While Tex was with Ed Rector and Bert Christman in Norfolk Virginia, they bumped into their squadron commander and were introduced to a Navy Commander Irvine. Irvine was a recruiter for Claire Chennault, secretly authorized to gather US military pilots and ground crews for the American Volunteer Group. After a discussion about the current state of affairs in China and the Japanese strangle hold on the entire Chinese coast, Irvine indicated that an overland route between Burma and China was the only lifeline left to the Chinese. Irvine explained that he was authorized by President Roosevelt to recruit pilots to help the Chinese. All three men indicated they were interested and Irvine said he would be back in touch.
Tex Hill at Kyedaw Airfield, Toungoo In 1941, notice that the shark motif has not been painted on the P-40s yet. (Flying Tigers Association)
Americans in Paris: Life and Death Under Nazi Occupation by Charles Glass.
After Tex Hill served aboard the Saratoga for about a year, he was transferred as part of an experiment to test the theory that a lead bomber with a bombsight can signal its squadron following to drop its bombs. If It worked, it would have eliminated the need for bombsights for the rest of the squadron. Tex was transferred to the East Coast aboard the USS Ranger (CV-4). Along with his class mates Ed Rector and Bert Christman, Tex was assigned to Bombing Squadron Four (VB-4). Later, VB-4 was split into two scouting squadrons—VS-41 and VS-42, all three friends were assigned to VS-41.
