Gregory Boyington
December 4, 1912 - January 11, 1988
World War II photo of then-Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington
Nickname	"Pappy" "Gramps"
Place of birth	Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Place of death	Fresno, California
Allegiance	USMC
Years of service	1936-1941, 1942-1947
Rank	Colonel
Commands	VMF-214
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor Navy Cross

Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, USMC, (December 4, 1912 - January 11, 1988) was an American fighter ace. Boyington flew initially with the American Volunteer Group ("The Flying Tigers") in the Republic of China Air Force during the Second Sino-Japanese War. He later commanded the famous U.S. Marine Corps squadron, VMF-214 ("The Black Sheep Squadron") during World War II. Boyington became a prisoner of war later in the war. For his U.S. Marine Corps service he was awarded the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (700x930, 157 KB)Major Gregory Pappy Boyington, United States Marine Corps during World War II File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Moh_right. ... Coeur dAlene (IPA: ) is the county seat and largest city of Kootenai County, IdahoGR6. ... Nickname: Location in the state of California County Fresno Government  - Mayor Alan Autry Area  - City 104. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... Marine Attack Squadron 214 (VMA-214) is a United States Marine Corps fighter squadron consisting of AV-8B Harrier (V/STOL) jets. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... December 4th redirects here. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... January 11 is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... The Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, perhaps the most famous ace of all. ... For the airline, see Flying Tiger Line. ... The Republic of China Air Force (中華民國空軍; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó KōngjÅ«n) is the aviation branch of the armed forces of the Republic of China on Taiwan, and is often viewed as one of the most professional and capable branches of the Republic of Chinas armed forces. ... Combatants Republic of China Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Chen Cheng, Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Li Zongren, Xue Yue, Mao Zedong, Peng Dehuai Fumimaro Konoe, Hideki Tojo, Matsui Iwane, Jiro Minami, Kesago Nakajima, Toshizo Nishio, Yasuji Okamura, Umezu Yoshijiro Strength 5,600,000 4,100,000 (including 900... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... Marine Attack Squadron 214 (VMA-214) is a United States Marine Corps fighter squadron consisting of AV-8B Harrier (V/STOL) jets. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor. ... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

Early life

Boyington was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, grew up in the nearby logging town of St. Maries, Idaho and later, Tacoma, Washington where he was a wrestler in high school. He first flew when he was eight years old, with Clyde Pangborn, who later flew the Pacific non-stop. Coeur dAlene (IPA: ) is the county seat and largest city of Kootenai County, IdahoGR6. ... St. ... Nickname: The City of Destiny Location of Tacoma in Pierce County and Washington State Coordinates: Country United States of America State Washington County Pierce Government  - Mayor Bill Baarsma (NP) Area  - City 62. ... Andrell Durden (top) and Edward Harris grapple for position during the All-Marine Wrestle Offs. ... Clyde Upside-Down Pangborn was the first person to fly non-stop across the Pacific Ocean. ... The Pacific Ocean (from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, peaceful sea, bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan) is the largest of the Earths oceanic subdivisions. ...

In 1930, Boyington entered the University of Washington where he participated in the ROTC and became a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was a member of the college wrestling and swimming teams, and at one time held the Pacific Northwest Intercollegiate middleweight wrestling title. He graduated in 1934 with a B.S. in aeronautical engineering. Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. ... A Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. ... ΛΧΑ (Lambda Chi Alpha), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is one of the largest mens general fraternities in North America with more than 250,000 initiated members and chapters (called Zetas) at more than 300 universities. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Aerospace engineering is the branch of engineering that concerns aircraft, spacecraft, and related topics. ...

He spent his summer vacations working in his home state. He worked in a mining camp and a logging camp and with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Protective Association in road construction and lookout work.

He married his first wife, Helene, shortly after his graduation, after which he worked for Boeing as a draftsman and engineer. The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is an aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ... Technical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the practise of creating accurate representations of objects for technical, architecture and engineering drawings. ... Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ...

