My Uncle J Cameron Dustin was a pilot with the Black Sheep from September 1943 until he was shot down and killed December 28 1943. He is shown in the first 90 seconds (or so) of this show kneeling to the left of Pappy Boyington in what appears to be a pilot briefing. It's the first video I have ever seen of him and I just couldn't be more proud. I had the opportunity to interview a few of his fellow pilots back in the 1970's and they were indeed a wonderful group of men.
I disagree with Stephen Howlett. All the men were under the same level of risk, in fact you could say Pappy shouldered more risk because he took the poorest running Corsair whenever there was one. (LOOK IT UP!) That said, some men just got luckier than others but they were all flirting with disaster at any second. Boyington wasn’t “the greatest” but he was the leader and even the members who castigated him for poor behavior were quick to admire him for his leadership, his guidance, his fearlessness and finally, his flying ability. Nobody was “greater than” anyone, especially Boyington.
I had the privilege of meeting Pappy when I was 9 years old in 1977. He made an appearance at an airshow that was held at the airport when my grandfather kept his 182. Because of the TV series that was airing at the time, Pappy was already my hero, so getting to meet the real Greg Boyington was a dream come true. Regardless of his reputation, he was an absolute gentleman who knew how to treat a young kid in awe. He was happy to answer my questions, autograph the lithograph and book my grandfather from him for me, and take a Polaroid with me which he also signed. Also appearing at that airshow in another booth was Masajiro "Mike" Kawato, the man who claimed to have shot Pappy down. I asked Pappy flat out “Is that really the guy who shot you down?” Pappy looked me in the eye and said “Hell NO! He's NOT the guy that shot me down. He is a fraud.” From what I've read, time proved what Pappy told me was true because Kawato was ultimately discredited for the claim. Pappy is still a hero to me, flaws and all.
I saw and talked with Pappy Boyington at the 1987 Reno Air Races. He was hawking his book and yelling over at another booth where a book was being sold by an ex-WWII Japanese fighter pilot. Boyington would yell some expletive to him and the other man would yell back: "Boyington, I shot you down!" I bought a book from both of them. Pappy did not look well at all but I did not know at the time he had cancer and would die less than four months later. I had known about most of the real history of Col. Boyington years before the TV series about the Black Sheep Squadron. It was an honor and privilege to have met him and talk briefly with him.
Thanks for that story; I would've loved hearing that exchange between Pappy Boyington & the Japanese pilot! He was truly an American Hero, Will Never be another like " Pappy Boyington" !
I was there too as a young teen, glad I got to meet a legend that day ! He was still full of spit and vinegar too 🤣🤣 especially to this wide eyed smart ass kid.
Classic. There’s a certain honor among pilots most soldiers don’t have. Like they’re smart enough to know neither of them really want to kill each other. They just have to do what they’re tolf
My late father in law flew with them. Got 18 air to air kills and the Navy Cross. When he passed in 2010 the USMC tried to muster a missing man flyover of his gravesite in Central Florida but the War on Terror prevented that. The Marines provided a PLATOON led by a Major to provide graveside services. I cried so hard. It was magnificent the way they sent pop off. I still have a picture of him standing with Boyington and other Black Sheep on the wing of a Corsair. Pop also flew with a sister outfit to the Blacksheep known as Blackburn’s Irregulars.
Wilbur Thomas, Marion Carl, John Smith, Don Aldrich, Kenneth Walsh, Gregory boyington, Robert Hanson, and Joe Foss were the ONLY Marines credited with 18 or more victories. Aside from Boyington NONE of them flew with the Black sheep, and none of them died in 2010. Maybe you should research your stupid bullshit story a lil better next time. As a former Marine and an honest person let me say you and your imaginary father in law can eat shit.
My Dad was stationed in the FIJI ISLANDS and he was the 390TH BOMB SQUADRON 42ND BOMB GROUP and he was with S-2 INTELLIGENCE and he took all bombing reports and from pilots who flew combat missions. Well, he took reports from the BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON PAPPY BOYINGTON and other of his squadron. The reports are at the SMITHSONIAN with all the other Bombing reports from the Squadrons back then with my dad's signature at the bottom. He was a Lt. at the time in 1943-45 and spent 30 years in the AIR FORCE until he retired in 1963 as an LT COL. I'm proud of what he did and he also flew 7 missions on different B-25S and earned his AIR MEDAL after 60 years plus others. H e said PAPPY was nice and loved to drink but was always ready for combat.
I had the HONOR Of meeting Pappy and the other remaining "Living" pilots of the Black Sheep back in the mid-80's at the Pheasent Run Hotel in Illinois. The Storys from those pilots were just AMAZING!
I met a member of the squadron the day before Christmas 2015. We were in a supermarket, I noticed his cap said "Black Sheep Squadron". I talked to him about 5 minutes. Said he flew P-40s, but "I got to taxi a Corsair once", he said with a laugh. It was the best gift I got that Christmas.
Was pilot wearing VF214 hat or was he wearing 8th Fighter Squadron Black Sheep 49th FG USAF I was a member of that squadron when we had F15s then F117s then F22s. They now have new model F16s. They had P40s then P38s flew In Pacific Theater also Darwin and Australia etc. BTW I was lucky enough to meet some of the 8th fighter pilots from WW2 and got some autographs. They told us some stories good and bad and I vowed to never forget them and to carry on for them.
A real American hero and with flaws like everyone. No one remembers the good one does when one has a few flaws. This guy is a real American hero and a WW 2 legend.
My Uncle Paul 'Moon' Mullen flew both tours with the Black Sheep. He was an ace and a graduate of Notre Dame, the same as my father and his younger brother. Uncle Paul was mentioned in all the books and was sitting next to Pappy at the St. Francis hotel bar in the life magazine photo when Pappy returned. He was also standing next to Pappy in the photo of the squadron holding a baseball bat in front of a corsair. Uncle Paul returned to Japan after the war and was killed in a flight operational accident. He was leading a flight of corsairs, and someone flew out of formation. I'm very sad he didn't live. He would have had a great life ahead of him. In the 70s, my grandmother came to live with us, and my father made sure she never saw the TV show for obvious reasons. I have spoken to Bruce Gamble and respected his account and Frank Waltons account. God Bless them all!
Having watched blacksheep squadron as a kid, this was really cool to get the real story behind Pappy. Was also a Conrad fan from wild wild west growing up. Remember the battery commercial, and how that didn't end as well. Now mid 50's finding out how there is no honor from the old hero's, life goes on. Pappy will even more so be someone I'll look up to. Thanks for the memory.
I had the greatest honor of meeting Pappy at El Toro (Marine Airbase) in the early 70s, when I had won a ride with the Blue Angels. He signed his book for me, which I treasured, but unfortunately lost it in a divorce. Pappy was aged at that time but still a character and spoke with my dad about WWII for a bit. But what I remember most about Pappy was that he seemed to be a lonely man who enjoyed his past and talking flying. We talked about my flying, and ended our visit by him saying “Enjoy your time in the sky kid and don’t become the knucklehead I was - Keep the shiny side up”. As I said it was an honor to meet this hell of a Marine and is still great to meet him. God Bless him and his memory. And “Yes” in 1988 when Pappy passed I cried like a baby. Cause I felt like I really knew the man, even though I really didn’t know him that well.
After I got out of the Army, (Nam era) I had the honor to work side by side with several WW2 vets in the late 70s. Not flamboyant like Pappy just guys who did their best in a bad place. Some of the honest stories they told........ One man, George Brown, Brownie to his buddies, served as a tail gunner in the Pacific. On the first day when he got to his duty station, the ground crew was using a fire hose to wash out the pieces of the last tail gunner who died in his aircraft in the tail gunner position. He flew in that spot a few days later. Those men did and saw things many today can't imagine. I met Pappy at an airshow in Long Beach in the late 70s or early 80s, talked for a while, purchased his book, he signed it and when I glance to my right as I write this, I can see it.
What a chilling story! Reminded me of the scene in Fury where the young guy replaces the tank belly gunner. But Brownie's story was real and he was exposed, thousands of feet up. Those guys had no chance to crawl back into the plane and no parachute as there wasn't any room crammed down in that up against glass, for hours with clouds hiding zeros. Thank you for your service Mr. Parris! Your tours were no easier I bet.
Thank you, Brother, for your service. It is great that people still honor these men of the greatest generation who gave so much to preserve our freedoms. Without them, it is doubtful this country would have survived as it did. From another Vietnam era vet.
I met Greg near the end of his life at the Ventura Gun show. I had no idea who he was. He was selling art pictures of corsairs. Then I saw the nameplate on the table. And I realized who he was. I made a run to get some sandwiches and coffee for the both of us. I shook his hand and I thanked him for the chat. He said call me Greg. my friends call me Greg. I'll never forget meeting a giant of a man who was not that tall.
From what I have read Boyington was almost a celebrity in the Japanese POW camp. At that point, he was really a well known hero and even the Japanese recognized him as such. I cannot remember the book that discussed that but I think it was about the American or Australian Cruiser that fought in the early part of the war and was grounded on an island while the Japanese destroyed it. Many of the men spent a lot of time in the really brutal work on the Burma railroad which was far more deadly than depicted in the Bridge Over the River Quay. If I can remember the book I will update this comment.
Someone needs to come to Birmingham, Alabama and interview George Mestler. He was a Black Sheep flyer with 9 shootdowns; almost a double ace. He himself was shot down and rescued by an American Submarine. He also served during Korea as an instructor and spent his life as a public school teacher. He is from N.Y. state originally and came to Tuscaloosa to play football at Alabama. He is a "small" man physically and barely made the minimum height requirements for a Marine pilot. He is in a nursing home now in Gardendale, Alabama and is almost totally blind.
what an awesome man. wow. .... amazing.. hope he is still alive and happy. if not . rip. we all have to go.... ALL of us.... I love the history of lives.
Had the great honor of meeting him and shaking his hand at an air race in Mojave. I believe it was spring of '82, but maybe '81 or '83. I was more star struck by him, more in awe, than I was by ANY officer when I was in the Corps and again while I was in the Navy Reserves. I always found it easy to talk to generals and fun to screw with 2nd Lieutenants. I remember him gushing a bit over a pair of polished P-38s and if I recall correctly, a B-17, that were on the course at the time.
My Dad flew under Pappy's command in WW2 and used to tell me stories about flying supply planes over the S. Pacific at night with no radar and enough fuel to get from one island to the next and absolutely no room for error. Half his friends didn't make it thru the war. God Bless the Brave soldiers, pilots, and sailors who represented the last GREAT Generation.
