Pappy Boyington

Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (December 4, 1912 - January 11, 1988) was an American fighter pilot who flew with the American Volunteer Group (the Flying Tigers) in China and became a US Marine Corps ace in World War II.

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.

Related Topics:
Commissioned - Second lieutenant - Fort Worden - 13 June - 1935 - 16 July

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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.

Related Topics:
18 February - 1936 - Naval Air Station, Pensacola - Florida

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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.

Related Topics:
11 March - 1937 - Quantico - Virginia - Fleet Marine Force - 1 July - Marine Corps

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He was sent to The Basic School in Philadelphia in July 1938; on completion of the course, Boyington was transferred to the 2d 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.

Related Topics:
The Basic School - Philadelphia - 1938 - San Diego - USS Lexington - USS Yorktown

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Promoted to first lieutenant on 4 November 1940, Boyington went back to Pensacola as an instructor the next month.

Related Topics:
First lieutenant - 4 November - 1940

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Boyington resigned his commission in the Marine Corps on 26 August 1941 to accept a position with the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company. 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, 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 from that unit.

Related Topics:
26 August - 1941 - Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company - Burma Road - Flying Tigers - China - Claire Chennault - 1942

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Boyington wangled 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 of Marine Fighting Squadron 214, better known by its nickname, the "Black Sheep Squadron."

Related Topics:
Executive Officer - Commanding Officer - Marine Fighting Squadron 214 - Black Sheep Squadron

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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 was 25.

Related Topics:
Vought F4U Corsair - Russell Islands - New Georgia - Bougainville - New Britain - New Ireland - 17 December - 1943 - Rabaul - 27 December

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The CO earned the nickname "Pappy" because, at 31, he was a decade older than most of his men. 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 of the enemy planes were shot out of the skies. The Black Sheep returned back to their base without the loss of a single ship.

Related Topics:
Bougainville - 17 October - 1943

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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.

Related Topics:
Vella Lavella - Japanese Zero - World Series

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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.

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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, where he was selected for temporary promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Related Topics:
Missing in action - Submarine - Prisoner of war - Prison camp - Lieutenant colonel

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During mid-August 1945, after the atom 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.

Related Topics:
1945 - Omori Prison Camp - Tokyo - 29 August - 6 September

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Shortly after his return to his homeland, 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

Related Topics:
Medal of Honor - Franklin D. Roosevelt - 4 October

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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.

Related Topics:
Navy Cross - Commandant of the Marine Corps - White House - Harry S. Truman

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Following the receipt of his Medal of Honor and Navy Cross, Colonel 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.

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Colonel Boyington 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 advanced to his final rank.

Related Topics:
August 1 - 1947

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In addition to the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross, Colonel Boyington held the American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Related Topics:
American Defense Service Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

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