In his youth, Boyington went by the surname of Hallenbeck, after his step-father. It was not until he decided to apply for flight training that he obtained his birth certificate and learned that his father was one Charles Boyington, and that his parents had divorced when he was a child. The discovery was fortuitous: since there was no record that Gregory Boyington had ever been married, he was free to become a cadet pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Military career

Boyington started his military career in college, as a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps in which he became a cadet captain. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Reserve in June 1934, and served two months of active duty with the 630th Coast Artillery at Fort Worden, Washington. On 13 June 1935, he enlisted and went on active duty in the Volunteer Marine Corps Reserve. He returned to inactive duty on 16 July. The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program of the United States armed forces present on college campuses to recruit and educate commissioned officers. ... In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ... Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... Fort Worden is located in the Victorian seaport of Port Townsend, Washington, United States. ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 168 days remaining. ...

On 18 February 1936, Boyington accepted an appointment as an aviation cadet in the Marine Corps Reserve. He was assigned to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. He was designated a naval aviator on 11 March 1937, then was transferred to Quantico, Virginia, for duty with Aircraft One, Fleet Marine Force. He was discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve on 1 July 1937 in order to accept a second lieutenant's commission in the regular Marine Corps the following day. February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) (also known as the United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR)), a part of the United States Marine Corps, is the largest command in the Marine Corps. ... Naval Air Station Pensacola, The Cradle of Naval Aviation, is a United States Navy base located in Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (71st in leap years). ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Marine Corps Base Quantico, near Fredericksburg, Virginia, is one of the largest United States Marine Corps bases in the world. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... The Fleet Marine Force is a combined command of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which comprises a combination of permanent afloat personnel, stationed on U.S. Navy ships, and ground units of the United States Marine Corps infantry branch. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ...

He was sent to The Basic School in Philadelphia in July 1938; on completion of the course, Boyington was transferred to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Group at the San Diego Naval Air Station. He took part in fleet problems off the aircraft carriers USS Lexington and USS Yorktown. Promoted to first lieutenant on 4 November 1940, Boyington returned to Pensacola as an instructor the next month. The Basic School (TBS) is where all newly commissioned United States Marine Corps officers are sent to learn the art and science of being a Marine officer. ... Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States Commonwealth Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government  - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area  - City 369. ... A C-5 Galaxy is loaded with people and equipment from the Deep Submergence Unit, Naval Base Coronado. ... The fourth USS Lexington (CV-2), nicknamed the Gray Lady or Lady Lex, was the second aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. ... The third USS Yorktown (CV-5) was lead ship of the Yorktown class aircraft carrier of World War II, sunk at the Battle of Midway. ... First Lieutenant is a military rank. ... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Boyington resigned his commission in the Marine Corps on 26 August 1941 to accept a position with the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO). CAMCO was a civilian organization that contracted to staff a Special Air Unit to defend China and the Burma Road. The unit later became known as the American Volunteer Group (AVG), the famed Flying Tigers of China. During his months with the "Tigers", Boyington became a flight leader. He was frequently in trouble with the commander of that outfit, Claire Chennault. As a member of the AVG 1st Squadron, Boyington was officially credited with 3.5 Japanese aircraft destroyed in the air and on the ground, but AVG records suggest that one additional "kill" may have been due to him. (He afterward claimed six victories as a Tiger, but there is no substantiation for that figure.) In the spring of 1942, he broke his contract with the American Volunteer Group, and was dishonorably discharged.^[1] August 26 is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... The Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO) was the creation of American entrepreneur William Pawley, the Curtiss-Wright sales representative in China during the 1930s. ... Burma Road The Burma Road is a road linking Burma (also called Myanmar) with China. ... The “Flying Tigers” (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Japanese: フライング・タイガース) was the nickname of the American Volunteer Group, a group of USAAF, USN and USMC pilots recruited under a secret Presidential sanction by Claire Chennault, that formed a fighter group with three squadrons that trained in China and defended the Burma... Maj. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ...