*Nice bullshit story!* (take-off with low-fuel, fly a fighter at night when you can't see fuck-all w/no moon, fly a fighter that can't carry fuck-all in terms of 'supplies'...and a host of other 'made-up fuckin' shit-storm of one stupid lie after another'...yeah, I'm impressed! (what was 'Hero Dad's *NAME?* , you lying sack of shit?)
Ken Edmisten It is great to read all of this. My dad was a mechanic with VF-17 and loved watching the show. He would tell me what he thought was correct and incorrect about the details of the show. VF-17 was a navy squadron of Corsairs station at the same base right after the Black Sheep. His squadron was also one of the first to receive Corsairs and he had many great stories about them. WWII brought together many Americans that did great things for the country,
A true American hero. I love Boyington and he has been a person hero of mine since I first started reading about him back in highschool. I wish he was still alive I would do anything to sit down and talk to him, to hear all his stories.
Guys like Pappy were actually quite common prior to the great purge. Meaning up to the late 80’s, the military was full of people who were much like Pappy. The military use to invest time in people, such as GED classes at night, fat farms for chunky monkeys etc. Sadly Pappy wouldn’t be allowed on active duty today.
A huge salute to all the air crewmen who contributed so much to our nation’s security and made it look so easy. Praying for all of you, your families - please get help instead of self-medicating for PTSD. Love to all our heroes, at home & around the world.
Thanks for all the airmen who still don't get all the necessary tribute that they still deserve.l guess in those days it was expected and that was that
My first year of teaching in 1977 was at South Rowan Senior High School in China Grove,NC which is in southern Rowan County. One of my students became so interested in "Baa Baa Black Sheep" which by then was a TV show on ABC, that i encouraged him to purchase a copy of Pappy Boyingtons biography. He did and it started me on a journey in continuing to educate young people about the pleasures of reading non fiction historical biographies. The school is now called South Rowan High School and I am so glad that I stuck with my love of working with K12 students and history.
I was raised by men like Greg. my father, grandfather, uncles, all Marines. some of whom served in multiple theaters of War. hard-nosed individuals, heavy drinkers. my grandfather help to put in runways, he put one in on Guadalcanal under Japanese aerial bombardment for 6 months. my uncle Jacklyn Lucas like Greg lied to get into the Marine Corp. he found himself in Hawaii after Pearl he UA from Pearl jumped on a ship with a 26 Marine Division ended up sailing to Iwo Jima. where he was awarded the Medal of Honor the youngest Marine ever to receive the medal. because of injuries sustained on Iwo he was forced to sit out Korea, That bothered him greatly he was a fighter, he re-enlisted in the United States Army and commissioned and went on to fight in Vietnam. I'm thankful to have been surrounded by good men heavy Drinkers and Screwballs they were but if there's one thing they taught me was love of country. There's nothing I can't fix or build there's nothing I can't hunt or kill to the men and women of my fighting forces thank you America
I had 2 uncles & 1 one to be uncle that were in WW11. I bought Pappy's paperback book back in the 70's or 80's,loved it! Grandfather in WW1,Dad in Korea & cousin in Vietnam. All are gone now,but I'm just as proud of them now,as I were when they were alive. Thank you for everything we have,vets & current soldiers serving our country!❤🇺🇸
I grew up watching the Black Sheep with my dad, who was a Navy veteran. He was a machinist mate on a PT Boat, some might of herd of with a certain president! I always made yime as i got older and heard about the Black Sherp on tv would find and watch intently. I love the show. Pappy always figured out a way to get what he wanted or needed. Great man, and without him, the war in the Pacific might of not went our way. Thank you, Greg! Prayers for all the Black Sheep and especially for the mechanics that kept the planes flying!
Excellent documentary. I read BBBS over forty years ago when I was young, and followed the show and read everything I could find, and this is a real eye opener - he really was as flamboyant and heroic as they portrayed, with the flaws that make him human, too, and the ups and downs that many of experience throughout life. Thanks for sharing this.
I enjoyed the 1977 series, but never knew the true story. How awesome was the performance of these pilots...they were all " larger than life ". Semper Fi
@@MrPhillipABurns Black Sheep Squadron was on TV during 1976 year. I watched an awfully lot before I went active duty in the US Army come summer 1977 . Phil Burns
Same thing... I agree!!!! this is what makes TV wonderful. TV does not offer model roles anymore...just crap reality tv shows. I do not watch tv anymore.
The poor results don't lie, look at Chicago, Detroit, ran by Libs for many years. My home state of Cali, all poorly ran and down the drain. Not to say that the right doesn't f$ck shit up, it does happen from time to time.
Pappy Boyington and The Baa Baa BlackSheep TV series in the 70's was one of the reasons I joined the Marine Corps... Pappy was/is a hero of mine... I am almost finished reading his book Baa Baa Black Sheep... and I have to tell you.. I will never watch that TV series again.. Doesn't give the Black Sheep proper due... Much respect for the 214... Semper Fi
yeah the series was made for entertainment purposes,but pappy boyington was a technical advisor for the series,and he portrayed the 214 the same way to make dollars
Ralph Curtis--- My dad was in the USMC. For over 40 years and through him I got the opportunity to meet Pappy as well. Bob Conrad should have gotten some special recognition as Baa Baa Black Sheep did so much for people joining the Marines.
Well, Ralph, that's the story of television, they change it and embellish it for ratings alone, not for truth! Semper Fi and thank you for being a part of our great USMC!
I have been lucky in my life to have met some of the greatest pilots in the world on both side of WW2. I was involved in aviation for over 40 years in 11 different states. It was during this period that I met, "Pappy". I had aquirred an original Chance Vought F4U factory Poster which I had framed. I showed this to Pappy at a aishow in Denver, Co. and we talked planes and became friends. I saw him again at a airshow and shared a beer or two he had in a cooler under the table while he signed he Baa Baa Blash Sheep book. In 1987 I got a job in southern Ca. in which we sat a talked planes and pilots. he invitedd myself to his home in Ca., sadly he died before I could make that trip. I fouund he to very engaging and of course a WW2 ace and MOH recipient. His family and hundreds of friends will miss him. I was fortunate to have met him as God put him in my way. RIP
I remember watching the TV show every week and then in syndication. I really admired "Pappy" Boyington and his Black Sheep Squadron regardless how they were depicted on the show. After high school I tried enlisting in the Marine Corps but was denied. I wanted to be a fighter pilot so bad because of the men that were depicted on the show.
I once worked with a man who said he was Pappy Boington's crew chief. He was in the Marines during WW2, got out, and reenlisted during the Korean War. He died with no family. He was over 93 when he died.
5/8/2022 Being a Navy man 9/1965 - 9/1969 and having been part of Navy Air (AO-3) This story gives me a kick of pride. There is only one thing I have to really say "OOH RAH". The men of the Black Sheep are examples of what Marine's are; A bunch bad ass dudes, and that's from a sailor. Muttly (on the left) gives them all a well deserved snappy salute. ;-)
My 98 year old HD dealer was a mechanic with the Black Sheep Squadron. I think that is him on the wing at 21:34. His name is Groover Sassaman, look for his interview on You Tube. Just one of the amazing guys in that Squadron. BTW, Groover does not drink, smoke nor cuss, never has...tougher than nails...fight and ride motorcycles? Oh yeah! Still goes to his shop, Harley-Davidson or Macon, Ga every day...
My father was a mechanic/radioman with the Black Sheep Squadron also. His name was Warren Masker, he passed away 20 years ago. He was a hard ass, did smoke, didn't drink much at all. The same with cussing, when he needed to make a point he would say "judas priest" what where you thinking! He rode us hard but all of us respect those around us and "kept our noises clean".
Sorry it took so long to get back to you, we lost Groover last January, but I did get a chance to ask about your Dad. He claims he remembered the name! Funny hard drinking hard fighting, he was the 2nd all right... also knew Tennessee Jack Baum, but he was a Flying Tiger in China, was none too fond of Pappy, not at all... BTW, I know Maskers in Macon, Ga...
I had the honor to meet him in the early 80's at the Tri-Cities WA Air Show. I stood before him star struck as he autographed his book for me. One of my best childhood memories.
I loved watching BA BA BLACK SHEEP when I was a kid and the F4U is still my favorite plane today. This was my first time seeing this documentary only after watching the pilot episode and I have to say that PAPPY and all who served with him I owe a debt of gratitude. Also, to all those who are serving America's Armed forces and to all the Vets, Thank You. You are the ones responsible for the freedoms I have today. with love I give to you for with o out you I would have none to give.
Pappy boyington was as good as it gets when it comes to fighting strategy in the air,the rest of his story just makes him human and easy to relate to.Definitely one of the all time top 5 american heroes of ww2.
That was super he was amazing to say the least. They all where. A lot of my family was in the aviation business. My uncle flew B-17 and had 118 missions my father flew in the TBF Advengers as a radio specialist another cousin was a jet pilot in 1953-58 period another uncle was a ball turret gunner in a B-17 I worked on helicopters in 1973-84 no fun being involved in the aero space industry for 29 years was very challenging but loved none the less
I'm proud to say that I delivered parts to VMA-214 from 1987-90. I was attached to MAG-13 Supply. If my memory is right, MAG-13 transformed to MALS-13 in 1988. During WTI in (I believe) 1989, I was tasked with shipping parts back to their respective squadrons home stations. I was the first Marine to record 100% validity on all returned parts. I was recognized for that, but due to unfortunate circumstances, I lost all my Marine records, including meritorious masts and other recognitions.
I was privileged to hear him speak in Anchorage Alaska decades ago, old man with that fuck you look still in his eyes, he was quite the man and a great leader. I know my words don't do him justice but he was an exception man, pilot and person.
Met Pappy in his older days as a Sheriff's Sgt with Fresno County. Pappy would wander away from his house and his wife would call and we would always find him and take him home. I could listen to his stories as often as I could. No doubt in my mind he was a great fighter pilot. Sad when he passed away. R.I.P Pappy you gave many of us great memories.
All men who serve their countries in a time of war are heroes. They stepped forward when asked and they all foughtt with courage and bravery. Some men such as Boyington were exceptional young men because they go beyond. Let us all pray that innocent young men are not sacrificed into the future as a result of war. Peace to all.
@@tombrunila2695 War is the ultimate competition. You are competing for your life as well as the lives of your friends. The Medal of Honor is usually achieved through ultimately losing that competition in a selfless act of courage.
@@jefflast9489, war is no form, shape or manner a competition! Medals are earned for acts of valor, very few of those who have earned medals in a war went to war to earn medals! In a competition the whole purpose is to win medals. Medals won in a competition are proof that a person has been better than others. They are also ranked.
I remember seeing him as a special guest star on the show, you could see the awe in Robert Conrad's eyes when he was shaking his hand, Robert Conrad played the main character as Pappy Boyington.
