Some sections of audio are heavily affected by static and distortion, which obscures much of Rossi’s dialogue. These sections are noted in the transcript.
]]>In this six-part oral history, fighter ace John Richard Rossi discusses his military service with the American Volunteer Group during World War II. In part five, he discusses his wartime experiences with the AVG’s 1st Pursuit Squadron in the China-Burma-India Theater. He provides an overview of the group’s movements and missions, beginning with his arrival in Burma in November 1941 and concluding with the group’s disbandment in July 1942. He also touches on his personal history and his post-AVG career with the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) and other airlines.
Some sections of audio are heavily affected by static and distortion, which obscures much of Rossi’s dialogue. These sections are noted in the transcript.
John Richard Rossi was born on April 19, 1915 in Placerville, California. After a tour with the Merchant Marine, he joined the United States Navy Reserve and graduated from flight training in 1940. The following year, Rossi resigned his commission in order to join the newly formed American Volunteer Group in Burma. He served with the AVG’s 1st Pursuit Squadron until the group disbanded in 1942, then joined the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) as a transport pilot. By the end of the war, he had flown over 700 trips across the “Hump” between India and China. Rossi remained in China after the end of World War II, flying for Civil Air Transport and the Central Aviation Transport Corporation. In 1948, he returned to the United States and joined the Flying Tiger Line. He also served as president of the American Volunteer Group/Flying Tigers Association. Rossi retired in 1973 and passed away in 2008.
Inscription: "Speshneff, Bill, Hortense [Effie Hortense Barr], JoAnn [Barr], Carol Somers, Wolfsberg, Leonard, Stuart S., Julius [A. Barr]. Hankow. Xmas 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
]]>Photographic group portrait of the Barr family and others standing in front of a building, Hankou, China, circa December 1935. The people are partially identified by first or last name in the inscription.
Inscription: "Speshneff, Bill, Hortense [Effie Hortense Barr], JoAnn [Barr], Carol Somers, Wolfsberg, Leonard, Stuart S., Julius [A. Barr]. Hankow. Xmas 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
Inscription: "Katherine Litchfield, Jo Ann, Amah, [Eillein?]Cokely, Kay Cole, Hortense, Gene, Julius. Nan Hu. Sept. 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
]]>Photographic group portrait of the Barr family and others standing in front of a Boeing Model 247D aircraft, Nan Hu Field, Wuchang, China, circa September 1935. From left to right: Katherine. Litchfield, JoAnn Barr, Amah, [Eillein?] Cokely, Kay Cole, Effie Hortense Barr, Gene Barr, and Julius A. Barr.
Inscription: "Katherine Litchfield, Jo Ann, Amah, [Eillein?]Cokely, Kay Cole, Hortense, Gene, Julius. Nan Hu. Sept. 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
Inscription: "Barr. Lanchow. Dec. 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
]]>Photograph of a Julius A. Barr and two unidentified men standing outside a building, Lanzhou, China, circa December 1935.
Inscription: "Barr. Lanchow. Dec. 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
Inscription: "Ruins of temple. Lanchow. Dec. 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
]]>Photograph of a damaged temple in Lanzhou, China, circa December 1935. The damage was caused by an explosion of a government-owned arsenal.
Inscription: "Ruins of temple. Lanchow. Dec. 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
Inscription: "Cole. Lanchow. Dec. '35."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
]]>Photograph of Frank H. Cole and an unidentified man standing in front of a damaged building, Lanzhou, China, circa December 1935. The damage was caused by an explosion of a government-owned arsenal.
Inscription: "Cole. Lanchow. Dec. '35."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
Inscription: "Lanchow after explosion."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
]]>Photograph of people and damaged buildings in Lanzhou, China, circa 1935. The damage was caused by an explosion of a government-owned arsenal.
Inscription: "Lanchow after explosion."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
Inscription: "Ruins from arsenal explosion. Lanchow. Dec. 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
]]>Photograph of Julius A. Barr and others in front of damaged buildings, Lanzhou, China, circa December 1935. The damage was caused by an explosion of a government-owned arsenal.
Inscription: "Ruins from arsenal explosion. Lanchow. Dec. 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
Inscription: "Barr. Ruins from arsenal explosion Lanchow Dec. 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
]]>Photograph of Julius A. Barr and an unidentified man in front of a damaged building, Lanzhou, China, circa December 1935. The damage was caused by an explosion of a government-owned arsenal.
Inscription: "Barr. Ruins from arsenal explosion Lanchow Dec. 1935."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
Inscription: "Results of Lanchow explosion."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.
]]>Oblique aerial photograph of Lanzhou, China, showing damage caused by an explosion of a government-owned arsenal, circa October 1935.
Inscription: "Results of Lanchow explosion."
Part of a photograph album related to Julius A. Barr's personal life and flying career in the United States and China, circa 1934-1935.