Richard Overton Hunziker

Richard Overton Hunziker (6 July 1916 – 29 May 1971) was a decorated World War II fighter pilot and later United States Air Force major general. He played a significant role in the Cold War and commanded operations at Project Crested Ice.[1]

General

Richard Overton Hunziker
Born(1916-07-06)July 6, 1916
Los Angeles, California
DiedMay 29, 1971(1971-05-29) (aged 54)
Topatopa Mountains, California
Ashes in the
Pacific Ocean
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Air Force
RankMajor general
Service number18059512
Battles/warsWorld War II - Mediterranean Sea
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters
Commendation_Medal
Distinguished Unit Citation
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 8 battle stars
French Croix de guerre with palm and star
Spouse(s)Margaret ("Maggie") Bailard

Early life and career

Richard Hunziker was born to Eugene Phillip ("E.P.") Hunziker Sr. and Jane Hunziker, along with siblings Joanne ("Jody") Burns, Eugene Phillip Jr., and Frank P. Their father owned and operated Hunziker Construction Co. Richard graduated from Tucson High School in 1935 and from the University of Arizona in 1948, receiving the UA Alumni Military Service Award in 1969.[2][3] Richard married Margaret Bailard, also a University of Arizona alumni.[4][5]

U.S. Air Force

World War II
65th Fighter Squadron Emblem, depicted on Hunziker's P-47

Hunziker enlisted on 6 Jan 1942 in the Army Air Forces and received his commission at Moore Field as second lieutenant and pilot's wings later that year.[6] During World War II, he flew 203 combat missions as a P-40 Warhawk and P-47 Thunderbolt pilot with the 65th Fighter Squadron, part of the 57th Fighter Group, over Africa, Italy, Sicily, Malta, and Corsica. On Palm Sunday, 18 Apr 1943, Second Lieutenant Hunziker was a rookie on his second combat mission, flying the P-40F 'No 61' as wingman for his squadron commander over North Africa. Hunziker became separated from his commander but shot down his first plane, a Junkers Ju 52.[7] On 12 Jan 44, Hunziker claimed another kill, a Messerschmitt Bf 109.[8][9] Hunziker was a jet rated pilot with more than 6,800 flying hours and held the senior missileman badge.[10] In May-June, 1944, Captain Hunziker commanded the 65th Fighter Squadron, stationed at Alto airfield, Corsica, and then became the 57th FG operations officer.[11][12]

Cold War
Seal of the U.S. Air Force

After the war, Hunziker commanded fighter and bomber groups and then wings. In June 1948, he was assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe as a squadron commander and deputy commander, 36th Fighter Group, and commander of the 86th Fighter Group in Germany. From 6 Mar-18 Oct 1951, Col. Hunziker commanded the 86th Fighter-Bomber Group (assigned to the 86th Fighter Wing) stationed for at least part of the time at Giebelstadt AB, Germany.[13] In November 1951, Hunziker was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as director of operations, 42nd Air Division, Bergstrom AFB, Texas.[14] From 4 Aug 1952 to 22 Apr 1954, Col. Hunziker commanded the 12th Fighter-Escort Wing (renamed the 12 Strategic Fighter Wing during Hunziker's command). During this period, the 12th provided fighter escort and air defense for SAC bomber forces, was stationed at Bergstrom AFB but was deployed at Misawa AB, Japan, 15 May-10 Aug 1953.[15] In May 1954, Col. Hunziker assumed command of the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing at Dow AFB, Maine and transferred the wing to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma on 20 March 1955.[14][16]

Hunziker graduated from the National War College in 1958 and became director of material for the SAC's Second Air Force at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. In July 1960, Col. Hunziker assumed command of the 21st Air Division at Forbes AFB, Kansas[17] and then the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division at Ellsworth AFB, SD. From Aug 1962 to Jan 1965, Brigadier General Hunziker was deputy commander of the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division at Vandenberg AFB, California.[18] In January 1965, he resumed command of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division, Ellsworth AFB and was named deputy director of operations at SAC.[19][20][21] In July 1965, General Hunziker was assigned to SAC headquarters at Offutt AFB, Nebraska and was named deputy chief of staff for material in Oct 1966.[10][22][23] On April 21, 1966, the U.S. Senate confirmed Hunziker's promotion to Major General.[24][25][26] He was named deputy inspector general for inspection and safety with headquarters at Norton AFB in May 1968.[14]

General Hunziker is perhaps best known publicly for directing Project Crested Ice, recovering four nuclear weapons lost during a 1968 B-52 crash in Greenland, and attempting to remediate the surrounding area.[27][28] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for this effort.[2][10] In May 1968, Hunziker became the Air Force's Deputy Inspector General for Inspection and Safety.

