Richard Overton Hunziker (6 July 1916 – 29 May 1971) was a decorated World War II fighter pilot and later United States Air Force major general.

[4][5] Hunziker enlisted on 6 Jan 1942 in the Army Air Forces and received his commission at Moore Field as second lieutenant and pilot's wings later that year.

On Palm Sunday, 18 Apr 1943, Second Lieutenant Hunziker was a rookie on his second combat mission, flying the P-40F 'No 61' as wingman for his squadron commander over North Africa.

From 6 Mar-18 Oct 1951, Col. Hunziker commanded the 86th Fighter-Bomber Group (assigned to the 86th Fighter Wing) stationed for at least part of the time at Giebelstadt AB, Germany.

During this period, the 12th provided fighter escort and air defense for SAC bomber forces, was stationed at Bergstrom AFB but was deployed at Misawa AB, Japan, 15 May-10 Aug 1953.

[19][20][21] In July 1965, General Hunziker was assigned to SAC headquarters at Offutt AFB, Nebraska and was named deputy chief of staff for material in Oct 1966.

[14] General Hunziker is perhaps best known publicly for directing Project Crested Ice, recovering four nuclear weapons lost during a 1968 B-52 crash in Greenland, and attempting to remediate the surrounding area.