Grussendorf, Richard (Richard A.), 1906-1999

Richard A. Grussendorf (b. 1906, Fergus Falls, Minn.-d. March 22, 1999), U.S. Air Force officer, began his military career as an aviation cadet and was commissioned in the Army Air Corps in 1930. In 1940 he served as operations officer, 4th Composite Group in the Philippines, until appointed Military Attaché for Air at the American Embassy in Chungking, China. During the invasion of Hong Kong, he was imprisoned by the Japanese for some months. In early 1945 he was chief of the Personnel Division of the Air Forces in the Pacific, and later was appointed commander of the 7th Fighter Wing (Hawaii). In the 1950s, General Grussendorf was commander, 10th Air Force, and commander, 6th Allied Tactical Air Force, in Turkey. He retired from active duty in 1960 but was recalled in 1969 to assume the position of chief, Office of Air Force History.