Welcome to the Douglas Matheson Squadron website! Douglas Matheson is located at the University
of Washington in connection with Air Force ROTC Detachment 910. Please browse the site to learn
more about the activities and members of our squadron. Currently the site is being updated, so some
of the information may be missing. Please bear with us as these changes are being made.
The first Arnold Air Society Squadron at UW Detachment 910 was founded by cadets in 1949. The squadron became known as B-1, but later became the Douglas Matheson squadron in honor of one of its previous members. Originally born in Alberta, Canada, Douglas Matheson moved to the Seattle at the age two. After graduating from UW with a degree in Sociology, he went to flight school and earned his pilot’s license. As a 1st Lieutenant he was a member of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing. While stationed in Korea, he was killed in action in his F-84F on April 9th, 1951.
The Douglas Matheson Squadron today carries on the legacy left behind by its previous members. It has served the community well and developed strong and service oreinted leaders. Throughout the years the squadron has earned a number of awards and recognitions to include:
The Maryland Cup in 1984 for being the outstanding large squadron for that year.
In 1994 selected to be the Arnold Air Society National Headquarters.
The Hagan Trophy at the 2006 NATCON. The Hagan Trophy is sponsored by the Captain Frank S. Hagan Squadron of LSU and is presented to the outstanding medium squadron (15-25 active members).
At the most previous NATCON (2010) our squadron was awarded the Darby Award for the Best Joint National Project for our work with the Nature Consortium in and around the Greater Seattle area.
The Arnold Air Society is a professional, honorary service organization advocating the support of aerospace power. The "service" aspect is perhaps the foremost in the mind of many members, because of the society's continuing contributions to our campuses, our communities, and our corps—but it should always be remembered that our primary mission is to improve ourselves as future Air Force officers.
The following three objectives were adopted by AAS to enhance the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) and the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), and to project the image of the United States Air Force on the university campus and in the surrounding community.
To create a more efficient relationship among Air Force officer candidates, in particular within the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Function: To provide opportunities for a greater interaction amoung collegiate level Air Force officer candidates and to encourage increased communication with Air Force officers and leaders in national defense, government, and industry.
To aid in the development of effective Air Force officers.
Function: To provide more opportunities for Air Force officer candidates to exercise leadership, management, organizational, and public relations skills.
To further the purpose, traditions, and concepts of the United States Air Force.
Function: To provide opportunities for officer candidates to participate in campus and community service activities, demonstrating the close relationship between civilian and military institutions.