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Pappy'' boyington grandson

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In 1976, a new Americanmade-for-television film aired for the first time, introducing a World War II based series titled Baa Baa Black Sheep. It purported to tell the story of a US Marine fighter squadron that served in the Solomon Islands Campaign in the Pacific Theater and was based on the autobiographical book of the same title, written by the squadron’s former commander, US Marine Major Greg “Pappy” Boyington. The series featured Robert Conrad, whose most famous role up to that time had been of James West in the series The Wild Wild West. The real Boyington, then still alive, served as a technical consultant, and later appeared in cameo roles in three episodes of the program, which eventually was retitled Black Sheep Squadron and ran for a total of 36 episodes.

Critics viewed the program with disdain. The Washington Post called it “war is swell”. The program relied on long-established Hollywood cliches. The premise was that of a group of misfits, contemptuous of military regulations and discipline, escaping the wrath of their superiors due to their heroic performance

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Learning Center Our Enshrinees

  • US Marine Corps Fighter Ace
  • Enshrined: 2019
  • Birth: December 4, 1912
  • Death: January 11, 1988

Gregory “Pappy” Boyington

  • Was a member of ROTC while at the University of Washington. Upon graduating with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1934, he served with the Coast Artillery Reserve in Washington State and also worked as a draftsman in Tacoma, Washington at Boeing Aircraft.
  • Was designated a Naval Aviator flying for the Marine Corp in San Diego in 1937.
  • Joined the American Volunteer Group (which became known as the “Flying Tigers”) in 1941 to defend the China/Burma road from Japanese Aggression.  He became an ace in the Flying Tigers with 6 victories.
  • Rejoined the Marine Corp once the United States entered World War II and was assigned the position of Commanding Officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 214- a group which was popularly coined the “Black Sheep” squadron.
  • During World War II, Col. Boyington fearlessly downed 22 enemy aircraft over the Solomon
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    Pappy Boyington

    United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient (1912–1988)

    Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (December 4, 1912 – January 11, 1988) was an American combat pilot who was a United States Marine Corpsfighterace during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. A Marine aviator with the Pacific fleet in 1941, Boyington joined the "Flying Tigers" (1st American Volunteer Group) of the Republic of China Air Force and saw combat in Burma in late 1941 and 1942 during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

    In September 1942, Boyington rejoined the Marine Corps. In early 1943, he deployed to the South Pacific and began flying combat missions in the F4U Corsair fighter. On August 14, 1943, he took command of Marine fighter squadron VMF-214 ("Black Sheep").

    In January 1944, Boyington, outnumbered by Japanese "Zero" planes, was shot down into the Pacific Ocean after downing one of the enemy planes. He was captured by a Japanese submarine crew and was held as a prisoner of war for more than a year and a half. He was released shortly after the surrender

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