To his other exAirforce grand father’s chagrin, my Grandson is a terrific fan of the Corsair F4U. By now he has about 6 models of the plane.
His father was born at Cubi Point NAS so there is Naval Aviation in there some where. His other grand father pushes the P-38 or the P 51 but it will not take.
For the Record...... to see all the great WW II Naval aviation planes, make a visit to the museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola. It is America’s very best air museum.
One of the things that struck me was his statement about some of the sadistic Jap guards wherein he said that there were people in the USA that would be just like them
Amazing pictures, great find!
bttt
| I just found out that Mr. Parkhill, who was my favorite high school teacher and rifle club instructor, was part of this famed Black Sheep Squadron during his service in the Marines during the Korean War. He taught us biology during class time [which I did well at] and gun safety and how to shoot the Marine way during Rifle Club, during which we used Marine surplus .22 rifles that weighed about 16 pounds according to him. We need more teachers and heroes like him. This has become my chance to honor him and his service to our country. May he rest in peace. |
Great pics, met him at a book signing at Fullerton Airport, CA
bumpmark
A good book for anyone interested:
“Once They Were Eagles: The Men of the Black Sheep Squadron”:
” Marine Corps Fighter Squadron 214 was hastily organized in the field during World War II to meet the urgent need for another combat squadron in the South Pacific. The squadron, self-named the “Black Sheep,” went on under the leadership of the swashbuckling “Pappy” Boyington to become the most famous in Marine Corps history. Now comes the true story of the Black Sheep Squadron and the men who wrote its record in the Pacific skies. Once They Were Eagles tells how and why the squadron was formed, provides brief sketches of every member, and creates a vivid picture of the exciting but deadly aerial sorties over the South Pacific. Frank E. Walton located the thirty-four survivors of the fifty-one original Black Sheep. In a unique series of interviews, former “Eagles” share their recollections of those days of high adventure and their experiences in the years to follow.”
Another: “On Boyington’s Wing: The Wartime Journals of Black Sheep Squadron Fighter Ace Lt. Col. Robert W. McClurg”:
“Whenever the fighter pilots of the Black Sheep Squadron headed out on a mission in their F4-U Corsairs, they always flew in pairs. The guy in the other plane was known as your “wingman.” Incredibly, when Bob McClurg joined the Black Sheep Marine Fighter Squadron in the South Pacific theatre during WWII, he barely had any flying hours under his belt. The colorful squadron leader, Greg “Pappy” Boyington, literally took McClurg under his wing and made an Ace fighter pilot out of him. McClurg flew many missions as Boyington’s wingman in the distinctive “bent-winged” aircraft. The Corsairs could really take a beating, but they often lacked critical equipment such as working compasses or radios. Outmaneuvered by the swift Japanese zeroes, they often limped back to the base. But the zeroes were fragile, and, as McClurg says, after a morning combat mission there were usually a lot fewer lunches served at the Japanese base than there had been breakfasts. Boyington’s combat tactics, which are reprinted in this book, were largely responsible for the high success rate of the Black Sheep. Several books have been written about the Black Sheep, but this is the only one besides Boyington’s autobiography, “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,” and Frank Walton’s “Once They Were Eagles.” that has been written by one of the original squadron members. Thanks to a 1970s television series, the Black Sheep became a cultural icon, but the series did not give a completely accurate portrayal of the squadron, and McClurg sets the record straight. He emphasizes that these fighter pilots and their leader were not “misfits,” as is commonly believed. Here is McClurg’s story in his own words, with excerpts from his wartime journals accompanied by transcriptions of the actual combat reports from the National Archives, as well as several never before published photographs.”
One good thing about Robert Conrad playing Boyington: “His amateur record was, 29-2-1. His pro record was, 4-0-1.” He actually knew how to throw a punch and it looked like he knew in the show. But yeah, the show was BS and so was the idea they were a bunch of misfits.