Air Classics Magazine publishes article by Dick Rossi
Air Classics Magazine Publishes Two-Part Article by Dick Rossi
“Rossi of the Flying Tigers”, Part I, published in the July, 2002, Volume 38, Number 6 issue of Air Classics is an excellent article by the president of the Flying Tigers Association on the AVG. In usual Dick Rossi fashion, he has given an excellent accounting of the whole Group with a great many details on events of the Flying Tigers.
If that weren’t enough, Part II, was published in the August 2002 issue, Volume 38, Number 7 with even more detail and photos. Excellent reading for AVG veterans, family, fans and aviation history enthusiasts. Well Done Dick!!
For those of you wanting copies of these issues here are two sources: Air Classics P.O.Box 16149, North Hollywood, CA 91615, Tel. (818)760-8983; (800)562-9182 and Curtis Circulation Company, 703 River Road, New Milford, NJ 07646, Tel. (201)634-7499
Tex Hill Awarded DSC
Brig. Gen (ret) David “Tex” Hill Awarded Distinguished Service Cross
Flying Tigers Hero and Triple Ace Receives Medal 2nd Only to the Medal of Honor
After nearly 60 years of bureaucracy, General Hill received the award at a banquet in San Antonio attended by a crowd of nearly 300.
Presenting the award was retired General Henry Viccellio who told the crowd “you usually have to go out to the movies to see the good guy win in the end. But tonight. . . we are . . . honoring a man who has set the example for many of us.”
The citation accompanying the DSC reads in part, “. . . while performing bomber escort duty in a P-40 aircraft over enemy held territory in the China Theater . . . Major Hill attacked superior numbers of enemy aircraft rising to intercept the U.S. B-24 bombers. Without hesitation, he turned his aircraft on its back for a high speed dive and placed his aircraft between the enemy fighters and the B-24 bombers. With Exceptional flying ability, Major Hill forced the enemy aircraft to turn from the attack and dive away. With skillful marksmanship, he destroyed one aircraft and severely damaged three others resulting in their probable destruction.”
Tex Hill Wing
CAF Wing Named in Honor of David Lee “Tex” Hill
Announcement: We have now relocated to the South Texas Regional Airport (originally the Hondo Army Airfield) in Hondo, Texas.
The former Nimitz Memorial Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) was renamed the Tex Hill Wing during a ceremony at the Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas, on March 25, 2005. (Ironically, Admiral Nimitz was the one who had signed his certificate when Tex graduated from naval flight training.) A large crowd, which included AVG Third Squadron Flight Leader P. J. Greene and Astronaut Gene Cernan, gathered at the Museum to see Tex receive this latest honor in a long list of accolades. Pictured on the left below during the playing of the national anthem, l. to r. are P.J. Greene, Joe Mitchell, Tex Hill, Mazie Hill, Ted Short, Lefty Gardner, Ollie Crawford, and Bob Rice.
