tex hill (3 Ergebnisse)

First edition of this detailed and richly illustrated tribute to American Volunteer Group's pivotal role in early World War II air combat. Quarto, original blue boards with an inlay of a flying tiger and Claire Lee Chennault, pictorial and cartographic endpapers, illustrated with black and white photographs throughout. Boldly signed on a Flying Tigers bookplate affixed to the verso of the front free endpaper by sixteen members of the Flying Tigers, including: Tex Hill, Ken Jernstedt, Paul J. Greene, Robert T. Smith, Dick Rossi, Erik Shilling, Bob Layher, Ed Rector, twice by Charlie Bond, Robert M. Smith, Edward F. Gallagher, Frank Losonsky, Rolland Richardson, Carl Quick, John Richard Rossi, and Al Kaelin. In fine condition. Rare and desirable. 'Chennault's Flying Tigers: A Commemorative History of the American Volunteer Group' provides a richly illustrated and firsthand account of the legendary First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Republic of China Air Force that fought alongside Chinese forces prior to the U.S. entry into World War II. The volume traces the leadership of General Claire Lee Chennault and the exploits of the AVG pilots, whose tactical innovations and combat success against Japanese air power earned them both military acclaim and popular recognition. Combining veteran recollections, photographs, and historical commentary, the book serves as a commemorative tribute that underscores the strategic and symbolic significance of the Flying Tigers in early Allied resistance in the Pacific.

First edition of this detailed and richly illustrated tribute to American Volunteer Group's pivotal role in early World War II air combat. Quarto, original blue boards with an inlay of a flying tiger and Claire Lee Chennault, pictorial and cartographic endpapers, illustrated with black and white photographs throughout. Boldly signed on a Flying Tigers bookplate affixed to the verso of the front free endpaper by fifteen members of the Flying Tigers, including: Tex Hill, Ken Jernstedt, Paul J. Greene, Robert T. Smith, Dick Rossi, Erik Shilling, Bob Layher, Ed Rector, Charlie Bond, Robert M. Smith, Edward F. Gallagher, Frank Losonsky, Rolland Richardson, Carl Quick, and Al Kaelin. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable. 'Chennault's Flying Tigers: A Commemorative History of the American Volunteer Group' provides a richly illustrated and firsthand account of the legendary First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Republic of China Air Force that fought alongside Chinese forces prior to the U.S. entry into World War II. The volume traces the leadership of General Claire Lee Chennault and the exploits of the AVG pilots, whose tactical innovations and combat success against Japanese air power earned them both military acclaim and popular recognition. Combining veteran recollections, photographs, and historical commentary, the book serves as a commemorative tribute that underscores the strategic and symbolic significance of the Flying Tigers in early Allied resistance in the Pacific.