I owe my Marine Corps tour to Pappy. I grew up watching the series on TV and have it on DVD. While stationed on El Toro I almost had an the TME unit I was with was just up the street from the VMF-214. I stopped in one day and talked to a couple Marines in the shop and had a good time talkine to them. That was in 1986 Good God how time has flown. Semper FI Pappy and God Speed.
We still must remember these tough American heroes. I had the honor to shake his hand at an air show in WA State in the 70s. My dad was a B 17 Pilot with 35 missions under his belt over Europe.
There's not one politician in Washington today that is worthy enough to lick Pappy Boyington's boot soles. Boyington was a REAL man, something today's politicians know very little, if anything, about. Hell, they can't even figure out which bathroom they are supposed to use.
@@astraluna6is9 One of the things that other nations have never understood about Americans is that we are individuals who bitch and gripe at each other until we don't, that's when you better look out. My friend that's when people like Boyington, Sledge, Snafu and other people like them who are individuals suddenly come out of the bars, jails and other places that you don't talk about at cocktail parties. The old thing about the best Marines are in jail has some truth.
I am happy to meet and actually do a little dove hunting with Joe Foss back in the early 90s when I was a teenager. That man had an old-school double gauge shotgun and at 80 something was knocking those birds down. Amazing stories and amazing man
I think the real Greg Boyington looked a lot like Frank Sutton (Sergeant Carter (Gomer Pyle)). I read Boyington's autobiography and the most interesting parts of it were his adventures after he was shot down and imprisoned by the Japanese. He was a deeply flawed man but a real war hero. Such hero's frequently had difficulties adjusting to civilian life after the war.
It’s amazing to me that a man with such an obvious drinking problem could be the best fighter pilot you could want on your side, he was obviously a thorn in the side of the Marine Corp hierarchy, but so invaluable as a pilot and squadron commander that they had to tolerate his shortcomings, and, unfortunately for him, once the war was over they discarded him because he was no longer of any use to them, and that was a crying shame, his experience and abilities would have been invaluable in training the Marine Corps future pilots, pilots who faced aerial combat in Korea and Vietnam. Such a pity that he died in the manner he did, in obscurity and probably loneliness. RIP Major Boyington Lest We Forget.
In 1984, Denver, Co had an air show; I supplied the Beer- Coors! As The 33 yo GM of a distributorship, walked up to an old guy siting at a table, signing books! It was Pappy Boyington, who for whatever reason, took a liking to me. Being a HS wrestler didn't hurt; nor did the black eye I got outside a bar. I spent 20 minutes with him-and WILL NEVER FORGET IT. THIS MAN EXPERIENCED MORE/DID MORE in 32 years than most could come close to in a lifetime. I will forever cherish his 'two handed' shake as we parted! RIP, Pappy!!
We need SOB'S like these MEN, Thank For Your Honorable Service. Someone once said that GOD doesn't always pick perfect men, but always pick MEN PERFECT FOR THE JOB AMEN!
I lived for the black sheep squadron show when i was a kid! It , Patrol Boat and McHales Navy were my favorite shows along with all the great old WW2 movies. Id love to lounge around some weekend and watch all those great old shows.
My Dad was on the USS O'Bannon, DD 450 a Spencer class Destroyer. The battle of Guadalcanal , Solomon Islands.....the "Slot"....There was a book written about the O'Bannon, called "Action Tonight" By Horan. Fantastic read. My Dad was Gun Capt. #2 turret at this time. Truly, a sit up all night reading kind of book !
Granddad#1, 19th bomb group -US Army air corps, south pacific, WW2.... B-17 tail gunner, flight engineer, crew chief--- Granddad #2 -US Navy, PT boat, gunners mate. Both fought in same theatre of operations...#1 bombed Guadalcanal before they even knew the name of the place, 6 months before marines assaulted the Island..got air cover from Those Marine fighters during raids throughout solomon islands. It took a special breed of warrior, one that must have the wirey and prickly character to endure what they endured,..a character that can be very unlikable to many...a character set that existed then, and is largely extinct today. A crisp Salute to you Pappy. One of those few...the proud.
Really extinct today? Not in the world I have lived in. I guess many people have lived in the very protected world but remember not everyone has grown up in the very protected and rich world that many talk about and see as normal today. Not everyone has grown up in the world without risk that most people seem to think is normal now. I have lived through enough opportunities to have died in and know what risk is. I feel sorry for those that think that life is "extinct". Hell I am an old man and still live in a world that can be dangerous. Do you live in a nice quiet cocoon in suburbia? I pity anyone one that has not lived a life that has a little risk, some danger and some excitement! God help you if you think living in US suburbia is living, you do know you can actually explore the world don't you?
Terrific show, seen it several times, keep coming back to it, a time that is sadly long forgotten, our world now didn't learn a thing from those tuff times !
My childhood favorite aviator, knowing he was a North Idaho made me proud as a kid, i loved the TV series and never missed one. My hat is off to all who served and payed the ultimate price to keep our country free. God bless the USA.
What happened to the History channel they dont show nothing good like this anymore just pawn shops , ufos and bigfoot . ...the Channel has gone to shit
Discovery channel and Discovery Turbo too. They are all cars, car restoration, racing, accidents, more cars, more car restoration. They think that everyone in the world is a car fanatic. I gave up and stopped watching those.
troynov1965 because all the American things done during ww2 have already been shown 44 times on the history channel. And unless they focused more on the world War instead off America's contribution then maybe we would have unlimited ww2 docos shown on the channel just an idea.
+b whit It wasn't just american things. The History Channel had the "Wings" show with many interesting German aircraft too. And they had engineering shows, construction work, etc. Now it seems to be all cars, ufos, monsters, and other childish things.
corisco tupi yeah I realise that I'm jus saying if the production team at history channel did some actual research they could have an unlimited supply of information 2 base there stories and documentaries on instead of being so one dimensional.
At 41:39, the third man from left (in dark shirt under wing as it meets fuselage) is Edwin Harper. He earned 2 Purple Hart during his time with this unit. I understand one injury required him to fly back to base with use of only right hand to control both stick and throttle. Pappy gave Ed the nickname “The Sleeve” (tow target) because he returned his aircraft to base, with over 100 holes in it. Ed retired from the Marines while working on the AV8 Harrier aircraft. He joined McDonnell Douglas and managed the AV8B Program from about 1977-1987. During the Marine evaluation of AV8B he took several of his engineering staff to Chery Point, North Carolina, on company jet to learn how the program was going and where McDonnell Douglas could help. We always had 2 meetings, one at Officers Club when we arrived and one the next day for the official business. I understand he was born in Canada, was Native American and grew up in Idaho.
ba ba black sheep came up one day in my head when I was thinking back when I was doing back when I was 10. Found it and wow. So wonderful to recall not just the TV show, the realism it had back then. Thanks so much for this video. Blessed the men and women that fought in the war.
What a great man!! I delivered a television to him once in my life. We talked briefly about his service. He was a very humble man, but I could see he was very special. I didn't want to make myself a bother so I kept my discussion brief. I cherish my interaction with him.
The one thing I hear far too often is the phrase, "He was a Medal of Honor winner." Combat is not a contest for the highest prize. One doesn't win the Medal of Honor, one earns the Medal of Honor. It is an award, not a prize.
You are almost correct. Command level medals are earned (good conduct, etc), valor and non-valor medals are awarded - not earned. the medal of honor is technically bestowed upon one, and that person is referred to as a recipient of the medal.
I wonder who eventually flew the last mission. Bless these boyz.... ~S~ Salute to them all. Without men like these,, I couldn't enjoy such a great land today. America. Thank you, Black Sheep. And all who fault in WWII. Some of us know what you have given. And I thank you.
Snowman374th Indeed, I was of an age to know many of these old veterans, the thing is they weren't that old when I FIRST knew them. It was more common than not, that the Dad of most of your friends were Vets with a wide array of experiences. I miss these brave men, in fact on many of these guys, I knew nothing of their service and exploits until they died, and they were eulogized by other Vets. My, my what a generation.
@@calvinpaulson It's coming home. Because these men are powerless today and or gone. And our youth today are too stoned Or too stupid to care. "I don't follow politics" = Democrats #1 Motto to get your vote
Over the years there has been more unsung heroes than I can say. During the veitnam war those who flew in medivac where unsung heroes of the highest order. They flew into combat areas taking fire just to get our wounded out and the ones of desist home. They where truly our unsung heroes of the time. I know that there was many who where unsung heroes from all different fasis of our military then. My grandfather was in WW1 My uncle was in bombers in WW2 and his paperwork is in harlengen Texas at the Confederate air memoria there. l served in veitnam in 1970 I was no unsung heroes in my own mind but around me there was many.
I would like them to do something on the early squadrons on Guadalcanal, such as VMF 223 led by John L. Smith and Marion Carl, both were awarded the MoH. Many of their fliers were quite raw, but learned their trade and absorbed the tactics that Thatch and Foss developed. It was good to see Tex Hill and Dick Rossi interviewed as they were 2 of the top aces in the Flying Tigers and Tex stayed in China to lead the new USAAF squadrons under Chennault.
Thanks for posting this video. I hope more people stumble upon it, like I did. I learned quite a bit about Boyington and his crew of Marine aviators. Too bad the 70's show wasn't more in-line with the true story of these heroes.
Eric Mowrey You're right, as designations have been since 1962, but prior to then, the V designated heavier than air. Keep in mind that the few helicopters there were, were primitive experimental beasts, more likely to dig an expensive hole than to fly with any kind of realistic control. Igor Sikorsky didn't fly his first prototype until late 1942.
104thDIVTimberwolf, your right too. However the "V" heavier than air wasn't a reference between aircraft and helicopters, It was aircraft and air ships (blimps). The U.S. and countries like German utilized a lot of blimps during the war and thus the designation between the two. Also Sikorsky first flew in 1939 and this was several prototypes in already. Several had previously failed.
I was 8 years old in 1976 when this show came on television . I loved this show , read the book and watched it in syndication into my late teens . I do not know if it is just me but I do not think that they make television shows as good as they used to. I live in southern California and the little airstrip where they filmed the show is just about an hour from my house, but I think that they tore it up a few years back .
I was a Navy physician, and did a pre-operative history & physical on Lt.Col. Boyington in 1979 at Naval Regional Medical Center, Long Beach, before it was torn down. Greg was in the hospital for alcohol rehabilitation, which I had undergone in 1978. I told Greg that his coveralls did not fit him anything like Robert Conrad's fit him. I do not know whether Pappy Sayed sober after that hospitalization.
@@izzysykopthYes you are right. My best friends dad did some work in the area during that time and he told us that he would see the planes flying around.
I remember the commercials for this episode and watched when it originally aired. I sure miss The History Channel. A real sad shell of its former glory.
