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 Bell P-59A Airacomet Length 38.16 ft | 11.63 m Width 45.51 ft | 13.87 m Height 12.34 ft | 3.76 m Engine(s) 2 x General Electric I-A turbojet engines generating 2,800lbs of thrust each. Empty Weight 7,937 lbs | 3,600 kg MTOW 12,699 lbs | 5,760 kg Max Speed 413 mph | 664 km/h | 359 kts Max Range 240 miles | 386 km Ceiling 46,194 ft | 14,080 m | 8.7 miles Climb Rate 3,200 ft/min (975.36 m/min) Hardpoints 2 Armament 1 x 37mm cannon 3 x 12.7mm machine guns
External ordnance load of up to 2,000lbs. Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-59 - Initial Prototype Designation; None produced; based on the smaller XP-52 pusher-prop design. * XP-59A - Designation of early batch of AAF development platforms; 3 examples produced. * YP-59 - Pre-Production Model Designation * YP-59A - Fitted with more powerful engine; service testing platform; 13 examples produced. * P-59A - Initial Production Model Designation; 20 examples produced for the AAF. * P-59B - Improved P-59A models; 30 examples produced with a further 50 on order eventually cancelled.
