Black Sheep: The Life of Pappy Boyington (Library of Naval Biography)
John F. Wukovits
Language: English
Pages: 288
ISBN: 1591149770
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
This biography details the turbulent life of Gregory Boyington, who became the top Marine ace of the Pacific. It details his turbulent early life, which included abusive parents and frequent moves, his early military career, his service with the Flying Tigers in Burma and China, his feats as a Corsair fighter pilot in the South Pacific, his time in Japanese prison camps, and his postwar career. Wukovits attempts to show that the complex Boyington excelled when others looked to him for advice, but performed miserably when shunted to the sidelines. He thus amassed a spotty record with the Flying Tigers, who treated him as an outsider, but triumphed when in command of the Black Sheep Squadron, where the men considered him a teacher and leader. Many veterans either consider Boyington a hero or a villain, whereas in actuality he was a little of each.
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1-5. At http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mca-marines/access. Bergerud, Eric M. Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 2000. Bergin, Bob. “Pearl Harbor Payback.” Flight Journal, April 2005, pp. 64-70. “Blood for the Tigers.” Time, December 29, 1941, p. 19. Bond, Maj. Gen. Charles R. Jr. “Oral History.” Oral History Collection, Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, Texas A&M University, July 21-22, 1981. Bond, Maj. Gen. Charles R. Jr., and Terry H.
he was flawed shows clouded judgment. When I informed the historian that I too am an alcoholic—and have not touched a drink since 1983—he replied that it would probably take an alcoholic to completely understand Boyington. Possibly that has given me an edge; possibly not. I can only state with certainty that beneath the bluster and the anger, hidden by hurts real and imagined, lay a commander whom the men of his squadron revere to this day. To fully appreciate Boyington, one must peel away the
from the military to fly in Burma against the Japanese. Roosevelt resorted to subterfuge to make the aid possible. Since the United States was not then at war with Japan, he could not openly support active programs helping one side. Instead of sending U.S. military personnel to run the operation, Roosevelt worked through an intermediary. William Pawley, an airplane salesman who owned an aircraft factory in China, suggested that the government secretly utilize his company as a way of shifting
war was drawing closer to their tiny airfield. The onrushing Japanese continued to batter Chiang Kai-shek’s forces, and on the final day of November other Japanese units seized Bangkok, Thailand, only 350 miles from Rangoon. No one doubted that the victorious legions would soon close in on the Thailand-Burma border, thereby placing the military juggernaut within easy range of overrunning Rangoon. Fighting with the Japanese could not be far away. With danger looming, Chennault took precautions to
learn the intricacies of flying and so that he could more fairly judge their abilities. Each night Boyington gathered his men around him to discuss the day’s flights and chat about errors made and lessons learned. Most of the squadron readily adapted to the Corsair, but one man tested Boyington’s instructional talents. The first time 2nd Lt. Robert McClurg landed his Corsair, he swooped so low during his approach that palm branches from the trees lining the airfield wedged in the landing gear.
