In this six-part oral history, fighter ace John Richard Rossi discusses his military service with the American Volunteer Group during World War II. He describes his training with the United States Navy and his wartime experiences with the AVG’s 1st Pursuit Squadron in the China-Burma-India Theater. He also touches on his service with CNAC (China National Aviation Corporation) after the AVG disbanded and on his postwar activities. Topics discussed include his training and service history, military logistics in China and Burma, notable missions, stories about fellow service members, and the AVG’s retreat from Rangoon in early 1942.

Parts one through four are conducted by fellow fighter ace Eugene A. Valencia. Parts five and six were recorded by Rossi on behalf of historian Eric Hammel. Note that the audio in parts five and six may be difficult to hear due to audio distortion present in the original recordings.