I got introduced and spoke some with Pappy Boyington in the late 70's. And in the 80's I became a good friend with former Black Sheep pilot Sam Ritter. When I was staying home due to breaking both of my wrists and already had known him for about a year or so. Sam would come over and keep me company for hours just about every day. The stories he told me were larger than life and I'll remember them for all my days. You won't find Sam's name in many of the books about the Black Sheep because he wasn't a Marine along with one other pilot. I consider myself very lucky to have known Sam, his wife and his dog that I'm sure was largely wolf. That's why most just knew of him as "Wolfman Sam".
I used to LOVE this program, I think I watched every episode between '76 and '78! We respect, admire and thank all our military personnel! The famous Corsair was one of my favorite aircraft of that era. RIP, "Pappy" and semper fi! (There is an airport in northern Idaho that is named "Pappy Boyington Field," in honor of multiple ace Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (1912-1988), a Medal of Honor recipient born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.) I really wish they would air some of those great old series, I would watch every episode, all over again!
I was 12 years old when Baa Baa Black Sheep aired. Instantly fell in love with it. I didn't know most of the pilots were actually highly educated and not screw-ups awaiting court martial like in the TV show. It was a different world back then. I wish we could get a big Hollywood movie made based on the Black Sheep. That would be cool as hell.
Pappy bragged to all his friends and Pilots that if he ever got shot down he would meet them again in the bar in San Francisco ...he did. Amazingly, he was also the only prisoner found at the Japanese War Camp in Japan that was not emaciated....he even had a heavy gut... this was even noted by the sailors that found him in their official report he was so smooth he hoodwinked the Japanese guards into giving him extra food. This eve endorses feats getting Navy nurses , Booze , and precious gas all of which was nearly on the cannibal at one time but he got for his men
Did you know the Japanese submarine that picked him up had a American of Japanese American heritage that did two things: He pushed Boyington out of the way from a straffing attack and that he steered the Japanese from knowing exactly who Boyinton was because he feared the Japanese officers would persecute Boyington.
During my first year in the Marine Corps, I was stationed at El Toro with 214, so I can rightfully claim the title of being a Black Sheep. At tyhat time we had a bunch of old A-4 E's or F's, I never can remember which, but we were in the process of receiving all new A-4M's straight from the factory in Palmdale. However, 214 was not the only famous squadron that I served with. When I went to Japan in 1974, I was assigned to VMA-211, the Wake Island Avengers, whose story I have spent the last 8 years researching. While doing this research, I came across their Presidential Unit Citation, which was for their valiant fight on Wake Island. The action and the citation pre-date those of 214, so the narrator of this film got that little detail wrong. The Black Sheep were not the first to receive the citation. That honor goes to VMF-211.
I was an air controller at El Toro, '72-76. VMA-214, the Black Sheep were on the south east corner of the base by 25L and 34R flying A-4 Skyhawks. Semper Fi
So there are some things to understand about this squadron, they were flying probably the best piston fighter to ever fly. I am going to assume they received the same gunnery training the Pacific Naval Aviators received which meant they were by far the best aerial gunners to ever fly in combat at least until the end of WW 2 but probably the best ever aerial gunners. The Corsairs also had the best areal weapons of the war with the .50 cal machine guns using a combination of ammo including incendiary rounds that were devastating against Zeros as well as armor piercing, ball, and tracer rounds and had a very high-velocity round that was simply devastating. The Naval Aviators were the best high deflection shooters and had sights made to assist them and they trained typically every other day on drog targets. They could outshoot any other pilots in the world. Their were no other comparable pilots in the world during WW 2. The P-38s were very effective and had centerline cannons that were highly effective as well but not the training the Navy and Marine pilots had. And to be honest the Japanese Zero was simply the most overrated fighter of the entire war and possible in the history of warfare. It had no armor, terrible weapons, no self-sealing fuel tanks, several huge weakness in maneuver it was simply a seriously overrated airplane. I am sure most F4F Wildcat pilots would have never traded a Wildcat for a Zero given the chance. With good defensive tactics the Wildcat was brutal against the Zero and of course, the Corsair and the Hellcat were far better than any model of the Zero. Even the later model P-38s far outclassed the Zeros once the compressibility problems were overcome and with the addition of hydraulicly assisted ailerons, the P-38 was a formidable fighter as well. If you would like to know the secret of the absolute best gunners it was their eyesight. The best gunners could see a .50 round heading toward the target. I could never do that but I could at least see a .45 pistol round going toward the target. The advantage that gives you is phenomenal. But as my eyesight faded I lost that ability. But I shot expert with a .45 M1911 and when the instructors walked behind me they just would shake their head and walk to the next shooter. I could put every shot dead center in the target and put them anywhere else I wanted to. The best fighter pilots could do that with a .50 cal high velocity rounds which is factors better than what I could do with a .45.
Both inspiring and depressing. My old heart aches for these magnificent men who succumbed to the demon alcohol as Boyington did. Also Sgt. John Basilone and Ira Hayes. Without war, the bottle was their only refuge in life, which led to their downfall. You SO wish that it were possible to erase this part of their lives, but it doesn't work that way.
Every time I watch something military here on You Tube I come away crying like a baby. I respect the military and wish everybody else did. I just wish the US Government would do more fore all of our service personal, past & present....!
If injured in war u should be able to go to Any civilian hospital First 3 doctor I was suppose to see were deployed I was told to wait again. I asked were the civilian hospital was they said they would not pay. I stated u did not want to die from my injurys I was about 2-3month post medavac. I regret not finding a civ hos as my quality of live would be beater today! I took off my uniform top and asked if gangrene was setting in My arm was down to the bone no muscle left Pac gone no function Everybody jaw dropped Now I was important enough to see a doctor. He said it was the worst he seen I would have been better off getting shot twice. 2.5 years on active duty and they never reattached the shoulder muscles tended tears biceps it only brushing hole time hint hint Had some progress since at 15min with doc at Bethesda MD Doc says one or two biceps tour or detached Saw a nerve transplant doctor Was supposed to see his surgal team but got branch blocked By walterreed people I was suppose to be 1top priority on orders
I agree but all through history, governments have used and abused their armed forces. In peacetime we’re suddenly surplus to requirements and we get let go; as soon as one of the donkeys drags us into another fight they immediately recruit, then browbeat then conscript. Lions led by donkey politicians.
He may have had his flaws but he truly was a great man. The television series that was on when I was a kid spired me to study more then just the history of mountain-men and trappers of the Rocky Mountains! His story was and is so compelling and interesting! Still a history buff in no small part because of the Black Sheep Squadron and it’s amazing leader!
I saw Pappy Boyington at the Dayton Air Show back in the late 70's & had an opportunity to get his autograph if I bought his book there in the tent but I already had his book so I passed which was dumb, I should have bought the book & got his autograph because I never had the opportunity again.
Yes, but you will not pass up on that opportunity again. You were probably just young and stupid like we all have been so do not regret something like that just learn from it. I have a lot of autographed books now since I also have learned that lesson.
An amazing story ! To bad Boyington couldn't get away from that bottle ! BUT it doesn't take away the fact that he was a bad ass on our side taking out the enemy ! And also the loyalty of his men that he had !
Our Polar Air museum had 3 of the Black Sheep there signing autographs. We also had Gary Beck's Corsair on display. After the show we went over and we were over looking at the Corsair. The Black Sheep were in their 80-90's? I asked if they wanted to sit in the plane. They laughed and said no way they could get in the plane . I told them we would get them if they wanted. We pushed and pulled and got everyone in the cockpit. I asked one what would it take to start it he rattled off exactly what to do. I jokily ask if it always took that long to get in? they laughed and said quicker if they were being strafed. A true highlight of my docent career.
You could get them into the cockpit the same way HenryVIII got on his horse in his later, corpulent years....hoisted into the air, and the horse ( or aircraft ) moved underneath them...
This is what inspired the TV show Black Sheep Squadron and made me love the Corsair so much. Pappy was THE best ace in the Pacific theater in my opinion.
I watched every episode at least 3 times...between my father’s influence and that of shows like the Black Sheep Squadron and High Chaperall I did get my pilots license...I’m blessed
My Uncle J Cameron Dustin was a pilot with the Black Sheep from September 1943 until he was shot down and killed December 28 1943. He is shown in the first 90 seconds (or so) of this show kneeling to the left of Pappy Boyington in what appears to be a pilot briefing. It's the first video I have ever seen of him and I just couldn't be more proud. I had the opportunity to interview a few of his fellow pilots back in the 1970's and they were indeed a wonderful group of men.
David Dustin that makes him even greater than pappy, he gave more without all the adoration.
Thanks for sharing. You have reason to be proud.
David Dustin, thank you for sharing. I am grateful for your uncles service.
I disagree with Stephen Howlett. All the men were under the same level of risk, in fact you could say Pappy shouldered more risk because he took the poorest running Corsair whenever there was one. (LOOK IT UP!) That said, some men just got luckier than others but they were all flirting with disaster at any second. Boyington wasn’t “the greatest” but he was the leader and even the members who castigated him for poor behavior were quick to admire him for his leadership, his guidance, his fearlessness and finally, his flying ability. Nobody was “greater than” anyone, especially Boyington.
David Dustin l
I had the privilege of meeting Pappy when I was 9 years old in 1977. He made an appearance at an airshow that was held at the airport when my grandfather kept his 182. Because of the TV series that was airing at the time, Pappy was already my hero, so getting to meet the real Greg Boyington was a dream come true. Regardless of his reputation, he was an absolute gentleman who knew how to treat a young kid in awe. He was happy to answer my questions, autograph the lithograph and book my grandfather from him for me, and take a Polaroid with me which he also signed. Also appearing at that airshow in another booth was Masajiro "Mike" Kawato, the man who claimed to have shot Pappy down. I asked Pappy flat out “Is that really the guy who shot you down?” Pappy looked me in the eye and said “Hell NO! He's NOT the guy that shot me down. He is a fraud.” From what I've read, time proved what Pappy told me was true because Kawato was ultimately discredited for the claim. Pappy is still a hero to me, flaws and all.
I was 6 yeast old at the time. Just wish that I could have met eyestrain. No kidding
I saw and talked with Pappy Boyington at the 1987 Reno Air Races. He was hawking his book and yelling over at another booth where a book was being sold by an ex-WWII Japanese fighter pilot. Boyington would yell some expletive to him and the other man would yell back: "Boyington, I shot you down!" I bought a book from both of them. Pappy did not look well at all but I did not know at the time he had cancer and would die less than four months later. I had known about most of the real history of Col. Boyington years before the TV series about the Black Sheep Squadron. It was an honor and privilege to have met him and talk briefly with him.
Thanks for that story; I would've loved hearing that exchange between Pappy Boyington & the Japanese pilot! He was truly an American Hero, Will Never be another like " Pappy Boyington" !
