First Lieutenant Richter was killed on July 26, 1967, while flying an F105 combat mission over North Vietnam. On his 198th combat mission, while flying with a new pilot, Richter spotted a bridge and instructed the trainee to stay above and watch as he rolled his F-105 toward the target. Suddenly, enemy anti-aircraft artillery hit the plane, forcing him to eject. A nearby rescue helicopter picked up his beeper signal and homed in to get the downed pilot. He died from his injuries on the way to the hospital.

1st Lt Richter was born October 4, 1942, the youngest of three children. He graduated from High School in Holly, MI. From a young age he was interested in aviation and by 18 had developed into a highly skilled pilot. He was encouraged by his sister to apply to the Air Force Academy, where he played football, graduating June of 1964.

A statue of Karl Richter was unveiled at Maxwell Air Force Base on June 13, 1992. An inscription from the prophet Isaiah at its base reads: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Here am I. Send me.” These words epitomize Karl Richter’s spirit of commitment–a spirit that underlies the Air Force tradition of valor in the service of this nation.