This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Lopez, Donald Sewell, Sr., Lt Col USAF(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Brooklyn, NYC, NY
Last Address Alexandria, Virginia
Date of Passing Mar 03, 2008
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
He destroyed 5 enemy aircraft, 4 while flying P-40s and 1 in a P-51, during 101 combat missions in China.
After the Air Force, he served on the Apollo and Skylab programs with Bellcomm, Inc., and had a distinguished career with the National Air and Space Museum.
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Donald S. Lopez, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during World War II.
General Orders: Headquarters, 14th Air Force, General Orders No. 33 (1945)
In his later years he was heavily involved in developing and running the National Air and Space Museum.
He spent his last days in the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., near to where his daughter lived.
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications StatsCentral Model North American F-86D Sabre Length 37.50 ft | 11.43 m Width 37.07 ft | 11.30 m Height 14.99 ft | 4.57 m Engine(s) 1 x General Electric J47-GE-27, turbujet engine generating 5,970lbs of thrust. Empty Weight 10,950 lbs | 4,967 kg MTOW 17,000 lbs | 7,711 kg Max Speed 690 mph | 1,110 km/h | 599 kts Max Range 785 miles | 1,263 km Ceiling 50,000 ft | 15,240 m | 9.5 miles Climb Rate 12,000 ft/min (1,344 m/min) Hardpoints 2 Armament 6 x 12.7mm machine guns 24 x 2.75in rockets
External provisions for 2,000 lbs of bombs Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-86 - Original Army Air Force prototypes (3) * YP-86A - Re-engined with GE J47 turbojet. * P-86A - Redesignated from YP-86A * F-86A - Redesignated production model from P-86A; Featured J47-GE-1 turbojet. * F-86D - Complete redesign of base model; Redesignated as night/all-weather aircraft; Hughes fire control system; J47-GE-33 turbojet. * F-86E - Slab tailplane adjustable inflight; J47-GE-27 turbojet * F-86F - J47-GE-27 turbojet; Extended leading edges. * F-86K - Based on F-86D model with J47-GE-17B tubojet. * F-86L - Rebuilt "D" model with updated electronics and larger wing surface