[Spartenburg 2004, Honoribus]. Brown cloth,NEW, UNUSED copy, many b.w. photos,322p., index,15 x 24 cm., fine dust jacket in Mylar protector, 2nd ptg. FIRST PRIVATELY PRINTED EDITION * * * AUTHOR'S SIGNED PRESENTATION COPY "TEX" HILL * * * . *** **** *** . . AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY THE ACE FIGHTER PILOT OF WORLD WAR 2 . . . MEMBER OF THE "A.V.G." ["AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP"] . . . & FAMOUS "FLYING TIGERS" IN BURMA & CHINA . . * The primary account of David "Tex" Hill and co-author Major Reagan Schaupp, USAF. together with the assistance of Hill's grandson. . With a foreword by fellow "A.V.G." ace fighter pilot and "FLYING TIGER" member, Brigadier General Robert L. Scott, Jr., USAF Retired. See our website for others by Scott. . *** TOGETHER WITH A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT G.W. BUSH: . This copy contains a printed letter from President George W. Bush, dated Mary 17, 2002, The White House on a stiff card, 14.7 x 22.5 cm., which neatly fits inside the book. . The letter is to "Tex" Hill. In the president's words: . "Congratulations on receiving the DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS for valor over enemy held territory in China 60 years ago." With another 10 lines, followed by the printed signature of the president. . On the back of this letter are 2 b.w. photographs with caption: "Tex and Ed Rector accept an invitation to tea at Madame Chiang Kai-shek's home, Taiwan, 1963, showing all three people. . The second photo shows 4 people: "Tex" Hill, Pat Ford, Gertrude Friedrich and John Wayne. They were the stars in the World War 2 movie about the exploits of "Tex" Hill in the "FLYING TIGERS" during the Burma and China days. They are posing at the "Friedrichs' Bear creek Ranch in the Texas Hill country. . TOGETHER WITH AN ADDITIONAL LETTER: There is an additional printed copy of a letter from Major Regan Schaupp, U.S.A.F., "Tex" Hill's grandson, and at the top is a note from "Tex" Hill's wife, Mazie Hill [again all printed copies] both discuss the writing of this book, and how John Wayne did a movie based on "Tex" Hill's "A.V.G." ["American Volunteer Group"] and "FLYING TIGERS" combat action in World War II, in Burma, China and S.E. Asia. . *** This is the autobiographical & primary story of one of the world's greatest Fighter Aces of World War 2, and the first book from the "A.V.G." ["American Volunteer Group"] "Panda Bear" Squadron, later to be known as the famous "FLYING TIGERS" of China. . The co-author was Major Reagan Schaupp U.S.A.F. who wrote this over a period of five years, working with his then 88 year old grandfather, Brigadier General [retired] Davie Lee "Tex" Hill. . With a stunning foreword by Brigadier General Robert L. Scott, Jr., USAF [Retired], a fellow "FLYING TIGER" pilot and close friend. Both flew many combat missions under the leadership of General C.L. Chennault, the commander and creator of the "A.V.G." & "FLYING TIGERS" stationed in Kunming, S.E. China during World War 2. . NOTE: Please visit our website for signed books by Brigadier General Robert L. Scott, Jr., and others by/about "A.V.G." & "FLYING TIGERS" fighter pilots & squadron members. . *** THE DUST JACKET ART: The dust jacket illustrates "TIGER IN THE GORGE" showing "Tex" as he attached the Salween River bridge. The original was drawn by the celebrated "FLYING TIGER" artist John D. Shaw with print title: "FLYING TIGERS" ATTACK THE BRIDGE OVER THE SALWEEN RIVER. . Please see a photo of this posted to our website as cover.jpg. . Contact us for copies of this print, and several others by Shaw showing "FLYING TIGERS" combat action scenes over China & S.E. Asia during World War 2. . *** IN MEMORY: We were saddened to learn that "Tex" Hill passed away on Thursday, October 11, 2007 at the age of 92. . *** BIOGRAPHY OF "TEX HILL [1915-2007]: Born in Korea of missionary parents, raised in Texas. Hill earned his wings as a U.S. Naval Aviator in 1939 and joined the fleet as a Devastator torpedo bomber pilot before joining a Dauntless dive bomber squadron aboard USS Ranger. In 1941, he was recruited with other Navy, Army and Marine Corps pilots to join the 1st "American Volunteer Group" later to be called the "FLYING TIGERS" . He learned to fly the P-40 in the "A.V.G." training program in Burma, and did well as a fighter pilot in the 2nd Pursuit Squadron [Panda Bears] as a flight leader and then squadron commander, becoming one of the top fighter pilot aces of World War 2. . Hill landed his first Japanese air craft "kills" on January 3, 1942 when he downed two "Nates" over the Japanese airfield at Tak, Thailand. He shot down two more on January 23, and became an ace pilot on the 24th when he shot down a fighter and a bomber over Rangoon. . In March, he was made Squadron Leader of the Second Squadron. By the time the "A.V.G." was disbanded in the summer of 1942, Hill was a double ace, credited with 12 ¼ victories. . *** On May 7, 1942, the Japanese Army began building a pontoon bridge across the Salween River, which would allow them to move troops and supplies into China. To stem this tide, 2nd Squadron Leader Hill led a flight of four new P-40Es bombing and strafing into the mile deep gorge. During the next four days, the "A.V.G." pilots flew continuous missions into the gorge, effectively neutralizing the Japanese forces. From that day on, the Japanese never advanced farther than the west bank of the Salween. Claire Chennault would later write of these critical missions, "The American Volunteer Group had staved off China's collapse on the Salween." . After the deactivation of the Flying Tigers in July 1942, Hill was one of only five original "Flying Tigers to join its USAAF successor, the USAAF 23rd Fighter Group, with the rank of major. He activated the 75th Fighter Squadron and later commanded the 23rd Fighter Group as a Colonel. Before returning to the states in late 1944, Hill and his P-51 scratched another six Japanese aircraft. It is believed that he was the first to down a Zero with a P-51. Altogether, Hill was credited with destr.