This is a specially produced bookplate bearing the genuine signature of Robert Cardenas. It features a pencil portrait drawing of Cardenas by Steve Teasdale, produced on sepia recycled card. The bookplate measures approximately 20x13cm and would fit most books. Bob Cardenas began his military career as a Private in the Army Coast Artillery. He applied for flight training and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in July of 1939. He Flew B-24s in Europe and was shot down over Germany. He escaped and made his way to Switzerland, and eventually France prior to D-Day. Upon his return to America, Bob became an experimental test pilot. He flew more than thirty different types of aircraft. Bob served as operations officer for the XS-1 supersonic project, and he piloted the B-29 that launched Chuck Yeager into the realm on supersonic flight on October 14, 1947. Later in 1947 Bob received word that he would participate in testing of the B-35 and YB-49 'flying wing' projects at Muroe Air Force Base. He was the Chief Air Force Test Pilot on the jet powered YBA9, and he pointed out the similarity of design and size between the flying wing and the B-2 bomber. During the Korean War he tested jet fighters and bombers at both Wright Field and Edwards Air Force Base. Later he would serve as Commander of the 18 th Tactical Fighter Wing on Okinawa at the time of the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Cardenas Flew the F- 105 Thunder Chief during the Vietnam War as Commander of a Squadron based in Korat, Thailand