Richard Allen Peterson

Major Richard A Peterson of the 357th Fighter Group

Nickname(s)| Pete, Bud
Born| (1923-02-26)February 26, 1923
Hancock, Minnesota
Died| June 4, 2000(2000-06-04) (aged 77)
Allegiance| United States
Service/branch| United States Army Air Forces
Years of service| 1942–1945
Rank| Major
Service number| O-739334
Unit| 357th Fighter Group
Battles/wars| World War II
Awards| Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (3)
Air Medal (13)
Croix de Guerre (French)

Richard Allen Peterson (February 26, 1923 – June 4, 2000) was a fighter ace and a major in the United States Army Air Forces.[1][2][3]

## Contents

* 1 Early life and education
* 2 World War II
* 3 Post war
* 4 Awards and decorations
* 5 See also
* 6 References
* 7 External links

## Early life and education[edit]

Peterson was born in Hancock, Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota.[1] He left the university in June 1942 to become an aviation cadet.

## World War II[edit]

After finishing flight training in March 1943, Peterson was assigned to the 357th Fighter Group and had 15.5 air victories and destroyed 3.5 aircraft on the ground.[4] His P-51 Mustang aircraft were named Hurry Home Honey after his wife's letter closing.[2] He is also known for forcing a German pilot to bail out of his aircraft, then shooting him in his parachute. According to Peterson, he did this in retaliation after witnessing that same pilot deliberately shooting American airmen in their parachutes.

## Post war[edit]

After World War II, Peterson returned to the University of Minnesota and obtained a degree in Architecture which became his career.[1]

## Awards and decorations[edit]

Peterson was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 oak leaf clusters, and Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters.[1]

## See also[edit]

* Chuck Yeager
* Bud Anderson
* Leonard K. Carson
* John B. England
* Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d William Hess. America's Top Eighth Air Force Aces in Their Own Words. Zenith Imprint. pp. 143–. ISBN 978-1-61060-702-5.
2. ^ a b Chris Bucholtz (20 December 2012). Mustang Aces of the 357th Fighter Group. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 37–. ISBN 978-1-78200-872-9.
3. ^ Martin W. Bowman (2006). Echoes of England: The 8th Air Force in World War Two. Tempus. ISBN 978-0-7524-3738-5.
4. ^ Jerry Scutts (20 November 2012). Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 174–. ISBN 978-1-78200-675-6.

## External links[edit]

* "Richard A. "Bud" Peterson 1923 - 2000". Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
* "Richard A Peterson". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 2018-06-27.

* v
* t
* e

United States World War II flying aces with 15+ aerial victories

30+|

* Richard Bong (40)
* Thomas McGuire (38)
* David McCampbell (34)

25–29|

* Gabby Gabreski (28)
* Gregory Boyington (28)
* Robert S. Johnson (27)
* Charles H. MacDonald (27)
* George Preddy (26.83)
* Joe Foss (26)
* Robert M. Hanson (25)

20–24|

* John C. Meyer (24)
* Cecil E. Harris (24)
* Eugene A. Valencia (23)
* Lance C. Wade (23)
* David C. Schilling (22.5)
* Gerald R. Johnson (22)
* Neel E. Kearby (22)
* Jay T. Robbins (22)
* Dominic Salvatore Gentile (21.83)
* Fred J. Christensen (21.5)
* Ray Shuey Wetmore (21.25)
* John J. Voll (21)
* Kenneth A. Walsh (21)
* Walker Mahurin (20.75)
* Donald N. Aldrich (20)
* Thomas J. Lynch (20)
* Robert B. Westbrook (20)

15–19|

* Glenn E. Duncan (19)
* Patrick D. Fleming (19)
* Cornelius N. Nooy (19)
* John Lucian Smith (19)
* Alexander Vraciu (19)
* Arthur J. Benko (18.5)
* Marion E. Carl (18.5)
* Leonard K. Carson (18.5)
* Glenn T. Eagleston (18.5)
* Wilbur J. Thomas (18.5)
* Walter C. Beckham (18)
* Herschel Green (18)
* John C. "Pappy" Herbst (18)
* Charles Older (18)
* Hubert Zemke (17.75)
* John B. England (17.5)
* Duane Beeson (17.33)
* John F. Thornell (17.25)
* Gerald W. Johnson (17)
* James S. Varnell Jr. (17)
* John Trevor Godfrey (16.33)
* Bud Anderson (16.25)
* William T. Whisner Jr.  (16.4)
* Douglas Baker (16)
* Bill Harris (16)
* Ira C. Kepford (16)
* Charles R. Stimpson (16)
* George S. Welch (16)
* William D. Dunham (16)
* Don M. Beerbower (15.25)
* Richard A. Peterson (15.25)
* James E. Swett (15.25)
* David Lee "Tex" Hill (15.25)
* Jack T. Bradley (15)
* Samuel J. Brown (15)
* Edward "Porky" Cragg (15)
* Kenneth H. Dahlberg (15)
* James A. Goodson (15)
* Robert W. Foy (15)
* Ralph K. Hofer (15)
* Cyril F. Homer (15)
* Harold L. Spears (15)

* List of United States World War II aces
* List of top World War II aces

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