staff Sergeant Alfred D. Morris…crew chief of a Negro Fighter Group of the Fifteenth United States Army Air Force, closes the canopy of a P-51 Mustang for his pilot, Captain William T. Mattison…operations officer of the squadron based in Italy.” Captain William T. Mattison, Senior (October 16, 1916 – January 28, 1951) grew up at 1213 Markham Street, Conway, Arkansas, and attended Pine Street School and Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College and Howard University. Mattison graduated with Class 42-I-SE on October 9, 1942. Joining the 100th Fighter Squadron in Italy, he served as Operations Officer. In March 1943, he became Commanding Officer of the 302nd Fighter Squadron. On September 8, 1944, Captain MAttison led 42 aircraft against the Luftwaffe airfields in Yugoslavia; the 302nd Fighter Squadron destroyed 18 aircraft on the ground at Ilandra and 18 at Alibunar. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and 2 Bronze Service Stars, among numerous other awards for campaigns in Rome, Arno, southern France, the Rhineland, the Balkans, northern France, the northern Apennines, and Po Valley. He had 64 sorties by war’s end. He was killed piloting U.S. Air Force C-45F “Expeditor” #44-87287 in a weather-related crash near Oak Harbor, Ohio. At the time of his death, he resided at 2616 Park Place N.W., Washington, D.C. and was assigned to the 1101 Air Material Squadron, Bolling Air Force Base. His remains were buried at Arlington National Cemetery on May 2, 1951. Staff Sergeant Dewitt Alfred Morris (May 4, 1920 – May 14, 1961) attended Anaheim Union High School and enlisted on October 14, 1942. He was assigned to the 100th Fighter Squadron. Morris was discharged on October 27, 1945. He lived at 219 East Truslow Avenue, a 1913 bungalow in Fullerton, California, before and after the war. He is buried in Loma Vista Memorial Park. The North American P-51B or C Model Mustang – the only difference between the 2 marks was the location of manufacture; B Models were made in Inglewood, California and C Models were made in Dallas, Texas – became closely associated with the 332nd Fighter Group. The 1st P-51s received by the 322nd were “hand-me-downs” – used aircraft from the 325th Fighter Group. Eventually they received new aircraft. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0649.jpg |
| Image Size | 644.45 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2912 x 2048 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Office of War Information |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | September 1, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Ramitelli |
| State or Province | Molise |
| Country | Italy |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-208-AA-46BB-6 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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