Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful photograph of 3rd Squadron Hell's Angels, Flying Tigers, over China, which was photographed in 1942 by AVG pilot Robert T. Smith. This is a copy of that original picture and was signed by 3 AVG “Flying Tiger” pilots. The picture is in a wonderful frame that measures approximately 16 ¼” x 13 ¼”.
The Signatures Present:
- Tex Hill: David Lee "Tex" Hill was an American fighter pilot and triple flying ace. He is credited with 12+1⁄4 victories as a squadron leader with the Flying Tigers and another six as an officer in the United States Army Air Corps in World War II. He retired as a brigadier general.
- Bob Layher: Like so many young Americans of his generation, Bob put country before self and joined the U.S. military. Bob proudly fought for freedom during World War II, though he began serving prior to the start of the war. He was among those who resigned their U.S. military positions in order to volunteer for a covert operation with the Chinese Air Force before the U.S. entered the war. For his service in China as a member of The Flying Tigers, Bob was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
- Dick Rossi: John R. Rossi grew up predominately in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley. He was working his way through college by taking jobs on the ships that sailed out of San Francisco. After his first trip he was able to join the Merchant Marine Union. He entered the Navy’s flight program in the fall of 1939. After earning his Navy wings and commission in 1940, he was assigned as flight instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station, FL.
Dick resigned his commission in 1941 to join the American Volunteer Group (AVG) under the command of Col. Claire Chennault. Dick began his flight training with the AVG upon arrival into Burma, Nov. 12, ’41. He had not yet completed his P-40 flight training when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The Second time Dick fired the guns of a P-40 was on his first combat mission in January, 1942 where he engaged in his heaviest combat over Rangoon, Burma. Although attached to the First Squadron, Dick was also temporarily assigned to both the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons.
A lovely photograph ready for further research and display.
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