Return of the Lancer by Ronald Wong

Ronald Wong’s dynamic "RETURN OF THE LANCER" depicts an F-15E Strike Eagle of the 333rd Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base flying over the monument at Kitty Hawk (the birthplace of aviation) North Carolina. Above the plane, in the clouds, is the majestic Lancer on horseback, shield and lance ready for battle. Below the image of the print is printed a concise history of the squadron that reads as follows:

"For over 50 years the airmen of the 333d Fighter Squadron “Lancers” have flown five different aircraft in operations around the world. The USAF activated the Lancers on December 8, 1957 at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina and equipped them with the F-100 Super Sabre. Three years later the Lancers transitioned to the F-105 Thunderchief and served admirably during five years of combat operations in Vietnam. The Lancers then returned to the US and trained student pilots in the A-7D Corsair II for five years and then became the first squadron to fly the A-10A and OA-10A Thunderbolt II. The 333d Fighter Squadron returned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in October 1994 and started flying the F-15E Strike Eagle in order to provide the highest quality F-15E aircrew to operational squadrons in support of combatant commander objectives. Known as “The Best Squadron on the World,” the 333d is the largest squadron in the US Air Force and the Lancer airmen are the most experienced aviators in the Combat Air Forces."

Signature:

LtCol Dan "Chewie" BAKKE - During the Gulf War Captain Bakke was the Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) for an F-15E from the 335th Fighter Squadron. On February 14, 1991 Captain Bakke and pilot Captain Tim “TB” Bennett shot down an Iraqi helicopter with a laser guided bomb. This remains the only air-to-air kill in the long and distinguished history of the F-15E Strike Eagle. Lt Colonel Dan Bakke served as the commander of the 333rd Squadron from June 4, 1991 to January 12, 2001.