Pappy Boyington

Pappy Boyington
Pappy Boyington
	Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington during World War II
Birth name	Gregory Boyington
Other name(s)	Gregory Hallenbeck
Nickname(s)	"Pappy", "Gramps"
Born	December 4, 1912; Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States
Died	January 11, 1988 (aged 75); Fresno, California, United States
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States; China;
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps; Republic of China Air Force;
Years of service	1934–1947
Rank	Colonel
Commands	VMF-122; VMF-112; VMF-214;
Battles/wars	Second Sino-Japanese War; World War II; Solomon Islands campaign;
Awards	Medal of Honor; Navy Cross; Purple Heart;
Other work	Boeing – draftsman and engineer

Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (December 4, 1912 – January 11, 1988) was an American combat pilot who was a United States Marine Corps fighter ace 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 military conflict between China and Japan.

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 of Japan.

The television series Baa Baa Black Sheep was inspired by Boyington and his men in the "Black Sheep" squadron. It ran for two seasons in the late 1970s.