Richardson, Robert (Robert Charlwood), 1918-

Robert Charlwood Richardson, III (b. 1918, Rockford, Ill.), U.S. Air Force officer, graduated from West Point in 1939 and received his pilot wings the following year. In 1942 he took command of the 1st Composite Squadron deployed to the South Atlantic, and in 1943 was flight leader in delivering more than 50 P-38s to North Africa via the South Atlantic. Later in World War II, he was assigned to Operations Division, U.S. Strategic Air Force HQ in Europe; Operations Division of HQ, 9th Tactical Air Command, 9th Air Force; and as commander, 365th Fighter Group. In 1949 he became the first Air Force planner on the NATO Standing Group concerned with negotiating an agreement for German rearmament and establishing the Supreme HQ Allied Powers in Europe. In 1961, General Richardson was assigned to the Military Assistance Division, HQ U.S. European Command in Paris, France, and from 1962 to 1964 was deputy standing group representative, NATO. Until his retirement in 1967, he served as deputy commander, Field Command HQ, Defense Atomic Support Agency.