This collection contains letters, postcards, birthday and holiday cards, and telegrams detailing Matson's experience in the Army Air Corps during World War II. It also contains a calendar with an etching from 1933 and three binders compiled by his mother.

The letters in this collection are from Barney to his parents and sometimes his grandmother. Other letters are from Harold Matson, Barney's father, and a letter from Barney's friend, Al, all sent to his mother. These letters include mundane day to day activities, but some notable topics are mentioned: being in quarantine due to small pox; being put into limited service due to poor eyesight in one eye; going into the air corps as a mechanic; studying hydrolics, electricity, and other engineering classes at the Boeing School of Aeronautics; going to basic training at the Advanced Flying School in Hobbs, New Mexico; where his friends and barracks mates are being stationed; air raid drills; being issued a gas mask and training with it; food shortages; the U.S.O.; flight tests; and more.