Boyington talking to other pilots from VMF-214

Boyington wrangled a major's commission in the Marines, which were in great need of experienced combat pilots. He was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, where he became Executive Officer of VMF-121 operating from Guadalcanal. While assigned to VMF-121, Boyington did not shoot down any enemy planes. Later, he became Commanding Officer (CO) of Marine Fighter Squadron 214, better known by its nickname, the "Black Sheep Squadron." Image File history File links W2_usmc_vmf214_boyington. ... Image File history File links W2_usmc_vmf214_boyington. ... Marine Aircraft Group 11 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar that is currently composed of three F/A-18C squadrons, three F/A-18D squadrons, one fleet readiness squadron, one KC-130 tactical aerial refueling squadron and a maintenance and logistics... Official force name First Marine Aircraft Wing Other names 1 MAW The Wing Branch United States Marine Corps Chain of Command III MEF Description Combat ready expeditionary aviation forces. ... While Executive officer literally refers to a person responsible for the performance of duties involved in running an organization, the exact meaning of the role is highly variable, depending on the organization. ... Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA(AW)-121) is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. ... Guadalcanal, position (inset) and main towns Guadalcanal is a 2,510 square mile (6 500 km²) island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands. ... The commanding officer (CO) is the officer in command of a military unit. ... Marine Attack Squadron 214 (VMA-214) is a United States Marine Corps fighter squadron consisting of AV-8B Harrier (V/STOL) jets. ... The Black Sheep were a Marine Corps aviation unit, VMF-214, that served in the South Pacific during World War II. The squadron was commanded originally by Gregory Pappy Boyington. ...

The CO earned the nickname "Gramps" because, at age 31, he was a decade older than most of his men. (Nicknames of this type are common within the armed forces, especially since the commanding officer of a unit is often referred to as "the old man".) It became "Pappy" in a song composed by one of his pilots, and this version was picked up by war correspondents.

Boyington is best known for his exploits flying the Vought F4U Corsair in VMF-214. During periods of intense activity in the Russell Islands-New Georgia and Bougainville-New Britain-New Ireland areas, Boyington added to his total almost daily. During his squadron's first tour of combat duty, the major shot down 14 enemy fighter planes in 32 days. On 17 December 1943, he headed the first Allied fighter sweep over impregnable Rabaul. By 27 December his record had climbed to 25. Chance Vought F4U Corsair The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was a fighter aircraft that saw service in World War II and the Korean War. ... The Russell Islands are two important small islands, as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the central Solomon Islands. ... Categories: Oceania geography stubs | Solomon Islands ... Bougainville and neighbouring islands Bougainville is part of Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Solomon Islands group. ... (This article is about the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. ... Location of New Ireland Province New Ireland (Tok Pisin: Niu Ailan) is a about 8,650 km² large island in Papua New Guinea. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A view from Rabaul Volcano Observatory across the relatively undamaged western half of Rabaul and towards Tavurur Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, was the headquarters of German New Guinea and then the Australian mandatory territory of New Guinea from 1910 until 1937, the base of Japanese activities in the South Pacific... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ...

A typical daring feat was his attack on Kahili airdome at the southern tip of Bougainville on 17 October 1943. He and 24 fighters circled the field where 60 hostile aircraft were based, goading the enemy into sending up a large force. In the fierce battle that followed, 20 enemy aircraft were shot down while the Black Sheep returned to their base without loss. October 17 is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Boyington’s squadron, flying from the island of Vella Lavella, offered to down a Japanese Zero for every baseball cap sent to them by major league players in the World Series. They received 20 caps and shot down many more enemy aircraft. ... Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero Model 52 The Mitsubishi A6M was a light-weight carrier-based fighter aircraft employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ...

He tied the American record of 26 planes on 3 January 1944 over Rabaul, but was shot down himself later the same day. The mission had sent 48 American fighters, including one division of four planes from the Black Sheep Squadron, from Bougainville for a fighter sweep over Rabaul. Boyington was the tactical commander of the flight and arrived over the target at eight o'clock in the morning. In the ensuing action, the major was seen to shoot down his 26th plane. He then became mixed in the general melee of diving, swooping planes and was not seen or heard from again during the battle, nor did he return with his squadron. (In later years, Masajiro "Mike" Kawato claimed to have been the pilot who shot down Boyington's plane. He described the combat in two books and numerous public appearances (often with Boyington), but this claim was eventually "disproven," though Kawato held to his story until his death. It is a matter of record that Kawato was present during the action in which Boyington was downed, as one of 70 Japanese fighters which engaged approximately 30 American fighters.)^[2] January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... A view from Rabaul Volcano Observatory across the relatively undamaged western half of Rabaul and towards Tavurur Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, was the headquarters of German New Guinea and then the Australian mandatory territory of New Guinea from 1910 until 1937, the base of Japanese activities in the South Pacific...

