Karl Paul Kraemer, born in 1933 in Des Moines, Iowa, first became interested in space after reading the book “The Story of Earth and Sky” in the 6th grade. Inspired by his passion for flight to become an Air Force pilot, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1956 after completing the ROTC program of the University of Minnesota in 1956. He graduated from pilot training at Vance AFB, OK in 1957. While stationed at Dover AFB, DE, Karl met Mary Audrée Dias, whom he married in 1959 and with whom he raised three daughters.
During his Air Force career, he received numerous awards and honors, including the Meritorious Service Award, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat Readiness Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
He commanded the flight crew which was the Military Airlift Command’s Most Outstanding Air Crew in the 1970 Combat Airlift Competition. During his career he flew the T-34, T-28, B-25, C-124, C-54 and C-141 aircraft. While flying the C-141, he became one of the first Category II All Weather Landing System qualified pilots, a Select Lead Combat Airlift pilot and a pilot flight examiner. Karl retired as a Command Pilot in 1976, after 20 years of service in the Air Force and more than 10,000 hours flying. He soon returned to school at the Western State University College of Law, from which he earned his J.D., graduating cum laude in 1979.
Though now retired from both his Air Force and legal careers, Karl is active in the local Flight 30 of the Order of the Daedalians, (the National Fraternity of Military Pilots) and the Orange Empire Retired Officers chapter of TROA, currently serving as Treasurer in both local organizations. He remains a strong advocate of aviation and space exploration and is proud to support the National Air and Space Museum.