running the National Air and Space Museum, during his later years. His publications include two memoirs, Into the Teeth of the Tiger (Smithsonian, 1997, ), and Fighter Pilot's Heaven: Flight Testing the Early Jets (Smithsonian, 2001, ). Lopez died from a heart attack on March 3, 2008, at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, near to where his daughter lived. He is buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Awards and decorations His awards and decorations include: See also Hispanics in the United States Air Force Hispanic Americans in World War II References External links 1923 births 2008 deaths American test pilots American World War II flying aces Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Soldier's Medal Aviators from New York (state) Burials at Arlington National Cemetery People from Brooklyn Smithsonian Institution people United States Air Force officers United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II United States Army Air Forces officers U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni