This quiet Texan became a formidable duelist in the air when he spotted Hermann Goering's Luftwaffe. "Little Joe" downed four ME 109s on 20 August 1944 then three FW 190s in another battle on 8 November 1944.
Matte's Air Force career began after graduating from N. Texas State in 1942. He joined the Air Corps and after fighter school, prepared to be one of the first replacement pilots of the 362nd in England. After the war, he served in England, Italy (NATO), Taiwan and Randolph AFB where he retired in 1973 as Colonel.
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