There's more than one way to bring down an opposing fighter, as 1st Lt. Don Lopez learning on December 12, 1943.
The young airman had experienced his first "jing bao" or scramble, just after dawn; soon he and his comrades of the 75th Fighter Squadron were at 6,000 feet over South Central China. Lopez ripped his P-40 into the middle of a flight of Japanese "Oscars" and quickly engaged one of them. The American and Japanese pilots flew directly at one another, firing steadily and scoring hits. Lopez expected his opponent to break off but neither did so. Head-on only a few feet apart, the Oscar swerved right . . . too late. Lopez lost three feet off the end of his wing but the Japanese pilot lost substantially more, including control of his aircraft, which plunged toward the earth. Undaunted, Lopez pressed the attack again, helping to bring down another Oscar . . . with his guns.
There's more than one way to bring down an opposing fighter . . . and Don Lopez, retired Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, scored enough victories to join the ranks of "ace" fighter pilots to emerge from World War II.
Artist Bill Phillips' careful research and sure technique present a stunning portrait of a classic warbird . . . while Don Lopez provides the true-to-life drama for an exciting limited edition print.
Countersigned by Don Lopez