Personal life

Richard and Margaret Hunziker had two sons, John Richard Hunziker and Russell Lawrence Hunziker.

Retirement

General Hunziker retired on 1 Sep 1969 at the former Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino County, California.[10][29] On 29 May 1971, Hunziker was flying his Cessna 182, returning Margaret and him from Calexico to Santa Barbara, when the small plane crashed on Tapa Mountain, near Hines Peak in the Topatopa Mountains. Both Richard and Margaret were killed. The plane remains intact and undisturbed at the crash site.[2] [30]

Notes
  1. "Hunziker, Richard O. (Richard Overton), 1916-1971". Full Person Authority Record. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved 21 Sep 2014. Richard Overton Hunziker (b. July 6, 1916, Los Angeles, Calif.-d. May 29, 1971), U.S. Air Force officer and pilot, received his commission and pilot's wings in 1942 after graduating from university. During World War II, he served as a P-40 and P-47 fighter pilot in Africa, Italy, France, Sicily, Malta, and Corsica with the 57th Fighter Group, completing more than 200 combat missions. Following the War, he was a squadron and deputy commander, 36th Fighter Group, and commander, 86th Fighter Group in Germany. During the 1950s, General Hunziker was assigned to the Strategic Air Command in various locations. In the 1960s, he was commander of the 21st and 821st Strategic Aerospace Divisions (SADs), and deputy commander of the 1st SAD. He became deputy inspector general for inspection and safety in 1968 and retired the following year.
  2. "Hunziker Air Search Expanded" (jpg). Tucson Daily Citizen. Tucson, AZ. 2 June 1971. p. 18. Retrieved 31 Aug 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Source of widely used photograph.
  3. "Military Awards Will Be Given to 2 UA Alumni" (jpg). Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, AZ. 22 May 1969. p. 11. Retrieved 24 Apr 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Two generals who are graduates of the University of Arizona will receive Alumni Military Service Awards at the ROTC Joint Commissioning ceremony May 31. They are Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard O. Hunziker, deputy inspector general at Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, Calif., and Army Brig. Gen. Jefferson J. Irvin ***. Hunziker, a fighter pilot in World War II and a 1948 graduate of the UA, has commanded two Strategic Air Divisions.
  4. "E.P. Hunziker Dies" (jpg). Tucson Citizen. Tucson, AZ. 18 Jun 1980. p. 37. Retrieved 17 Aug 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "HUNZIKER, Eugene "Gene" Phillip, Jr". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, AZ. 10 Jul 2017. Retrieved 17 Aug 2019.
  6. "Richard O Hunziker : Enlistment Record from WW2". World War 2 U.S. Army Enlistment Archive. Crafted Knowledge. Retrieved 21 Sep 2014.
  7. Molesworth, Carl (2011). 57th Fighter Group - First in the Blue. Aviation Elite Units. 39. Osprey Publishing. p. 44. ISBN 9781849083379. Retrieved 21 Sep 2014. Also, page 53 shows a photo of his plane: "P-47D-15 42-75724 Joanne of Capt Richard O Hunziker,65th FS, Amendola, Italy, April 1944". Page 94 displays a photo with the caption: "Maj Richard O Hunziker points to the 'Thunderbomber' design he painted on the tail of his P-47D 'No 61' 42-75724. Hunziker fought a long war in the 57th FG, scoring a victory during the Palm Sunday 1943 mission shortly after joining the 65th FS, and continuing to fly until VE Day. He was promoted to group operations officer in the summer of 1944." In April 1943, the 57th Fighter Group was still with the 9th Air Force.
  8. "Honor Roll 57th Fighter Group 1941- Jul 45". RAF 112 Squadron. 23 Feb 2010. Retrieved 22 Sep 2014.On 18 Apr 43, Hunziker (Service #O-664187, 65 fighter squadron, 57th fighter group, 9th air force) downed a Junkers Ju 52. By the date of his second kill (12 Jan 44) the 57th Fighter Group has been re-assigned to the Twelfth Air Force. On 7 Jun 44, Hunziker was flying with William Swartz in a P-47D-16-RE Thunderbolt (same squadron, group, and air force), when Swartz was killed in action.
  9. Bernstein, Jonathan (2012). P-47 Thunderbolt Units of the Twelfth Air Force. Combat Aircraft. 92. Osprey Publishing. p. 89. ISBN 9781849086721. Retrieved 21 Sep 2014..
  10. "Gen. Hunziker retires, ends 28 year Air Force career" (jpg). Redlands Daily Facts. Redlands, CA. 28 August 1969. p. 3. Retrieved 31 Aug 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. Robertson, Patsy (30 Jul 2009), "65 AGGRESSOR SQUADRON (ACC)", U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency, archived from the original on 2012-06-30
