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Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington Biography
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Biography: Life of "Pappy" Boyington
Born 1912, Died 1988
Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, the controversial World War II ACE, was born on December 4, 1912. Boyington grew up in St. Maries, Idaho and in 1926 moved with his family to Tacoma, Washington. Following his graduation from the University of Washington in 1934, Boyington worked for a year as a draftsman for Boeing.
In 1935 Boyington left Boeing to join the Marine Corps. He began his flight training at Pensacola NAS in January 1936. It was at Pensacola that Boyington began his drinking. Besides excessive drinking, the irresponsible and shot tempered Boyington had problems with personal debt and personal and professional relationships.
In 1941, prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Greg Boyington volunteered for the American Volunteer Group in China, the “Flying Tigers”. The Marine Corps was happy to see him go and recommended that he not be reappointed. During his time with the Flying Tigers, Boyington claimed to have shot down six Japanese fighters, establishing himself as an American ACE. While this number is disputed by the American Volunteer Group records, the Marine Corps officially credits him with six kills. After a confrontation with Claire Chennault, the leader of the Flying Tigers, Greg Boyington quit the American Volunteer Group and returned to the United States in 1942. Boyington was dishonorably discharged from the Flying Tigers by Chennault.
In need of experienced pilots, the Marine Corps reappointed Boyington with the rank of major. In 1943 while working a desk job in the New Hebrides, Greg Boyington convinced his superiors to let him form a new fighter squadron from the replacement pilots pool. While officially designated Marine Squadron 214, the group became known as the Black Sheep Squadron. While the squadron was at first considered a joke, it quickly established itself as a skilled combat squadron.
Greg Boyington became known as “Pappy” because he was so much older than those he commanded in the Black Sheep Squadron. From September 12, 1943 to January 3, 1944 Pappy Boyington destroyed twenty-two Japanese aircraft. On January 3, 1944 Boyington was shot down and captured by the Japanese. The Japanese kept his capture a secret and he was presumed to be killed in action. He was awarded the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross “posthumously”. Boyington spent twenty months as a prisoner of war before being repatriated.
In 1947 Pappy Boyington was discharged from the Marines. His exploits with the Black Sheep Squadron were the basis for the television series Baa Baa, Black Sheep. His alcohol addiction and other weaknesses continued throughout his lifetime. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington died on January 11, 1988. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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