Posted on 02/08/2018 8:07:10 AM PST by DFG
Fascinating pictures of America's famous WW2 Black Sheep Squadron whose efforts helped win the war in the Pacific have been released in vibrant color.
The series shows the squadron's commanding officer, Colonel Gregory 'Pappy' Boyington who received the Medal of Honour and the Navy Cross, briefing his men on strategy and tactics before the 17 October 1943 attack on Kahili airdrome at Bougainville island, Papua New Guinea.
In this raid 'Pappy' and 24 fighters circled the field where 60 enemy aircraft were based to goad them into sending a large force. In the ensuing air battle, 20 enemy aircraft were shot down and the Black Sheep (VMF-214) squadron suffered no losses.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
So have I
I have no reason to doubt Boyington
Fellow Marine Aviator and Medal of Honor winner Joe Foss refused to let his autobiography be turned into a movie starring John Wayne himself because they tacked on a romantic subplot and turned down millions.
He also took on the NFL with the AFL and actually won unlike the USFL and XFL.
And had a broadcasting career with ABC for years.
Boyington let his biography be turned into a goofy tv show with unbelievable plot lines.
Yeah, the ones on the show (I think there were three) were the only ones Flying at the time.
There is one that was restored owned by The William Lyon Museum next to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA.
I used to work right next door.
Years ago I ran into an old guy who flew one in the South Pacific in WWII. He loved that Plane even though it had some “issues”, like not being able to pull out of a steep dive until they added Air Brakes on the “J” Model (I think).
What has that got to do with what Boyington said about radio contact with the Jap ground
And Boyington said the TV show was BS
Because it's BS?
There was an incident when VMF-214 circled a Japanese airbase at Bougainville until the Japanese got hot headed enough that they sent up their fighters losing 20 aircraft. No radio contact in the official write up of the action.
VMF-214 being a bunch of screw-ups and raw recruits no one wanted was also an invention. Action had been slow and there were over 2 dozen pilots available for replacements for other Marine squadrons but weren't needed. Some were veterans some were replacements fresh from the States. So they formed VMF-214 out of them with the squadron name having been previously used by a previous Marine squadron at Guadalcanal.
They fought for 84 days and shot down over 200 Japanese aircraft. At which point the squadron was dissolved and they were used as replacements for other Marine squadrons as originally intended.
On that episode I’m pretty sure it was two.
Beautiful, polished aluminum. Just glowing and shiny.
The story is one of them is a hotshot and he gets shot down by the end of the show.
Found it - in fact it was called “Hotshot”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517369/
Apparently Red Bull has one
Or when the Jap commander on the ground asked Boyington what his angels were ?
Why would that be in the official report?
BTW I read Boyington’s book 3 times
I read Foss’s Book two times
I read Scot’s book two times and also his follow up
I read P47 ace Johnson’s book two times
I read several other WWII aces books
And about Foss he was not comfortable being around Boyington socially —probably due to Boyington’s drinking
The one thing I remember about Foss is his defense of Senator Joe McCarthy Tail Gunner Joe
As the liberals do today they smeared McCarthy and said he didn’t deserve his Air Medal
Foss liked McCarthy and said in his book McCarthy earned
the right to the medal
Yep.
Pappy Boyington didn’t look a thing like Robert Conrad. He looked a boxer who had take a few to the face.
| 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. |
Thanks for this, luvie.
RIP Sir.
Amen!
RIP
Here is an interesting video about the .22 training rifle you may have used back in the day. Heavy for a .22LR, but designed to have the same functional characteristics and weight (around 10lb) of the M14 rifle.
GREAT video! Ours were the bolt-action that he spoke about. Mr. Parkhill wasn’t about to unleash a “semi-auto” onto a bunch of 16-18 year old kids, even though he trained us hard on safety. This has brought back so many great memories. I did pretty darn good in rifle club, earning my sharpshooter with several add-ons [forgot what they were called but were added to the bottom of my sharpshooter medal]
May he rest in peace. My 95 year old father, also a WWII vet, died in March.
They are very hard to replace.
Look for a local over the air H&I (Heroes and Icons) channel. Here in Albuquerque it’s on 29-1 every Saturday afternoon.
RIP, hero....
Great pics, met him at a book signing at Fullerton Airport, CA
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