Following a determined but futile search, Boyington was declared missing in action. He had been picked up by a Japanese submarine and became a prisoner of war. (The sub was sunk 13 days after picking him up, though not before dropping him off.) He spent the rest of the war, some 20 months, in a Japanese prison camp, during which time he was selected for temporary promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel. MIA is a three-letter acronym that is most commonly used to designate a combatant who is Missing In Action, and has not yet returned or otherwise been accounted for as either dead (KIA) or a prisoner of war (POW). ... Alvin in 1978, a year after first exploring hydrothermal vents. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... Prisoner of War camps Contents // Categories: Substubs | Prisons and detention centres ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ...

During mid-August 1945, after the atomic bombs and the Japanese capitulation, Boyington was liberated from Japanese custody at Omori Prison Camp near Tokyo on 29 August and arrived in the United States shortly afterwards. On 6 September, he accepted his temporary lieutenant colonel's commission in the Marine Corps.   , literally Eastern capital) is a unique subnational administrative region of Japan with characteristics of both a prefecture and a city. ... August 29 is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ...

Shortly after his return to his homeland, as a lieutenant colonel, Boyington was ordered to Washington to receive the nation's highest honor — the Medal of Honor — from the President. The medal had been awarded by the late president, Franklin D. Roosevelt in March 1944 and held in the capital until such time as he could receive it. On 4 October 1945, Boyington received the Navy Cross from the Commandant of the Marine Corps for the Rabaul raid; the following day, "Nimitz Day," he and other sailors and Marines were decorated at the White House by President Harry S. Truman. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882–April 12, 1945), 32nd President of the United States, the longest-serving holder of the office and the only man to be elected President more than twice, was one of the central figures of 20th century history. ... October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945and died 2007 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor. ... The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps is the highest ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reporting to the Secretary of the Navy but not to the Chief of Naval Operations. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the thirty-third President of the United States (1945–1953); as Vice President, he succeeded to the office upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. ...

Following the receipt of his Medal of Honor and Navy Cross, Boyington made a Victory Bond Tour. Originally ordered to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, he was later directed to report to the Commanding General, Marine Air West Coast, Marine Corps Air Depot, Miramar, San Diego, California. He retired from the Marine Corps on August 1, 1947, and because he was specially commended for the performance of duty in actual combat, he was promoted to full colonel. August 1 is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...

In addition to the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross, Boyington held the American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. The American Defense Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created in 1941 by Executive Order of President Franklin Roosevelt. ... The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. ... American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal was a decoration of the United States military which was first created in 1942 by order of President Franklin Roosevelt. ... WWII Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. ...

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to The presidential seal was first used in 1880 by President Rutherford B. Hayes and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups (as of November 7, 2006 elections) Democratic Party Republican...

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of Marine Fighting Squadron TWO FOURTEEN in action against enemy Japanese forces in Central Solomons Area from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Consistently outnumbered throughout successive hazardous flights over heavily defended hostile territory, Major Boyington struck at the enemy with daring and courageous persistence, leading his squadron into combat with devastating results to Japanese shipping, shore installations and aerial forces. Resolute in his efforts to inflict crippling damage on the enemy, Major Boyington led a formation of twenty-four fighters over Kahili on 17 October and, persistently circling the airdrome where sixty hostile aircraft were grounded, boldly challenged the Japanese to send up planes. Under his brilliant command, our fighters shot down twenty enemy craft in the ensuing action without the loss of a single ship. A superb airman and determined fighter against overwhelming odds, Major Boyington personally destroyed 26 of the many Japanese planes shot down by his squadron and by his forceful leadership developed the combat readiness in his command which was a distinctive factor in the Allied aerial achievements in this vitally strategic area. September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... October 17 is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

/S/ FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT FDR redirects here. ...

Later life

Boyington was a tough, hard-living character who was known for being unorthodox. He was also an alcoholic, which plagued him in the years after the war, and contributed to multiple divorces as well as disciplinary problems with the Marines. King Alcohol and his Prime Minister circa 1820 Alcoholism is the consumption of or preoccupation with alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the alcoholics normal personal, family, social, or work life. ...

