Richard A. Peterson was born in Hancock, Minnesota, and grew up in Alexandria, Minnesota. He graduated from Alexandria High School in 1940 and then attended the University of Minnesota.

After finishing flight training in March 1943, Peterson was assigned to the 364th Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group.

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

On 6 March 1944, he shot down a Focke Wulf Fw 190 over Bordeaux, France, his first aerial victory.

His fifteenth and final aerial victory was claimed on 11 November 1944, when he shot down a Bf 109 over an airfield in Neuhausen, Germany.

After World War II, he left military service in 1946, and returned to the University of Minnesota; obtaining a degree in architecture in 1949.

This profile is one of many newly made P-51 Mustangs made during the last three months, more will follow soon.