  12. Molesworth, Carl (2013). 57th Fighter Group: First in the Blue. Aviation Elite Units. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 193. ISBN 9781472801951. P-47D-15 42-75724 JOANNE of Capt Richard O Hunziker, 65th FS, Amendola, Italy, April 1944. Dick Hunziker began his combat career with the 65th FS in April 1943, just in time to score a Bf 109 destroyed on the Palm Sunday mission. A year later he was a flight commander, flying this Thunderbolt, and he commanded the squadron during May-June 1944 before becoming the 57th FG operations officer. Hunziker had completed 200 combat missions by the end of the war, and he subsequently enjoyed a distinguished career in the USAF, retiring with the rank of major general in 1969.
  13. Robertson, Patsy (27 Apr 2010), "86 OPERATIONS GROUP (USAFE)", U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency, archived from the original on 2011-09-22
  14. "MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD O. HUNZIKER". Retrieved 24 Apr 2016.
  15. Robertson, Patsy (23 Apr 2007), "12 FLYING TRAINING WING (AETC)", U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency
  16. "UA Graduate High Scorer" (jpg). Tucson Citizen. Tucson, AZ. 7 Nov 1956. p. 25. Retrieved 17 Aug 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Col. Richard O. Hunziker, a former Tucsonian who commands the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing, Strategic Air Command, now tenanted at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., was named high scoring team captain at USAF Fighter Weapons Meet at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. A graduate of Tucson High School in 1935 and the University of Arizona in 1948, Hunziker is the brother of E. P. Hunziker, owner of the E. P. Hunziker Construction Co. An Air Force veteran of 14 years service, which includes 203 combat mission during World War II, Hunziker has been commander of the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing for the last two and one-half years. For high services in World War II, Hunziker received the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Croix de Guerre with battle star. [With Photo]
  17. "Document Detail for IRISNUM= 00463699". Retrieved 23 Sep 2014. ON 16 JUL 60, COL RICHARD O. HUNZIKER ASSUMED COMMAND OF 21 AD
  18. "Air Base To Play Vital Role" (jpg). The Times Recorder. Zanesville, OH. 1 Mar 1963. p. 5. Retrieved 4 May 2017 – via Newspapers.com. "Our training program is going much better than expected," says Brig. Gen. Richard Hunziker, deputy commander of the 1st Aerospace Division.
  19. "Hunziker Assigned Here" (jpg). Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, SD. 17 Dec 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 24 Dec 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Strategic Air Command Headquarters has announced that Brig. Gen. Richard O. Hunziker will come to Ellsworth Air Force Base to replace Gen. McKee. The incoming commander is now deputy commander of the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
  20. "New Division Commander Arrives" (jpg). Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, SD. 8 Jan 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 24 Dec 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Senior commanders and members of the division staff were on hand Thursday afternoon to greet Brig. Gen. Richard O. Hunziker (in flight jacket) when he arrived at Ellsworth Air Force Base. In formal ceremonies Friday afternoon, Hunziker took over command of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division from Maj. Gen. Seth J. McKee who becomes director of plans at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C. (Air Force Photo
  21. "Hunziker Succeeds Gen. McKee" (jpg). Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, SD. 8 Jan 1965. pp. 1–2 – via Newspapers.com. Hunziker arrived at Ellsworth Thursday afternoon coming from Vandenberg AFB where he has been deputy commander of the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division. *** A native of Los Angeles, Hunziker was graduated from high school in Tucson, Ariz., and attended the University of Arizona. His college career was interrupted by service in World War II but he was graduated [p.2] from the University of Arizona in 1948. He received his wings and commission as an Air Force officer in 1942 and flew 203 combat missions as a fighter pilot in Africa, Italy, France, Sicily, Malta and Corsica. Following the war Hunziker was wing commander at several locations in Europe and the U.S. Following completion of the National War College in 1958, he was named director of material for SAC's Second Air Force at Barksdale AFB, La. In 1960 he was assigned as commander of the 21st Strategic Aerospace Division at Forbes AFB in Kansas and in August of 1962 was assigned as deputy commander of the aerospace division at Vandenberg AFB. Hunziker is married to the former Margaret Bailard of Santa Barbara, Calif. The couple has two sons, John and Russell.
  22. "SAC Headquarters Name Ellsworth Officer to Post" (jpg). The Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, IA. 26 Jun 1965. p. 10. Retrieved 7 Oct 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Strategic Air Command headquarters announced Friday that Brig. Gen. R. O. Hunziker, commander of the 821st Aerospace Division, Ellsworth Air Force Base, Rapid City, S.D., has been named deputy director of operations at SAC. He replaces Maj. Gen. Alvan C. Gillem II, who became SAC director of operations when Maj. Gen. Harold E. Humfeld was named deputy commander of SAC's 15th Air Force. Gen. Hunziker was a fighter pilot in Africa, Italy, Sicily, Malta and Corsica during World War II.
