Wayne Otto Mattson LT. Col. USAF Retired
Wayne Otto Mattson, 82, passed away on February 3, 2012 at his home in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He was born November 5, 1929 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the son of Otto and Esther Mattson. He leaves behind his wife Lu, three children: Michael (deceased 2009) and wife Sherry Lynne and grandson David, daughter Judy Palmer, her husband Joe, all from Tucson, AZ, son Curtis, and his friend Tina Belkofer at home, his sister Darlene Dennert and brother-in-law Arnold (Bud) of Mesa, AZ.
Wayne enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1947 and later graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (class of 1955). Upon graduation from Annapolis, he joined the US Air Force and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command for which he flew B-47s as a navigator. After leaving SAC, he was transferred to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, Calif. working in Flight Research and as a member of the F-111 Test Force. During the Vietnam War he flew as a Forward Air Controller in O2A's out of Laos where he flew 175 combat missions. He was next assigned to Holloman AFB where he became Chief of the Operations Branch of the Target Drone division in 1969. He ended his long 32 year military career at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and a Combat Readiness Medal.
He was employed by the Hughes Aircraft Company of Tucson, AZ. as a project engineer for 11 and a half years. Wayne and his family retired to Alamogordo in January of 1990 where he took an active roll in community affairs. He served on the Board of RSVP Senior Program, was secretary for the TBHS (Tularosa Basin Historical Society), and was secretary to the MOAA (Military Officers Association of America). He also volunteered at the New Mexico Museum of Space History, first as coordinator, and later doing archival work and extensive research, He authored five issues of the New Mexico Space Journal and a "Pioneer" for the Tularosa Basin Historical Society titled "Unidentified Flying Objects in the Tularosa Basin." He co-authored the book "We Develop Missiles, Not Air." His life was featured in the Dec. 2004 issue of the New Mexico Magazine. He was also a popular guest speaker. Wayne was known for his extensive knowledge in Air Force flight history and rocketry and as an avid UFO researcher. He will be missed by all who knew him.
You are invited to attend his Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 10:30 am. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship House, 1010 16th St., Alamogordo. Rev. Jack Moffatt officiating. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a scholarship fund.