Many people know him from the 1970s television show Baa Baa Black Sheep, a drama about the Black Sheep squadron based very loosely on Boyington's memoir of the same name, with Boyington portrayed by Robert Conrad. Like Chuck Yeager in the movie The Right Stuff, Pappy had a short walk-on role as a visiting General during the second season of the show. Many of Boyington's men were very irate over this show charging it was mostly fiction and presented an over glamorized portrait of Boyington. At least on the television show, Boyington was depicted as owning a bull terrier dog, named "Meatball." However, he was heard commenting at a 1970s EAA airshow book signing that if he did have a dog at the time, it wouldn't have been such "an ugly" dog . Boyington frequently informed interviewers and audiences that the television series was fiction, and only loosely related to actual history. (It's also worth noting that the character played by John Wayne in the 1942 film Flying Tigers, Capt. Jim Gordon, is called "Pappy" by some of his men.) Baa Baa Black Sheep was a 1970s television series based on Boyington and his Black Sheep Squadron that aired on NBC from 1976 until 1978. ... Robert Conrad Robert Conrad (born either Conrad Robert Falk or Konrad Robert Falkowski on March 1 in Chicago, although the year is still subject to question), is an American film and TV actor and director. ... Charles Yeager Charles Elwood Chuck Yeager (born on February 13, 1923, in Lincoln County, West Virginia) is an American former general officer in the United States Air Force and a noted test pilot. ... The Right Stuff is a 1979 book (ISBN 0374250332) by Tom Wolfe, and a 1983 film adapted from the book. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Flying Tigers is a 1942 black-and-white war film, starring John Wayne and John Carroll as mercenary fighter pilots fighting the Japanese in China prior to the U.S. entry into World War II. The film was nominated for three Oscars: Best Effects, Special Effects for Howard Lydecker (photographic...

In addition to his autobiography, Boyington wrote a novel about the AVG. Tonya is a spy story with characters who evoked actual individuals, sometimes by transposing the syllables of their names ("Ross Dicky" for Dick Rossi, for example).

While artist depictions and publicity photos often show Boyington with aircraft number 86 ("LucyBelle") covered in victory flags, this was not his combat aircraft. In fact, he rarely flew the same aircraft more than a few times. It has been said that he would choose the F4U in the worst shape, so none of his pilots would be afraid of flying their own aircraft.

Boyington was an absentee father to three children by his first wife. One daughter committed suicide; one son graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1959. The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, (), is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Air Force. ...

Boyington also was involved in professional wrestling touring troupes, as a wrestler and a referee.

Boyington died of cancer on January 11, 1988 at the age of 75 in Fresno, California. January 11 is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...

He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on January 15, 1988, in plot 7A-150 with full honors accorded to a Medal of Honor recipient, including a missing man fly-by conducted by the F-4s of the Marine detachment at Andrews Air Force Base. Before his flight from Fresno, California VMA-214 (the current incarnation of the Black Sheep Squadron) did a flyby. They intended to do a missing man formation, but one of the four aircraft suffered a mechanical problem. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... The missing man formation flying over the USS Arizona memorial in Hawaii For the Vince Welnick group, see Missing Man Formation (band). ... The F-4 Phantom II (simply F-4 Phantom after 1990) is a two-place (tandem), supersonic, long-range, all-weather fighter-bomber built by McDonnell Douglas Corporation. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... Emblem of the AFDW Andrews Air Force Base (ICAO code KADW) is a United States Air Force base near Washington, DC and the home base of the U.S. presidential aircraft, Air Force One. ... Nickname: Location in the state of California County Fresno Government  - Mayor Alan Autry Area  - City 104. ... The Black Sheep were a Marine Corps aviation unit, VMF-214, that served in the South Pacific during World War II. The squadron was commanded originally by Gregory Pappy Boyington. ... The missing man formation flying over the USS Arizona memorial in Hawaii For the Vince Welnick group, see Missing Man Formation (band). ...

