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| Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD O. HUNZIKER |
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MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD O. HUNZIKER
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Retired Sep. 1, 1969.
Died May 29, 1971.
Major General Richard Overton Hunziker is the deputy inspector general for inspection and safety with headquarters at Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, Calif. His directorates of Aerospace Safety and Inspection are located at Norton Air Force Base while the Directorate of Nuclear Safety is at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. He also has an assistant with offices in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
General Hunziker graduated from the University of Arizona at Tucson with a bachelor of science degree. He received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant in 1942.
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. He completed more than 200 combat missions and was credited with shooting down two enemy aircraft.
Following World War II, General Hunziker completed his studies at the University of Arizona. 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.
In November 1951, General Hunziker was assigned to the Strategic Air Command as director of operations, 42nd Air Division, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. In August 1952, he became commander of the 12th Fighter Wing at Bergstrom. In May 1954, he assumed command of the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing at Dow Air Force Base, Maine, later taking it to Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Upon completion of the National War College in 1958, he was named director of materiel for the Second Air Force (SAC) at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
In 1960 General Hunziker was assigned as commander of the 21st Strategic Aerospace Division, Forbes Air Force Base, Kan., and in August 1962 became deputy commander of the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. In January 1965, he was named commander of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
General Hunziker was assigned to Headquarters SAC at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., in July 1965, as deputy director of operations and in October 1966 was named deputy chief of staff for materiel. He became the deputy inspector general for inspection and safety with headquarters at Norton Air Force Base, Calif, in May 1968.
General Hunziker has received the Distinguished Service Medal, America's highest military decoration for non-combat service. His military decorations also include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, and the French Croix de Guerre with Star. He is a jet rated command pilot with more than 6,800 flying hours and wears the Senior Missileman Badge.
General Hunziker is a native of Los Angeles.
(Current as of July 15, 1968)
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