First American Ace by Roy Grinnell (AFAA)

Situation:: Raoul Lufbery attains his fifth victory on October 12, 1916 while returning from the Great Raid on the Mauser Works, Oberndorf, Germany.

"First American Ace" is a tribute by the American Fighter Aces to the First American Ace, Raoul Lufbery. 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:

Signatures - Every one an American Ace!:

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 (The last American Ace)

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