I was there too as a young teen, glad I got to meet a legend that day ! He was still full of spit and vinegar too 🤣🤣 especially to this wide eyed smart ass kid.
Masijiro "Mike" Kawato has to be the Japanese pilot you're talking about.
Classic. There’s a certain honor among pilots most soldiers don’t have. Like they’re smart enough to know neither of them really want to kill each other. They just have to do what they’re tolf
I have an autographed copy of both books and I met both men at different air shows.
My late father in law flew with them. Got 18 air to air kills and the Navy Cross. When he passed in 2010 the USMC tried to muster a missing man flyover of his gravesite in Central Florida but the War on Terror prevented that. The Marines provided a PLATOON led by a Major to provide graveside services. I cried so hard. It was magnificent the way they sent pop off. I still have a picture of him standing with Boyington and other Black Sheep on the wing of a Corsair. Pop also flew with a sister outfit to the Blacksheep known as Blackburn’s Irregulars.
If he flew in the USMC, how in the world did he ALSO fly with a USN Squadron - VF-17 !!! Your STORY doesn't quite check out.
@@bonehead2768 maybe he transferred?
Or, shockingly, there just might have been two squadrons on the same mission……
Awesome!😊
Wilbur Thomas, Marion Carl, John Smith, Don Aldrich, Kenneth Walsh, Gregory boyington, Robert Hanson, and Joe Foss were the ONLY Marines credited with 18 or more victories. Aside from Boyington NONE of them flew with the Black sheep, and none of them died in 2010. Maybe you should research your stupid bullshit story a lil better next time. As a former Marine and an honest person let me say you and your imaginary father in law can eat shit.
My Dad was stationed in the FIJI ISLANDS and he was the 390TH BOMB SQUADRON 42ND BOMB GROUP and he was with S-2 INTELLIGENCE and he took all bombing reports and from pilots who flew combat missions. Well, he took reports from the BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON PAPPY BOYINGTON and other of his squadron. The reports are at the SMITHSONIAN with all the other Bombing reports from the Squadrons back then with my dad's signature at the bottom. He was a Lt. at the time in 1943-45 and spent 30 years in the AIR FORCE until he retired in 1963 as an LT COL. I'm proud of what he did and he also flew 7 missions on different B-25S and earned his AIR MEDAL after 60 years plus others. H e said PAPPY was nice and loved to drink but was always ready for combat.
I had the HONOR Of meeting Pappy and the other remaining "Living" pilots of the Black Sheep back in the mid-80's at the Pheasent Run Hotel in Illinois.
The Storys from those pilots were just AMAZING!
I met a member of the squadron the day before Christmas 2015. We were in a supermarket, I noticed his cap said "Black Sheep Squadron". I talked to him about 5 minutes. Said he flew P-40s, but "I got to taxi a Corsair once", he said with a laugh. It was the best gift I got that Christmas.
Was pilot wearing VF214 hat or was he wearing 8th Fighter Squadron Black Sheep 49th FG USAF I was a member of that squadron when we had F15s then F117s then F22s. They now have new model F16s. They had P40s then P38s flew In Pacific Theater also Darwin and Australia etc. BTW I was lucky enough to meet some of the 8th fighter pilots from WW2 and got some autographs. They told us some stories good and bad and I vowed to never forget them and to carry on for them.
Was honored to meet Pappy several times at air shows in the Southern California area in the 70s. He was humble and friendly.
A real American hero and with flaws like everyone. No one remembers the good one does when one has a few flaws. This guy is a real American hero and a WW 2 legend.
Our country was founded by a bunch of flawed mavericks. Americans are rebellious by nature, and we revere leaders who like to color outside the lines.
My Uncle Paul 'Moon' Mullen flew both tours with the Black Sheep. He was an ace and a graduate of Notre Dame, the same as my father and his younger brother. Uncle Paul was mentioned in all the books and was sitting next to Pappy at the St. Francis hotel bar in the life magazine photo when Pappy returned. He was also standing next to Pappy in the photo of the squadron holding a baseball bat in front of a corsair. Uncle Paul returned to Japan after the war and was killed in a flight operational accident. He was leading a flight of corsairs, and someone flew out of formation. I'm very sad he didn't live. He would have had a great life ahead of him. In the 70s, my grandmother came to live with us, and my father made sure she never saw the TV show for obvious reasons. I have spoken to Bruce Gamble and respected his account and Frank Waltons account. God Bless them all!
Having watched blacksheep squadron as a kid, this was really cool to get the real story behind Pappy. Was also a Conrad fan from wild wild west growing up. Remember the battery commercial, and how that didn't end as well. Now mid 50's finding out how there is no honor from the old hero's, life goes on. Pappy will even more so be someone I'll look up to. Thanks for the memory.
Ditto
I had the greatest honor of meeting Pappy at El Toro (Marine Airbase) in the early 70s, when I had won a ride with the Blue Angels. He signed his book for me, which I treasured, but unfortunately lost it in a divorce. Pappy was aged at that time but still a character and spoke with my dad about WWII for a bit. But what I remember most about Pappy was that he seemed to be a lonely man who enjoyed his past and talking flying. We talked about my flying, and ended our visit by him saying “Enjoy your time in the sky kid and don’t become the knucklehead I was - Keep the shiny side up”. As I said it was an honor to meet this hell of a Marine and is still great to meet him. God Bless him and his memory. And “Yes” in 1988 when Pappy passed I cried like a baby. Cause I felt like I really knew the man, even though I really didn’t know him that well.
After I got out of the Army, (Nam era) I had the honor to work side by side with several WW2 vets in the late 70s. Not flamboyant like Pappy just guys who did their best in a bad place. Some of the honest stories they told........ One man, George Brown, Brownie to his buddies, served as a tail gunner in the Pacific. On the first day when he got to his duty station, the ground crew was using a fire hose to wash out the pieces of the last tail gunner who died in his aircraft in the tail gunner position. He flew in that spot a few days later. Those men did and saw things many today can't imagine. I met Pappy at an airshow in Long Beach in the late 70s or early 80s, talked for a while, purchased his book, he signed it and when I glance to my right as I write this, I can see it.
Mp
What a chilling story! Reminded me of the scene in Fury where the young guy replaces the tank belly gunner. But Brownie's story was real and he was exposed, thousands of feet up. Those guys had no chance to crawl back into the plane and no parachute as there wasn't any room crammed down in that up against glass, for hours with clouds hiding zeros. Thank you for your service Mr. Parris! Your tours were no easier I bet.
Thank you, Brother, for your service. It is great that people still honor these men of the greatest generation who gave so much to preserve our freedoms. Without them, it is doubtful this country would have survived as it did. From another Vietnam era vet.
Thank You So Much for your service; My Brother served & was wounded twice in Vietnam, he passed last year. Thanks For The Job you did for all of us!
@@thomasparnell1025 Humbley, thank you. Thank you to your brother.
I met Greg near the end of his life at the Ventura Gun show. I had no idea who he was. He was selling art pictures of corsairs. Then I saw the nameplate on the table. And I realized who he was. I made a run to get some sandwiches and coffee for the both of us. I shook his hand and I thanked him for the chat. He said call me Greg. my friends call me Greg. I'll never forget meeting a giant of a man who was not that tall.
amazing
and a bum first class
C on moo too sk
that is awesome
Soo awesome
I got to speak with Colonel Boyington, in 1986, and had an autographed copy of "Baa Baa Black Sheep." He WAS an awsome leader. WE NEED more like him.
Right On Brother!!!
Darren Garvie q
Darren Garvie he is my great grandpa
From what I have read Boyington was almost a celebrity in the Japanese POW camp. At that point, he was really a well known hero and even the Japanese recognized him as such. I cannot remember the book that discussed that but I think it was about the American or Australian Cruiser that fought in the early part of the war and was grounded on an island while the Japanese destroyed it. Many of the men spent a lot of time in the really brutal work on the Burma railroad which was far more deadly than depicted in the Bridge Over the River Quay. If I can remember the book I will update this comment.
Surely you must know that Robin Olds was in the same league as any other of these heros?
Someone needs to come to Birmingham, Alabama and interview George Mestler. He was a Black Sheep flyer with 9 shootdowns; almost a double ace. He himself was shot down and rescued by an American Submarine. He also served during Korea as an instructor and spent his life as a public school teacher. He is from N.Y. state originally and came to Tuscaloosa to play football at Alabama. He is a "small" man physically and barely made the minimum height requirements for a Marine pilot. He is in a nursing home now in Gardendale, Alabama and is almost totally blind.
Bobby McGuyer plz paste yout post on every web spots or blogs u can find. am gonna do same..
😔
Bobby McGuyer I'll bring the camera and microphone. You do the interviewing.
Bobby McGuyer, what is George Mestler’s status now?
what an awesome man. wow. .... amazing.. hope he is still alive and happy. if not . rip. we all have to go.... ALL of us.... I love the history of lives.
Had the great honor of meeting him and shaking his hand at an air race in Mojave. I believe it was spring of '82, but maybe '81 or '83. I was more star struck by him, more in awe, than I was by ANY officer when I was in the Corps and again while I was in the Navy Reserves. I always found it easy to talk to generals and fun to screw with 2nd Lieutenants. I remember him gushing a bit over a pair of polished P-38s and if I recall correctly, a B-17, that were on the course at the time.
He's a Marines Marine, a true Fighter. Mega Respect to Him and all the Warriors of the Black Sheep Squadron.
My Dad flew under Pappy's command in WW2 and used to tell me stories about flying supply planes over the S. Pacific at night with no radar and enough fuel to get from one island to the next and absolutely no room for error. Half his friends didn't make it thru the war. God Bless the Brave soldiers, pilots, and sailors who represented the last GREAT Generation.
*Nice bullshit story!* (take-off with low-fuel, fly a fighter
at night when you can't see fuck-all w/no moon, fly a
fighter that can't carry fuck-all in terms of 'supplies'...and
a host of other 'made-up fuckin' shit-storm of one stupid
lie after another'...yeah, I'm impressed!
(what was 'Hero Dad's *NAME?* , you lying sack of shit?)
Don't get your panties in a bunch, Gerry. Everyone's got his own story.
@@bebereyes5514**WTF are writing to me for?**
You have some effective rebuttal to elaborate? Some definable input? No? Then STFU!
Cool!!!
gerry. shut the fuck up. you sound like a fuckin zippahead
Ken Edmisten
It is great to read all of this. My dad was a mechanic with VF-17 and loved watching the show. He would tell me what he thought was correct and incorrect about the details of the show.
VF-17 was a navy squadron of Corsairs station at the same base right after the Black Sheep.
