Richard W. Higgins (August 21, 1922 – April 5, 1957) was a jet pilot with the United States Army Air Forces (USAF).

He gave up his studies at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, to become a pilot of the United States Army Air Forces.

In 1955, the French, British and American occupation of Germany ended, and permission was given to the West German government to re-establish its armed forces.

The engine failure was caused by broken turbine blades in the fourth stage high-pressure compressor.

The new name was approved by the Bavarian State Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs Monika Hohlmeier.

[2] Richard W. Higgins is listed by the German Air Force as one of its four role models - along with Ludger Hölker, Michael Giermeier and Jürgen Schumann.