  23. "Hunziker Transferred to SAC Headquarters" (jpg). Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, SD. 28 Jun 1965. pp. 1–2 – via Newspapers.com. Brig. Gen. Richard O. Hunziker, commander of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division at Ellsworth Air Force Base for the past six months, has been named deputy director of operations for Strategic Air Command. The Department of Air Force order transferring Hunziker to SAC headquarters at Omaha is effective July 15.
  24. The Yankee Doodle (PDF), 23 May 1966, p. 6, retrieved 17 Aug 2019
  25. "Hunziker Is SAC Director Of Materiel" (jpg). Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, SD. 22 Sep 1966. p. 14. Retrieved 24 Dec 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Maj. Gen. Richard O. Hunziker, former commander of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division at Ellsworth Air Force Base, has been named director of material for Strategic Air Command effective Oct. 1.
  26. "General to Speak At Hill AFB" (jpg). The Daily Herald. Provo, UT. 14 Mar 1967. Retrieved 3 Sep 2018 – via Newspapers.com. A noon luncheon at Hill Air Force Base Wednesday will feature as speaker, Maj. Gen. Richard O. Hunziker, deputy chief of staff for material, Strategic Air Command. *** Hunziker has served as deputy director of operations at SAC headquarters at the Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and during World War II he was a fighter pilot in Europe and North Africa.
  27. "H-Bomb Parts Are Recovered" (jpg). Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. Oshkosh, WI. 26 Jan 1968. p. 1. Retrieved 2 Jan 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Searchers working on nuclear contaminated ice found parts of the hydrogen bombs lost in the crash of a B52 bomber, U.S. Air Force officials said today. Maj. Gen. Richard O. Hunziker said his 40-man search team found bomb parts on top of the 6-to 9-foot ice that covers the sea off this Danish island. *** Hunziker, deputy chief of staff for material at Strategic Air Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., was dispatched with his search team to find the bombs.
  28. "Pentagon to Continue Search for H-Bombs" (jpg). Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. Oshkosh, WI. 29 Jan 1968. p. 3. Retrieved 2 Jan 2017 – via Newspapers.com. The Pentagon says that while there's no hope any of four lost hydrogen bombs will be found intact, the search will be pressed for months if necessary in frigid Greenland. *** Maj. Gen. Richard O. Hunziker, director of the 24-hour-a-day recovery effort, said the four chutes were in a compact area near the dark burn marks on the ice where the B52 bomber crashed a week ago.
  29. "Hunziker to Retire" (jpg). Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, SD. 6 Jul 1969. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com. RECEIVES AWARD - Maj. Gen. Richard O. Hunziker, former commander of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division at Ellsworth Air Force Base, recently received an Alumni Military Service Award from the University of Arizona. Hunziker, deputy inspector general for inspection at Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, Calif., interrupted his undergraduate career at the University of Arizona to enter the Air Force in December, 1941. He completed work for his degree after World War II service as a fighter pilot. Hunziker will retire from the Air Force on Aug. 31. He and his wife, Maggie, and their sons will live on their ranch in Carpenteria, Calif., 10 miles south of Santa Barbara.
  30. "Hunziker bodies recovered from plane" (jpg). Redlands Daily Facts. Redlands, California. 8 Jun 1971. p. 5. Retrieved 14 Sep 2014 – via Newspapers.com. The bodies of Maj. Gen. Richard O. Hunziker and his wife, Margaret, were recovered from their crashed airplane late yesterday and memorial services will be held tomorrow in Santa Barbara. Hunziker left Calexico Saturday at 3:12 p.m. in his own Cessna 182 and crashed in the mountains about 15 miles north of Santa Paula about 4:30 p.m.

External sources
  • PROJECT STRANGLE, 05/1944. Motion Picture Films from the "Combat Subjects". U.S. War Department, Army Air Forces. May 1944. National Archives Identifier: 3955; Local Identifier: 18-CS-1422; Record Group 18: Records of the Army Air Forces, ca. 1902 - 1964; ARC Identifier: 3955; NAIL Control Number: NWDNM(m)-18-CS-1422. Reel 4: silent. For complete history of the 67th Fighter Group consult caption sheet. Location is Corsica, 29 April 1944. Segment 19: CU Capt Richard O Hunziker as he climbs into cockpit of P-47, crew chief assisting him with parachute.
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