His squadron was also one of the first to receive Corsairs and he had many great stories about them. WWII brought together many Americans that did great things for the country,
A true American hero. I love Boyington and he has been a person hero of mine since I first started reading about him back in highschool. I wish he was still alive I would do anything to sit down and talk to him, to hear all his stories.
Guys like Pappy were actually quite common prior to the great purge. Meaning up to the late 80’s, the military was full of people who were much like Pappy. The military use to invest time in people, such as GED classes at night, fat farms for chunky monkeys etc. Sadly Pappy wouldn’t be allowed on active duty today.
A huge salute to all the air crewmen who contributed so much to our nation’s security and made it look so easy. Praying for all of you, your families - please get help instead of self-medicating for PTSD. Love to all our heroes, at home & around the world.
10-4
Thanks for all the airmen who still don't get all the necessary tribute that they still deserve.l guess in those days it was expected and that was that
W
My first year of teaching in 1977 was at South Rowan Senior High School in China Grove,NC which is in southern Rowan County. One of my students became so interested in "Baa Baa Black Sheep" which by then was a TV show on ABC, that i encouraged him to purchase a copy of Pappy Boyingtons biography. He did and it started me on a journey in continuing to educate young people about the pleasures of reading non fiction historical biographies. The school is now called South Rowan High School and I am so glad that I stuck with my love of working with K12 students and history.
I was raised by men like Greg. my father, grandfather, uncles, all Marines. some of whom served in multiple theaters of War. hard-nosed individuals, heavy drinkers. my grandfather help to put in runways, he put one in on Guadalcanal under Japanese aerial bombardment for 6 months. my uncle Jacklyn Lucas like Greg lied to get into the Marine Corp. he found himself in Hawaii after Pearl he UA from Pearl jumped on a ship with a 26 Marine Division ended up sailing to Iwo Jima. where he was awarded the Medal of Honor the youngest Marine ever to receive the medal. because of injuries sustained on Iwo he was forced to sit out Korea, That bothered him greatly he was a fighter, he re-enlisted in the United States Army and commissioned and went on to fight in Vietnam. I'm thankful to have been surrounded by good men heavy Drinkers and Screwballs they were but if there's one thing they taught me was love of country. There's nothing I can't fix or build there's nothing I can't hunt or kill to the men and women of my fighting forces thank you America
I had 2 uncles & 1 one to be uncle that were in WW11. I bought Pappy's paperback book back in the 70's or 80's,loved it! Grandfather in WW1,Dad in Korea & cousin in Vietnam. All are gone now,but I'm just as proud of them now,as I were when they were alive. Thank you for everything we have,vets & current soldiers serving our country!❤🇺🇸
I grew up watching the Black Sheep with my dad, who was a Navy veteran. He was a machinist mate on a PT Boat, some might of herd of with a certain president! I always made yime as i got older and heard about the Black Sherp on tv would find and watch intently. I love the show. Pappy always figured out a way to get what he wanted or needed. Great man, and without him, the war in the Pacific might of not went our way. Thank you, Greg! Prayers for all the Black Sheep and especially for the mechanics that kept the planes flying!
Excellent documentary. I read BBBS over forty years ago when I was young, and followed the show and read everything I could find, and this is a real eye opener - he really was as flamboyant and heroic as they portrayed, with the flaws that make him human, too, and the ups and downs that many of experience throughout life.
Thanks for sharing this.
1q
I enjoyed the 1977 series, but never knew the true story. How awesome was the performance of these pilots...they were all " larger than life ". Semper Fi
I have air antana tv & watch it every weekend !!!😃
Didn't it start before 1977, I was thinking 74 or 75
@@MrPhillipABurns Black Sheep Squadron was on TV during 1976 year. I watched an awfully lot before I went active duty in the US Army come summer 1977 . Phil Burns
it ran a few years, can't remember the exact years. But if I recall (??) the show title started as Ba Ba Black Sheep ? someone give me your fill !
I watched the series, then found and read the book.
I'm proud to be one of his Sheep, I served in the modern version of the 214 now based at Yuma Arizona
Thank You, best wishes.
Arent they bomber pilots now?
one is air guard unit in Arizona
Ben Foong the use Harriers last I knew when I was on 31st MEU/SOC in Somalia
So cool that the legend carries on
why can't the history channel show awesome stuff like this any more.I'm so sick of all that reality show crap they play twenty hours a day now.
When a Liberal network buys out a channel, THAT is exactly what happens. ESPN is anther example.
I agree with you 100 percent . I am so grateful that I grew up in the era before the internet and reality shows .
Same thing... I agree!!!! this is what makes TV wonderful. TV does not offer model roles anymore...just crap reality tv shows. I do not watch tv anymore.
The poor results don't lie, look at Chicago, Detroit, ran by Libs for many years. My home state of Cali, all poorly ran and down the drain. Not to say that the right doesn't f$ck shit up, it does happen from time to time.
Matt H. Houston has been ran by liberals for the last 37 years...try again...
Pappy Boyington and The Baa Baa BlackSheep TV series in the 70's was one of the reasons I joined the Marine Corps...
Pappy was/is a hero of mine... I am almost finished reading his book Baa Baa Black Sheep... and I have to tell you..
I will never watch that TV series again.. Doesn't give the Black Sheep proper due...
Much respect for the 214...
Semper Fi
yeah the series was made for entertainment purposes,but pappy boyington was a technical advisor for the series,and he portrayed the 214 the same way to make dollars
Hey Ralph I get you but the show isn't that bad either.
Ralph Curtis--- My dad was in the USMC. For over 40 years and through him I got the opportunity to meet Pappy as well. Bob Conrad should have gotten some special recognition as Baa Baa Black Sheep did so much for people joining the Marines.
Ralph Curtis--- "We are poor little lambs, who have lost their way- baa, baa, baa!
Well, Ralph, that's the story of television, they change it and embellish it for ratings alone, not for truth! Semper Fi and thank you for being a part of our great USMC!
I have been lucky in my life to have met some of the greatest pilots in the world on both side of WW2. I was involved in aviation for over 40 years in 11 different states. It was during this period that I met, "Pappy". I had aquirred an original Chance Vought F4U factory Poster which I had framed. I showed this to Pappy at a aishow in Denver, Co. and we talked planes and became friends. I saw him again at a airshow and shared a beer or two he had in a cooler under the table while he signed he Baa Baa Blash Sheep book. In 1987 I got a job in southern Ca. in which we sat a talked planes and pilots. he invitedd myself to his home in Ca., sadly he died before I could make that trip. I fouund he to very engaging and of course a WW2 ace and MOH recipient. His family and hundreds of friends will miss him. I was fortunate to have met him as God put him in my way. RIP
I remember watching the TV show every week and then in syndication. I really admired "Pappy" Boyington and his Black Sheep Squadron regardless how they were depicted on the show. After high school I tried enlisting in the Marine Corps but was denied. I wanted to be a fighter pilot so bad because of the men that were depicted on the show.
I once worked with a man who said he was Pappy Boington's crew chief. He was in the Marines during WW2, got out, and reenlisted during the Korean War. He died with no family. He was over 93 when he died.
5/8/2022
Being a Navy man 9/1965 - 9/1969 and having been part of Navy Air (AO-3) This story gives me a kick of pride.
There is only one thing I have to really say "OOH RAH".
The men of the Black Sheep are examples of what Marine's are; A bunch bad ass dudes, and that's from a sailor. Muttly (on the left) gives them all a well deserved snappy salute. ;-)
In the late '60's, early '70's, we used to go over to Boyington's place to BBQ on the weekends. I grew up listening to some awesome story's.
Very lucky fellows.
To the men of the Black Sheep squadron, don't worry about the Hollywood crap. I know that you all are the best that ever was. God Bless you all.
Amen
ABSOLUTELY...Hollywood are SCUM
Small price to pay for being one of the world's greatest 👌
Jose
My 98 year old HD dealer was a mechanic with the Black Sheep Squadron. I think that is him on the wing at 21:34. His name is Groover Sassaman, look for his interview on You Tube. Just one of the amazing guys in that Squadron. BTW, Groover does not drink, smoke nor cuss, never has...tougher than nails...fight and ride motorcycles? Oh yeah! Still goes to his shop, Harley-Davidson or Macon, Ga every day...
My father was a mechanic/radioman with the Black Sheep Squadron also. His name was Warren Masker, he passed away 20 years ago. He was a hard ass, did smoke, didn't drink much at all. The same with cussing, when he needed to make a point he would say "judas priest" what where you thinking! He rode us hard but all of us respect those around us and "kept our noises clean".
Your Heroin Dope dealer was a mechanic?
@@imhowdy I'll ask Groover about him next time I see him. They had to have known each other. Sounds like they were birds of a feather.
Sorry it took so long to get back to you, we lost Groover last January, but I did get a chance to ask about your Dad. He claims he remembered the name! Funny hard drinking hard fighting, he was the 2nd all right... also knew Tennessee Jack Baum, but he was a Flying Tiger in China, was none too fond of Pappy, not at all... BTW, I know Maskers in Macon, Ga...
I had the honor to meet him in the early 80's at the Tri-Cities WA Air Show. I stood before him star struck as he autographed his book for me. One of my best childhood memories.
Pappy may not have been the best Husband or even Father
Ya left out....and...free
I loved watching BA BA BLACK SHEEP when I was a kid and the F4U is still my favorite plane today. This was my first time seeing this documentary only after watching the pilot episode and I have to say that PAPPY and all who served with him I owe a debt of gratitude. Also, to all those who are serving America's Armed forces and to all the Vets, Thank You. You are the ones responsible for the freedoms I have today. with love I give to you for with o
out you I would have none to give.
topgun201196 that F4U is so elegant....
Pappy boyington was as good as it gets when it comes to fighting strategy in the air,the rest of his story just makes him human and easy to relate to.Definitely one of the all time top 5 american heroes of ww2.
That was super he was amazing to say the least. They all where. A lot of my family was in the aviation business. My uncle flew B-17 and had 118 missions my father flew in the TBF Advengers as a radio specialist another cousin was a jet pilot in 1953-58 period another uncle was a ball turret gunner in a B-17 I worked on helicopters in 1973-84 no fun being involved in the aero space industry for 29 years was very challenging but loved none the less
I'm proud to say that I delivered parts to VMA-214 from 1987-90. I was attached to MAG-13 Supply. If my memory is right, MAG-13 transformed to MALS-13 in 1988.
During WTI in (I believe) 1989, I was tasked with shipping parts back to their respective squadrons home stations. I was the first Marine to record 100% validity on all returned parts. I was recognized for that, but due to unfortunate circumstances, I lost all my Marine records, including meritorious masts and other recognitions.
