Karl W. Richter

Hero, friend, everyman's man, Lt. Karl W. Richter was born in 1942 in Michigan, the youngest of three children. His sister Betty taught him to pilot aircraft, helping him develop his skill from the time he was a small boy. By the age of 18, Karl had developed into a highly skilled pilot.

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Patriotic by nature and highly intelligent, Karl felt deeply honored to be accepted into the United States Air Force Academy. He graduated in 1964. He would be stationed in Korat, Thailand, where, in his time, he flew more missions than any other pilot over the most dangerous areas of North Vietnam.

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Karl treated everyone with respect, regardless of rank, ethnicity or gender. He is remembered for his generosity, his adventurous nature, his humor and his fearlessness.

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Among the bravest of the brave, he was the youngest pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft in the Vietman conflict of the 1960s, thrilled at his success, but also happy that his fellow pilot ejected safely from the aircraft Richter shot down.

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Karl was not so fortunate and died from injuries he suffered after ejecting from a flaming F-105 aircraft over Laos in 1967. He was not yet 25 years old.

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The public schools administration building in his hometown of Holly Michigan was named in his honor.

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