Paul Ernest Richter Jr. (January 20, 1896 – May 15, 1949) was an American aviation pioneer, co-founder of Standard Air Lines and executive vice president of Trans World Airlines (TWA), operations chief of staff of the Naval Air Transport Service during World War II and chairman of the board, president of TACA Airlines from 1947 to 1949.

While growing up, Richter worked on the family ranch in Wiggins, Colorado, as a "cub" reporter for the Denver Post, and at his father's advertising agency.

[4] In 1925, Richter and Frye earned positions with Hollywood's famous "13 Black Cats", an aviation stunt team for the movie industry.

Aero Corp bought Fuller's business and provided charter services, aerial surveying, sightseeing, flight instruction, and crop dusting.

[6] Richter, Frye and Hamilton founded Standard Airlines in 1927 as a subsidiary of Aero Corp and started scheduled passenger service between Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tucson.

In 1937, Richter and Frye founded "Conquistadores del Cielo" (Conquerors of the Sky), an annual gathering of top airline executives at a dude ranch in Wyoming.

[1] In 1942, Richter reported for duty with the United States Navy and was made lieutenant commander and assistant chief of staff of operations, Naval Air Transport Service.

[13] Richter died on May 15, 1949, at his home in Berkeley, California, from a cerebral hemorrhage[14] shortly after he took a position with the Coca Cola Company.