After the burial service for Boyington one of his friends, Fred Losch, looked down at the headstone that he was standing next to, the boxing legend Joe Louis. Bruce Gamble comments on this by saying, "Ol' Pappy wouldn't have to go far to find a good fight." Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 13, 1981), better known in the boxing world as Joe Louis and nicknamed The Brown Bomber, was a native of LaFayette, Alabama and is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions. ...

University of Washington Boyington Memorial

In February 2006, a resolution recommending a memorial be erected to honor Boyington for his service during WWII was raised at the University of Washington^[3] (Boyington's alma mater) during a meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Washington's Student Senate. Several themes emerged in the Student Senate's debate on February 7. People were concerned about whether the Senate was in a place where it could decide who among the several UW alumni Medal of Honor recipients deserved to be memorialized. Also, some were concerned about how the legislation was worded to refer to many specific acts of violence and destruction (specifically in Boyington's Medal of Honor citation, the full text of which was originally included in the resolution), and whether that was appropriate for a Student Senate resolution. Some did not believe that all financial and logistical problems around installing a memorial were fully addressed by the sponsor, and some were questioning the widely-held assumption that all warriors and acts of war are automatically worthy of memorialization. The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. ...

Ultimately, the resolution was debated upon and resulted in a tie vote (45-45), broken by the Student Senate Chair, defeating the motion.^[4] This resulted in a nationwide controversy that was debated through internet "blogs" and many conservative news outlets. Many members of the public balked when hearing this and sent large amounts of negative feedback, a significant portion of which were derogatory to the senators involved. As a result, several student senators have received thousands of malicious e-mails.^[5][6][7] It has been suggested that Online diary be merged into this article or section. ...

Discussion in these media centered around two statements that were made by student senators during the meeting. One senator (Ashley Miller) said that the UW already had many monuments to "rich, white men" which created perceptions of racism, classism and sexism among several of the resolution's proponents and the media covering the story, because of the statement's perceived implication that the UW therefore need not honor any more. This sentiment came across as particularly petty considering that Boyington was of Sioux ancestry and hardly rich. Another student senator (Jill Edwards) questioned whether the UW should memorialize a person who killed others, and this notion was summarized in the minutes as saying "she didn’t believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce."^[8] This created a large outcry among the military community and other military-friendly people, media and organizations. Because racism carries connotations of race-based bigotry, prejudice, violence, oppression, stereotyping or discrimination, the term has varying and often hotly contested definitions. ... Classism (a term formed by analogy with racism) is any form of prejudice or oppression against people who are in, or who are perceived as being like those who are in, a lower social class (especially in the form of lower or higher socioeconomic status) within a class society. ... The sign of the headquarters of the National Association Opposed To Woman Suffrage Sexism is commonly considered to be discrimination and/or hatred against people based on their sex rather than their individual merits, but can also refer to any and all systemic differentiations based on the sex of the... An Emil Hoas Production For the helicopter H-13 Sioux, see Bell 47 Wahktageli (Coward Warrior), a Yankton Sex chief (Karl Bodmer) Funeral scaffold of a Sioux chief (Karl Bodmer) Horse racing of the Sioux Indians (Karl Bodmer) The Sioux (IPA ) are a Native American people. ... The UKs Royal Marines in a Rigid Raider assault watercraft A marine corps (from French corps de marine) is a branch of a nations armed forces incorporating Marines, intended to be capable of mounting amphibious assaults using infantry, armour, aircraft, and watercraft. ...

Since the eruption of the controversy, a new version of the original resolution was submitted that called for a memorial to all five UW alumni who received the Medal of Honor after attending the UW.^[9] On April 4, 2006, the resolution passed by a vote of 64 to 14 with several abstentions, on a roll call vote. However, despite the fact that the memorial was approved by the student senate, the memorial could take several months or years to complete, as it will have to be approved by the University of Washington administration, and the funds for the memorial, likely to be in the tens of thousands, will all have to be raised privately. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... In the United States Congress, a recorded vote is a vote in which the names of those voting for and against a motion may be recorded. ... The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. ...

