By Roy Grinnell

 

First American Ace is a tribute by the American Fighter Aces to Raoul Lufbery, the First American This lithograph was signed by a minimum of 26 Aces who attended the American Fighter Aces Reunion in San Antonio, Texas, July, 2006. Due to health issues, not all of the Aces were able to sign all of the prints, but we can guarantee at least 26 signatures. The signatures include the following Aces:

 

Maj. Gen. "Boots" Blesse USAF (Ret)

4 FG

 

Maj. James L. Brooks

31 FG

 

Col. Dean Caswell USMC (Ret)

VMF-221

 

Maj. George T. Chandler

347 FG

 

Lt. Gen. Charles G. "Chick" Cleveland USAF (Ret)

4 FLW

 

Capt. Robert C. Coats USN (Ret)

VF-18, VF-17

 

Clyde A. Curtin

4 FG

 

Col. Archie G. Donahue USMCR (Ret)

VMF-112, VMF-451

 

 

Lt. Col. James W. Empey USAF (Ret)

52 FG

 

Lt. Col. Joseph M. Forster USAF (Ret)

475 FG

 

 

Brig. Gen. Frank I. Gailer, Jr. USAF (Ret)

357 FG

 

Col. Ralph D."Hoot" Gibson USAF (Ret)

4 FG

 

Dr. Clayton K. Gross

354 FG

 

Cmdr. Willis E. Hardy USN (Ret)

VF-17

 

Brig. Gen. David Lee " Tex " Hill

AVG, 23 FG

 

Col. Arthur F. Jeffrey USAF (Ret)

434 FS 479 FG

 

Cmdr. Dean S. "Diz" Laird USN (Ret)

VF-4

 

Capt. Richard J. Lee

1 FG

 

Col. John S. Loisel USAF (Ret)

475 FG

 

LCDR Norman Mollard USN (Ret)

VF-45

 

Col. James B. Morehead USAF (Ret)

24 FG, 49 FG, 1 FG

 

Col. Ralph S. Parr USAF (Ret)

4 FG

 

Col. Robert J. "Shorty" Rankin USAF (Ret)

56 FG

 

Maj. Alden P. Rigby USAFR (Ret)

352 FG

 

Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie USAFR (Ret)

432 FG

 

Col. Arval J. Roberson USAF (Ret)

357 FG

 

Col. Herbert E. Ross USAF (Ret)

14 FG

 

Maj. Ralph H. Wandrey USAF (Ret)

49 FG

 

Col. Darrell G. Welch USAF (Ret)

1 FG

 

Cmdr. Edward G. "Wendy" Wendorf USN (Ret)

VF-16