Matthew Edward Duke

Matthew Edward Duke (1914 or 1915 – 12 May 1960) was an American pilot, once married to tobacco heiress Melody Thomson. He eventually turned to making a living off flying anti-Castro Cubans to U.S. exile for $1,000 a job. In May 1960 he was ambushed by police after touching down on Highway 15 west of Havana, and was killed after they opened fire as he attempted to return to the sky.