AVG victory claims

There is some controversy surrounding Boyington's AVG victory claims. His official CAMCO account showed 3.5 for enemy aircraft destroyed, of which just one was an air-to-air victory. However, AVG records suggest that Boyington was short-changed of an air-to-air victory during his tour of duty at Mingaladon airport in Rangoon. According to Bruce Gamble, Boyington also felt that the AVG staff wrongly calculated claims from a raid on Chiang Mai, Thailand. Six pilots were involved in a raid that supposedly destroyed 15 Japanese aircraft on the ground, giving each man 2.5 victory credits for the raid. Boyington apparently decided that the two pilots who flew top cover should not have shared in the bounty, though it was often the case that when a pilot was shot down victory credits were equally shared among all taking part in the raid. Boyington evidently calculated his AVG score this way: Yangon (Burmese: , population 5,000,000(nearly) (2007 census), formerly Rangoon, is the largest city and former capital of Myanmar (previously known as Burma). ... A street scene in Chiang Mai, showing (centre right), a gate of the old city wall. ...

• Confirmed air to air victories: 2 (this is what the US military officially acknowledges normally)
• Chiang Mai Raid: 3.75 (15 aircraft destroyed divided by 4 shooters)
• Total: 5.75

He then rounded it up to 6, and convinced the Corps to officially acknowledge it. This was probably good for the Corps' image during the final days of the tour as Boyington neared the record of 26 victories held at the time by Joe Foss and Eddie Rickenbacker. He ultimately tied the record on the same mission in which he was shot down. Joseph Jacob Joe Foss (April 17, 1915 – January 1, 2003) was an American politician, an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor in 1943. ... Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 27, 1973) was best known as a World War I fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient. ...

Boyington's total score recognized by the American Fighter Aces Association is 24: 2 with the AVG and 22 claimed with the Marine Corps.

Many sources, such as the back of the Bantam Books edition of his autobiography, claim that he shot down 28 planes (6 with the AVG, 22 with the Marines),

After the war, Boyington insisted on the term "victories" rather than "kills", and was known to lose his temper over the issue.

Notes

1. ^ Crocker(2006): 297.
2. ^ "Kawato Masajiro: The man who didn't shoot down Pappy Boyington", The Warbird's Forum. (retrieved April 11, 2006)
3. ^ "A Resolution to Calling for a Tribute for Col. Gregory 'Pappy' Boyington, USMC", Resolution R-12-18, Associated Students of the University of Washington Student Senate, submitted 01/11/2006. (retrieved February 24, 2006)
4. ^ Boyington memorial—A word from the Senate, The Daily, February 17, 2006. (retrieved February 24, 2006)
5. ^ "Students reject honor to 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' hero, Member of Marines not 'sort of person UW wanted to produce",WorldNetDaily. February 14, 2006.
6. ^ Flickinger, Christopher. "Marines Not Welcome at University of Washington", Human Events ", February 20, 2006.
7. ^ "Pappy Shot Down By Campus Ignoramuses", Opinion Journal.
8. ^ UW Senate minutes, February 7, 2006.
9. ^ "A Resolution Calling a Memorial for UW Alumni awarded the Medal of Honor", Resolution R-12-16, Associated Students of the University of Washington Student Senate, submitted 02/17/2006.

is the 101st day of the year (102nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 17 is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients

Image File history File links USMC_logo. ... The following is a partial list of Medal of Honor recipients. ...

References

Book

• Crocker, H.W. (2006). Don't Tread on me: A 400-year history of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting. Crown Forum. ISBN 1-40005-363-3. 

Web

• Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington at acepilots.com
• Colonel Gregory Boyington, USMCR, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps.
• MOH Citation for Gregory Boyington, HomeOfHeroes.com.
• Complete Roster of the American Volunteer Group
• Roster of the American Volunteer Group showing Boyington's status as flight leader
• Greg Boyington, Flying Tiger (including AVG citation crediting him with 2 air-to-air and 2.5 ground victories)
• Heaton, Colin. Boyington's final interview, originally published in Aviation History, May 2001.

Further reading

• Boyington, Gregory. Baa Baa Black Sheep (Bantam Books, 1990) ISBN 0-553-26350-1
• Daniel Ford - Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942 (Smithsonian Books 2007) ISBN 0061246557
• Gamble, Bruce. Black Sheep One. (Presidio Press, 2003) ISBN 0-89141-801-6