Foil: 63 Panel: 1 Column: 4 Line: 50

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Nathan T. (Thad) Richardson, Jr.

Thad was the son of Nathan Richardson and Mary Ellen Richardson of Grand Junction, TN.

He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Memphis State College in 1956 and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He received Pilot training in 1958 at Bainbridge, GA , Enid, Ok and Palm Beach, FL where pilot wings and pilot status in a four engine DC-6 aircraft were awarded.

His Air Force assignments included: McGuire AFB, NJ; Dhahran AB, Saudi Arabia; Wheeler AFB, Hawaii; Cam Ranh Bay, AB, Vietman; Bolling AFB, DC; The Pentagon, DC; and Andrews AFB, MD. During his career, he flew over 12,000 hours as a pilot and instructor pilot, participated in numerous crises, including the Berlin corridor blockade and the Cuban Crisis. He served in 11 Vietnam campaigns – from 1962 through 1969 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1969 for delivering critical supplies into Bu Dop, Republic of Vietnam, while under heavy hostile fire. He retired from the Air Force as a Major in 1976 and from the CIA in 1997.