Richard C. Sanders

Richard Condie Sanders (August 19, 1915 – September 20, 1976) was the youngest general officer in the history of the United States Air Force.

He was with the 5th Infantry Brigade on Civilian Conservation Corps duty at Camp Soda Springs, Yakima, Washington, from July to September 1938, when he began his primary flying training at Randolph Field, Texas.

Upon graduation from the Air Corps Primary Flying School, he went to Kelly Field, Texas, for advanced training, and upon graduation from the Air Corps Advanced Flying School in September 1939, was assigned to Mitchell Field, Long Island, N.Y., as assistant squadron adjutant, 18th Reconnaissance Squadron.

He later served at Langley Field, Virginia, and Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina, with the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron as intelligence and engineering officer.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in January 1943, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy in the Middle East Theater.

Richard C. Sanders.
A meeting, less than a month before the Normandy landings , of (from left to right) Brigadier General Richard C. Sanders, CG of the 100th Fighter Wing; Major General Ralph Royce , then deputy chief of staff for the Ninth Air Force; Lord Trenchard , Marshal of the Royal Air Force ; Brigadier General Otto P. Weyland , CG of the XIX TAC.