Robert C. Richardson III
Robert C. Richardson III | |
|---|---|
Richardson in his P-47 Thunderbolt | |
| Birth name | Robert Charlwood Richardson III |
| Born | January 5, 1918 Rockford, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | January 2, 2011 (aged 92) Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Service years | 1939–1967 |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Commands | |
| Wars | World War II |
| Awards | |
| Relations | Robert C. Richardson Jr. (father) |
Robert Charlwood Richardson III (January 5, 1918 – January 2, 2011) was an American military officer of the United States Army Air Corps, and subsequently the United States Air Force, eventually attaining the rank of brigadier general. A leader in the early days of the US Air Force, he was a renowned expert in tactical nuclear warfare, NATO, and military long range planning. He was known for the Laconia Incident, where he had ordered the sinking of German U-boats saving civilians during a Red Cross-sanctioned rescue operation, resulting in the death of 1,658 to 1,757 people.