Nuclear Museum Logo
Nuclear Museum Logo

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Richard H. Campbell

Air Force Veteran, AuthorWashington, DC

ExpertMilitary Veteran
Photograph provided by Scott Muselin

Richard Harold Campbell was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on February 25, 1928. He married Beverly Ropp Campbell. He attended East Fairmont High School, and then West Virginia University. There, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, the Fi Bata Capar honorary, the Tau Beta Pi engineering honorary society, and the track team.

Campbell briefly worked for the Bethlehem Steel Company, before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1950, to serve during the Korean War. During his time in the Air Force, he worked on logistics for the Strategic Air Command and for countries in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). He also served with the U.S. Department of State and the National Air and Space Administration.

In 1965, he received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from George Washington University. Campbell had a 25-year career with the Air Force, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1975. He was then hired by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration (Now the Department of Energy). He served as a project manager for remedial action at uranium mill tailings sites, and as the director of the emergency management program for the nuclear weapon complex. He retired in 1990, but continued to do consulting work.

Campbell was interested in Military History, and published The Silverplate Bombers: A History and Registry of the Enola Gay and Other B-29s Configured to Carry Atomic Bombs. His work focused on the development and delivery of the Silverplate B-29 bomber, combat missions, and the secret work of the 509th Composite Group. 

Richard H. Campbell’s Timeline
1928 Feb 25th Born.

1946 Graduated from East Fairmont High School as Salutatorian.

1950 Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University.

1965 Earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from George Washington University.

1975 Retired from the Air Force.

1990 Retired from the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration.

2005 “The Silverplate Bombers” is published.

2011 Jan 20th Passed away in Tucson, Arizona.

Related Profiles

Stanley Stewart

Los Alamos, NM

Stanley Stewart was the Contracting Officer at Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. After the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Stewart wrote, “The security restrictions on our part of the work [at Los Alamos] have been more rigid than than on any other portion of the entire Manhattan Project.

Jane Wainwright

Los Alamos, NM

Jane Wainwright served in the Women’s Army Corps at Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project.

Ira J. Cotten

Tinian Island

Ira J. Cotten served in the 393rd Bombardment Squadron. 

John A. Schick

Tinian Island

John A. Schick served in the 320th Troop Carrier Squadron.