Richard Allen Peterson (February 26, 1923 – June 4, 2000) was a fighter ace and a major in the United States Army Air Forces.

Mexican officials confisciated the P-39's ammunition despite an USAAF officer showing up at the crash site upon Peterson's request.

[8][9] In November 1943, the 357th Fighter Group was assigned to European Theater of Operations and was stationed at RAF Leiston in England, where the unit was now equipped with the North American P-51 Mustangs.

By the end of May 1944, he shot eight more enemy aircraft including two shared destructions, bringing his total aerial victories to nine and earned the title of flying ace.

On July 1, he shot down two Bf 109s south of Saint-Quentin, France and later on the same month, he returned to the United States for shore leave.

[6] After World War II, he left military service in 1946, and returned to the University of Minnesota and obtained a degree in architecture in 1949 which became his career.