caption branch commands relations death_date death_place birth_place awards placeofburial_label battles birth_date placeofburial rank image article_title name
lt col richardson in his p-47 20px 1st fighter wing , 4th fighter wing composite squadron , 365th fighter group , 83rd general father -rrb- robert c. richardson , jr. , usa -lrb- 2 january 2011 alexandria , virginia rockford , illinois legion of merit air medal croix de guerre place of burial world war ii january 5 , 1918 united states military academy cemetery 20px brigadier general rcr3-ww2-p47-45-web . jpg robert c. richardson iii
 robert c. richardson iii
robert c. richardson iii

robert charlwood richardson iii -lrb- 5 january 1918 -- 2 january 2011 -rrb- was an american military officer , first of the united states army air corps , then of the united states air force , eventually attaining the rank of brigadier general .
a leader in the early days of the u.s. air force , he was a renowned expert in tactical nuclear warfare , nato , and military long range planning .
in his early career he is known for his controversial involvement in the world war ii `` laconia incident . ''
