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| First Name: |
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| Born/Died |
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| Victories |
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| Decorations: |
| Distinguished Flying Cross, Presidential Unit
Citation |
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| Pre AVG: |
| His schooling began in San Saba and
Cherokee, TX. He attended his senior year at Brownwood High
School, graduating in 1936. He enrolled at Texas A&M and
obtained his private pilots license while in college. He
paid for part of his flying lessons by telling his parents that
his "Aggie" boots had been stolen. The replacement
money went to finishing his license. He joined the U.S. Army
Air Corps in 1938 and entered flight training in San Antonio,
TX. He earned his wings and became a flight instructor at
Barksdale Airfield, LA. |
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| AVG Service: |
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Matt signed up with the CAMCO organization In the summer of
1941 and was accepted by the recruiter while in Louisiana. He
was now a member of the American Volunteer Group. He posed
as a traveling salesman aboard the Jaegersfontaine, a Dutch ship,
and made the trip to Rangoon, Burma.
Kirk was a member of the Adam & Eves Squadron as a Flight
Leader and participated in the defense of Rangoon in December
1941. He was wounded by a Japanese fighter pilot's bullet
that shattered the canopy glass and creased his forehead before
entering the instrument panel. When the Flying Tigers were
officially disbanded on July 4, 1942, he volunteered to stay an
additional fourteen days to help Chennault train the new Army Air
Corps pilot replacements.
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| Post AVG, WWII: |
| Upon arrival back in the States, a big celebration
and parade was held in San Saba for the town's returning
hero. He resumed his flying career as a pilot for American
Export Airlines and later worked for Consolidated Aircraft (Convair)
in Fort Worth, TX. |
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| Post War Career: |
He returned to San Saba to manage the family ranch
until his death on 21 August, 1974
-Contributed by Matt's (Dub's) twin sister, Ms. Ida Jeane
Bryant |
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