Tuesday April 29, 2008 MYT 12:54:52 PM

World War II Flying Tigers pilot Dick Rossi dies at 92




FALLBROOK, California (AP) - Dick Rossi, a Flying Tigers pilot who gained acclaim for downing six Japanese Zeros during the early days of World War II, died April 17 of pneumonia. He was 92.
Rossi, who earned two presidential citations for his combat prowess, died of pneumonia at his home in Fallbrook, north of San Diego, his wife said.
In November 1941, Rossi joined a secret volunteer group of pilots who would travel to China and help defend it against the Japanese. Officially known as the American Volunteer Group, the Chinese referred to the pilots as the Flying Tigers for their aerial combat skills.
In December 1941, Rossi and his squadron first engaged the Zeros over Kunming, China, and shot down three of the planes.
During their months of combat, the Flying Tigers shot down 296 Japanese planes.
In July 1942, seven months after the United States entered the war, the group was disbanded.
Rossi spent the rest of the war years working as a pilot for the China National Aviation Corp., delivering supplies from India to China. He made 735 trips over the Himalayas.
After the war ended, Rossi spent the next 25 years working as a pilot for Flying Tiger Line, a freight carrier.-AP

World War II Flying Tigers pilot Dick Rossi dies at 92

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman

Rest in Peace Dick. He was another whose addy I had but I only wrote to once-wish i'd kept up with writing to him.

PS, he was also President to the Flying Tigers Vets Org for many years.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.