I served in vma214, 81-85. MCAS ElToro, no longer there
I was privileged to hear him speak in Anchorage Alaska decades ago, old man with that fuck you look still in his eyes, he was quite the man and a great leader. I know my words don't do him justice but he was an exception man, pilot and person.
Met Pappy in his older days as a Sheriff's Sgt with Fresno County. Pappy would wander away from his house and his wife would call and we would always find him and take him home. I could listen to his stories as often as I could. No doubt in my mind he was a great fighter pilot. Sad when he passed away. R.I.P Pappy you gave many of us great memories.
All men who serve their countries in a time of war are heroes.
They stepped forward when asked and they all foughtt with courage and bravery.
Some men such as Boyington were exceptional young men because they go beyond.
Let us all pray that innocent young men are not sacrificed into the future as a result of war.
Peace to all.
I would like to add just one concept, One doesn’t Win the Medal of Honor, One is a Recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Medals are also earned. War is not a competition.
It was his Personal Achievement so he did win it but he received it on the backside of the conflict
so right ,,,it is AWARDED when the recipient EARNS it ..it is NOT A PRIZE for "winning" , a CONTEST ..!!!
@@tombrunila2695 War is the ultimate competition. You are competing for your life as well as the lives of your friends. The Medal of Honor is usually achieved through ultimately losing that competition in a selfless act of courage.
@@jefflast9489, war is no form, shape or manner a competition! Medals are earned for acts of valor, very few of those who have earned medals in a war went to war to earn medals! In a competition the whole purpose is to win medals. Medals won in a competition are proof that a person has been better than others. They are also ranked.
This brings to life, with better clarity, the TV show that I came to love in my younger years.
I remember seeing him as a special guest star on the show, you could see the awe in Robert Conrad's eyes when he was shaking his hand, Robert Conrad played the main character as Pappy Boyington.
I owe my Marine Corps tour to Pappy. I grew up watching the series on TV and have it on DVD. While stationed on El Toro I almost had an the TME unit I was with was just up the street from the VMF-214. I stopped in one day and talked to a couple Marines in the shop and had a good time talkine to them. That was in 1986 Good God how time has flown.
Semper FI Pappy and God Speed.
We still must remember these tough American heroes. I had the honor to shake his hand at an air show in WA State in the 70s. My dad was a B 17 Pilot with 35 missions under his belt over Europe.
love him or hate him, he and others put their butts on the line for our country. I have more respect for him , then anyone in Washington.
There's not one politician in Washington today that is worthy enough to lick Pappy Boyington's boot soles. Boyington was a REAL man, something today's politicians know very little, if anything, about. Hell, they can't even figure out which bathroom they are supposed to use.
Well said, me too.
Truth
What do any of you know about D.C.? You best jump on Team America before our enemies take serious advantage of your petty fuckin gripes.🇺🇸
@@astraluna6is9
One of the things that other nations have never understood about Americans is that we are individuals who bitch and gripe at each other until we don't, that's when you better look out. My friend that's when people like Boyington, Sledge, Snafu and other people like them who are individuals suddenly come out of the bars, jails and other places that you don't talk about at cocktail parties. The old thing about the best Marines are in jail has some truth.
I am happy to meet and actually do a little dove hunting with Joe Foss back in the early 90s when I was a teenager. That man had an old-school double gauge shotgun and at 80 something was knocking those birds down. Amazing stories and amazing man
I've always enjoyed the TV show
BA BA BLACK SHEEP...
WISH IT WAS STILL ON...
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU IN THE THE SERVICE... THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
I think the real Greg Boyington looked a lot like Frank Sutton (Sergeant Carter (Gomer Pyle)). I read Boyington's autobiography and the most interesting parts of it were his adventures after he was shot down and imprisoned by the Japanese. He was a deeply flawed man but a real war hero. Such hero's frequently had difficulties adjusting to civilian life after the war.
It’s amazing to me that a man with such an obvious drinking problem could be the best fighter pilot you could want on your side, he was obviously a thorn in the side of the Marine Corp hierarchy, but so invaluable as a pilot and squadron commander that they had to tolerate his shortcomings, and, unfortunately for him, once the war was over they discarded him because he was no longer of any use to them, and that was a crying shame, his experience and abilities would have been invaluable in training the Marine Corps future pilots, pilots who faced aerial combat in Korea and Vietnam. Such a pity that he died in the manner he did, in obscurity and probably loneliness. RIP Major Boyington Lest We Forget.
In 1984, Denver, Co had an air show; I supplied the Beer- Coors! As The 33 yo GM of a distributorship, walked up to an old guy siting at a table, signing books! It was Pappy Boyington, who for whatever reason, took a liking to me. Being a HS wrestler didn't hurt; nor did the black eye I got outside a bar. I spent 20 minutes with him-and WILL NEVER FORGET IT. THIS MAN EXPERIENCED MORE/DID MORE in 32 years than most could come close to in a lifetime. I will forever cherish his 'two handed' shake as we parted! RIP, Pappy!!
We need SOB'S like these MEN, Thank For Your Honorable Service. Someone once said that GOD doesn't always pick perfect men, but always pick MEN PERFECT FOR THE JOB AMEN!
I lived for the black sheep squadron show when i was a kid!
It , Patrol Boat and McHales Navy were my favorite shows along with all the great old WW2 movies.
Id love to lounge around some weekend and watch all those great old shows.
My Dad was on the USS O'Bannon, DD 450 a Spencer class Destroyer. The battle of Guadalcanal , Solomon Islands.....the "Slot"....There was a book written about the O'Bannon, called "Action Tonight" By Horan. Fantastic read. My Dad was Gun Capt. #2 turret at this time. Truly, a sit up all night reading kind of book !
This is history channel when it was still HISTORY channel.
arnulfo salvino exactly
arnulfo salvino I miss this
Great video, I remember watching "Black Sheep Squadron" faithfully, never missed an episode. Greg "Pappy" Boyington was my Hero back then.
The best true story I've listened to on CZcams ever,.carry on lpapy
Granddad#1, 19th bomb group -US Army air corps, south pacific, WW2.... B-17 tail gunner, flight engineer, crew chief--- Granddad #2 -US Navy, PT boat, gunners mate. Both fought in same theatre of operations...#1 bombed Guadalcanal before they even knew the name of the place, 6 months before marines assaulted the Island..got air cover from Those Marine fighters during raids throughout solomon islands. It took a special breed of warrior, one that must have the wirey and prickly character to endure what they endured,..a character that can be very unlikable to many...a character set that existed then, and is largely extinct today.
A crisp Salute to you Pappy. One of those few...the proud.
Really extinct today? Not in the world I have lived in. I guess many people have lived in the very protected world but remember not everyone has grown up in the very protected and rich world that many talk about and see as normal today. Not everyone has grown up in the world without risk that most people seem to think is normal now. I have lived through enough opportunities to have died in and know what risk is. I feel sorry for those that think that life is "extinct". Hell I am an old man and still live in a world that can be dangerous. Do you live in a nice quiet cocoon in suburbia? I pity anyone one that has not lived a life that has a little risk, some danger and some excitement! God help you if you think living in US suburbia is living, you do know you can actually explore the world don't you?
Terrific show, seen it several times, keep coming back to it, a time that is sadly long forgotten, our world now didn't learn a thing from those tuff times !
Just goes to show the younger generation think they can do what others couldn't and don't want to just live life
My childhood favorite aviator, knowing he was a North Idaho made me proud as a kid, i loved the TV series and never missed one. My hat is off to all who served and payed the ultimate price to keep our country free. God bless the USA.
What happened to the History channel they dont show nothing good like this anymore just pawn shops , ufos and bigfoot . ...the Channel has gone to shit
Discovery channel and Discovery Turbo too. They are all cars, car restoration, racing, accidents, more cars, more car restoration. They think that everyone in the world is a car fanatic. I gave up and stopped watching those.
troynov1965 because all the American things done during ww2 have already been shown 44 times on the history channel. And unless they focused more on the world War instead off America's contribution then maybe we would have unlimited ww2 docos shown on the channel just an idea.
+b whit
It wasn't just american things. The History Channel had the "Wings" show with many interesting German aircraft too. And they had engineering shows, construction work, etc. Now it seems to be all cars, ufos, monsters, and other childish things.
corisco tupi yeah I realise that I'm jus saying if the production team at history channel did some actual research they could have an unlimited supply of information 2 base there stories and documentaries on instead of being so one dimensional.
troynov1965 it's as if they don't want people to understand the greatest of American history. or the history of Evil that we stood against.
At 41:39, the third man from left (in dark shirt under wing as it meets fuselage) is Edwin Harper. He earned 2 Purple Hart during his time with this unit. I understand one injury required him to fly back to base with use of only right hand to control both stick and throttle. Pappy gave Ed the nickname “The Sleeve” (tow target) because he returned his aircraft to base, with over 100 holes in it.
Ed retired from the Marines while working on the AV8 Harrier aircraft. He joined McDonnell Douglas and managed the AV8B Program from about 1977-1987. During the Marine evaluation of AV8B he took several of his engineering staff to Chery Point, North Carolina, on company jet to learn how the program was going and where McDonnell Douglas could help. We always had 2 meetings, one at Officers Club when we arrived and one the next day for the official business.
I understand he was born in Canada, was Native American and grew up in Idaho.
ba ba black sheep came up one day in my head when I was thinking back when I was doing back when I was 10. Found it and wow. So wonderful to recall not just the TV show, the realism it had back then. Thanks so much for this video. Blessed the men and women that fought in the war.
We are poor little lambs, who have lost our way...I loved watching this show with my Da. Semper Fi "Pappy"!
Thumbs up , to the pilots and crew of the 214th. Thanks to you all! You will be forever remembered !
Long may you fly !
What a great man!! I delivered a television to him once in my life. We talked briefly about his service. He was a very humble man, but I could see he was very special. I didn't want to make myself a bother so I kept my discussion brief. I cherish my interaction with him.
The one thing I hear far too often is the phrase, "He was a Medal of Honor winner." Combat is not a contest for the highest prize. One doesn't win the Medal of Honor, one earns the Medal of Honor. It is an award, not a prize.
You are almost correct. Command level medals are earned (good conduct, etc), valor and non-valor medals are awarded - not earned. the medal of honor is technically bestowed upon one, and that person is referred to as a recipient of the medal.
David J Medal of Honor means you lucky...
Anomoly Deception /b
B.B.
These days this generation doesn't earn, they recieve...
I wonder who eventually flew the last mission. Bless these boyz.... ~S~ Salute to them all. Without men like these,, I couldn't enjoy such a great land today. America.
Thank you, Black Sheep. And all who fault in WWII. Some of us know what you have given.
And I thank you.
Snowman374th Indeed, I was of an age to know many of these old veterans, the thing is they weren't that old when I FIRST knew them.
