FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota ag aviation legend Darrol Schroeder of Fargo, N.D., died March 3 at age 88.
Schroeder had a military aviation career but also founded Schroeder Aviation Inc. in his hometown of Davenport, N.D. The company operated a fleet of 12 aircraft. He accumulated 12,000 aerial application hours until he retired in 1989.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum issued a statement recognizing Schroeder for his service in the U.S. Air Force and as a major general in the North Dakota National Guard.
Schroeder enlisted in the North Dakota Air National Guard in 1947 and was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Program in May 1952 after graduating from North Dakota State University. He became an Air Force instructor, flight examiner and test pilot, accumulating more than 5,000 fighter flight hours.
He rejoined the air guard in 1957 and was flight commander and director of group operations for the “Happy Hooligans.” He was promoted to major general in 1980. He was appointed Air National Guard assistant to the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, headquartered in Germany. He retired from the National Guard in 1987.
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Schroeder co-founded the Fargo Air Museum and served as co-chair of the Fargo AirSho from its inception in 1989. He was inducted to the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2009.
