Richard A Peterson
Military
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 3112 - Major Richard A "Pete" Peterson of the 357th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '357, Richard W. Peterson.'
Richard "Pete" Peterson served as a fighter pilot with the 357th Fighter Group. He flew P-51 'Hurry Home Honey'.
Distinguished Flying Cross w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; Air Medal w/ 16 Oak Leaf Clusters; Silver Star; Croix de Guerre; Congressional Gold Medal
15.5 Victories
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Hurry Home Honey
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Hurry Home Honey
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Tangerine
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Hurry Home Honey, Mormon Mustang
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Theberton/Saxmundham
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
26 February 1923 | Bud was born in Hancock, Minnesota, but shortly thereafter the family moved to Alexandria, Minnesota where Bud's father was Superintendent of Schools. He lived only a few blocks from his future wife, Elaine Bjorklund, and they met at the local high school. Bud enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the age of 17 after talking his parents into signing approval. Elaine continued to write to Bud throughout the war, signing off each of her letters "Hurry Home Honey", which became the renowned name of his P51. Bud and Elaine were married in April 1945 on his return from the war. Bud continued to serve in the Army Air Corps through the following fall of 1945 when he was requested to debrief General Adolf Galland of the Luftwaffe about German air tactics. Soon after that, Bud returned to the University of Minnesota to complete his architectural education, and spent the remainder of his life as a widely respected architect. | |
|
Born |
15 July 1951 - 10 September 1958 | Bud and family lived in Tirrenia, Italy, just north of Livorno, and lived for a brief time in Wiesbaden, Germany as well. Bud worked with a private architectural firm designing buildings throughout post-war Europe. | |
|
Born |
31 October 1964 - 15 July 2011 | Bud and Elaine Peterson resided at 2120 West Lake of the Isles Parkway, Minneapolis, Minnesota, with their 3 children, Judd, Licia, and Jody. Elaine continued living there after Bud's death in 2000, until July 2011. Elaine passed away in August 2015. Coincidentally, son Judd Peterson married the daughter of Lt. Carroll Ofsthun, 357th FG, 363rd FS, who flew a P-51 named "The Count" as wingman to Chuck Yeager. |
Revisions
Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.
Brought in information from duplicate record. Source:
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Fighter Aces of the U. S. A., Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force and Aces and Wingmen II; Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45