It was more common than not, that the Dad of most of your friends were Vets with a wide array of experiences. I miss these brave men, in fact on many of these guys, I knew nothing of their service and exploits until they died, and they were eulogized by other Vets.
My, my what a generation.
From my quick research- Harry Johnson
www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/226640-the-last-black-sheep-harry-skinny-johnson-dies-at-93/
They were truly the greatest generation, the whole world was at war. Being a prisoner of war starving all the time would suck!
@@calvinpaulson It's coming home. Because these men are powerless today and or gone. And our youth today are too stoned Or too stupid to care.
"I don't follow politics"
= Democrats #1 Motto to get your vote
Over the years there has been more unsung heroes than I can say. During the veitnam war those who flew in medivac where unsung heroes of the highest order.
They flew into combat areas taking fire just to get our wounded out and the ones of desist home.
They where truly our unsung heroes of the time.
I know that there was many who where unsung heroes from all different fasis of our military then.
My grandfather was in WW1
My uncle was in bombers in WW2 and his paperwork is in harlengen Texas at the Confederate air memoria there.
l served in veitnam in 1970
I was no unsung heroes in my own mind but around me there was many.
I would like them to do something on the early squadrons on Guadalcanal, such as VMF 223 led by John L. Smith and Marion Carl, both were awarded the MoH. Many of their fliers were quite raw, but learned their trade and absorbed the tactics that Thatch and Foss developed.
It was good to see Tex Hill and Dick Rossi interviewed as they were 2 of the top aces in the Flying Tigers and Tex stayed in China to lead the new USAAF squadrons under Chennault.
Thanks for posting this video. I hope more people stumble upon it, like I did. I learned quite a bit about Boyington and his crew of Marine aviators. Too bad the 70's show wasn't more in-line with the true story of these heroes.
"V" did not stand for "heavier than air craft". The Navy and USMC used "V" stood for fixed wing air craft. It still does today.
thanks for pointing that out!! a lot of docs fill in the blanks with fluff. SF!
Eric Mowrey You're right, as designations have been since 1962, but prior to then, the V designated heavier than air. Keep in mind that the few helicopters there were, were primitive experimental beasts, more likely to dig an expensive hole than to fly with any kind of realistic control. Igor Sikorsky didn't fly his first prototype until late 1942.
104thDIVTimberwolf, your right too. However the "V" heavier than air wasn't a reference between aircraft and helicopters, It was aircraft and air ships (blimps). The U.S. and countries like German utilized a lot of blimps during the war and thus the designation between the two. Also Sikorsky first flew in 1939 and this was several prototypes in already. Several had previously failed.
that's what i thought, thanks for confirming it
The History Channel would often get details wrong, like calling the P-40 WARhawk a "tomahawk". Makes one wonder what else they got wrong.
I was 8 years old in 1976 when this show came on television . I loved this show , read the book and watched it in syndication into my late teens . I do not know if it is just me but I do not think that they make television shows as good as they used to. I live in southern California and the little airstrip where they filmed the show is just about an hour from my house, but I think that they tore it up a few years back .
You're talking about Indian Dunes. I used tho live in canyon country when they were filming there...
I was a Navy physician, and did a pre-operative history & physical on Lt.Col. Boyington in 1979 at Naval Regional Medical Center, Long Beach, before it was torn down.
Greg was in the hospital for alcohol rehabilitation, which I had undergone in 1978.
I told Greg that his coveralls did not fit him anything like Robert Conrad's fit him.
I do not know whether Pappy Sayed sober after that hospitalization.
@@izzysykopthYes you are right. My best friends dad did some work in the area during that time and he told us that he would see the planes flying around.
I remember the commercials for this episode and watched when it originally aired. I sure miss The History Channel. A real sad shell of its former glory.
I got introduced and spoke some with Pappy Boyington in the late 70's. And in the 80's I became a good friend with former Black Sheep pilot Sam Ritter.
When I was staying home due to breaking both of my wrists and already had known him for about a year or so. Sam would come over and keep me company for hours just about every day. The stories he told me were larger than life and I'll remember them for all my days.
You won't find Sam's name in many of the books about the Black Sheep because he wasn't a Marine along with one other pilot. I consider myself very lucky to have known Sam, his wife and his dog that I'm sure was largely wolf. That's why most just knew of him as "Wolfman Sam".
Wow what a great little documentary.
Thank you gentlemen one and all for your service 🙏 ❤
We are poor...little lambs...who have lost...our way.....baa....Baa.......baaa
IcantSignin, haha, I was a lad barely out of high school, and this was a don't miss show. Thanks for reminding me of that little ditty.
I remember the show and loved that beginning. Pappy and Ricebowl fighting it out. Pappy always one step ahead.
I used to LOVE this program, I think I watched every episode between '76 and '78! We respect, admire and thank all our military personnel! The famous Corsair was one of my favorite aircraft of that era. RIP, "Pappy" and semper fi! (There is an airport in northern Idaho that is named "Pappy Boyington Field," in honor of multiple ace Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (1912-1988), a Medal of Honor recipient born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.) I really wish they would air some of those great old series, I would watch every episode, all over again!
I was 12 years old when Baa Baa Black Sheep aired. Instantly fell in love with it. I didn't know most of the pilots were actually highly educated and not screw-ups awaiting court martial like in the TV show. It was a different world back then. I wish we could get a big Hollywood movie made based on the Black Sheep. That would be cool as hell.
Excellent!! A number of years ago I met an old gent who was a mechanic for the Flying Tigers. ;-)
Pappy bragged to all his friends and Pilots that if he ever got shot down he would meet them again in the bar in San Francisco ...he did.
Amazingly, he was also the only prisoner found at the Japanese War Camp in Japan that was not emaciated....he even had a heavy gut... this was even noted by the sailors that found him in their official report he was so smooth he hoodwinked the Japanese guards into giving him extra food.
This eve endorses feats getting Navy nurses , Booze , and precious gas all of which was nearly on the cannibal at one time but he got for his men
Did you know the Japanese submarine that picked him up had a American of Japanese American heritage that did two things: He pushed Boyington out of the way from a straffing attack and that he steered the Japanese from knowing exactly who Boyinton was because he feared the Japanese officers would persecute Boyington.
chris fromm: That is interesting!
During my first year in the Marine Corps, I was stationed at El Toro with 214, so I can rightfully claim the title of being a Black Sheep. At tyhat time we had a bunch of old A-4 E's or F's, I never can remember which, but we were in the process of receiving all new A-4M's straight from the factory in Palmdale. However, 214 was not the only famous squadron that I served with. When I went to Japan in 1974, I was assigned to VMA-211, the Wake Island Avengers, whose story I have spent the last 8 years researching. While doing this research, I came across their Presidential Unit Citation, which was for their valiant fight on Wake Island. The action and the citation pre-date those of 214, so the narrator of this film got that little detail wrong. The Black Sheep were not the first to receive the citation. That honor goes to VMF-211.
I was an air controller at El Toro, '72-76. VMA-214, the Black Sheep were on the south east corner of the base by 25L and 34R flying A-4 Skyhawks. Semper Fi
I was in the Army, and also liked reading the stories of the various units I was in.
I was in 211 in75-6 in Iwakuni Japan.
Thanks for this. His actual story is so much more interesting than the TV show which we enjoyed immensely.
So there are some things to understand about this squadron, they were flying probably the best piston fighter to ever fly. I am going to assume they received the same gunnery training the Pacific Naval Aviators received which meant they were by far the best aerial gunners to ever fly in combat at least until the end of WW 2 but probably the best ever aerial gunners. The Corsairs also had the best areal weapons of the war with the .50 cal machine guns using a combination of ammo including incendiary rounds that were devastating against Zeros as well as armor piercing, ball, and tracer rounds and had a very high-velocity round that was simply devastating. The Naval Aviators were the best high deflection shooters and had sights made to assist them and they trained typically every other day on drog targets. They could outshoot any other pilots in the world. Their were no other comparable pilots in the world during WW 2. The P-38s were very effective and had centerline cannons that were highly effective as well but not the training the Navy and Marine pilots had. And to be honest the Japanese Zero was simply the most overrated fighter of the entire war and possible in the history of warfare. It had no armor, terrible weapons, no self-sealing fuel tanks, several huge weakness in maneuver it was simply a seriously overrated airplane. I am sure most F4F Wildcat pilots would have never traded a Wildcat for a Zero given the chance. With good defensive tactics the Wildcat was brutal against the Zero and of course, the Corsair and the Hellcat were far better than any model of the Zero. Even the later model P-38s far outclassed the Zeros once the compressibility problems were overcome and with the addition of hydraulicly assisted ailerons, the P-38 was a formidable fighter as well.
If you would like to know the secret of the absolute best gunners it was their eyesight. The best gunners could see a .50 round heading toward the target. I could never do that but I could at least see a .45 pistol round going toward the target. The advantage that gives you is phenomenal. But as my eyesight faded I lost that ability. But I shot expert with a .45 M1911 and when the instructors walked behind me they just would shake their head and walk to the next shooter. I could put every shot dead center in the target and put them anywhere else I wanted to. The best fighter pilots could do that with a .50 cal high velocity rounds which is factors better than what I could do with a .45.
“AVIATOR”
Thank You, Sir.
They were/are still Naval and Marine Corps Aviators
Both inspiring and depressing. My old heart aches for these magnificent men who succumbed to the demon alcohol as Boyington did. Also Sgt. John Basilone and Ira Hayes. Without war, the bottle was their only refuge in life, which led to their downfall. You SO wish that it were possible to erase this part of their lives, but it doesn't work that way.
Great show! Met Pappy in Spokane in 1976, when he was doing a talk show. WOW - such raw talent!
Every time I watch something military here on You Tube I come away crying like a baby. I respect the military and wish everybody else did. I just wish the US Government would do more fore all of our service personal, past & present....!
David Eastwood haha your not the only one mate.
If injured in war u should be able to go to Any civilian hospital
First 3 doctor I was suppose to see were deployed I was told to wait again. I asked were the civilian hospital was they said they would not pay. I stated u did not want to die from my injurys
I was about 2-3month post medavac. I regret not finding a civ hos as my quality of live would be beater today!
I took off my uniform top and asked if gangrene was setting in
My arm was down to the bone no muscle left Pac gone no function
Everybody jaw dropped
Now I was important enough to see a doctor. He said it was the worst he seen I would have been better off getting shot twice.
2.5 years on active duty and they never reattached the shoulder muscles tended tears biceps it only brushing hole time hint hint
Had some progress since at
15min with doc at Bethesda MD
Doc says one or two biceps tour or detached
Saw a nerve transplant doctor
Was supposed to see his surgal team but got branch blocked
By walterreed people I was suppose to be 1top priority on orders
I agree but all through history, governments have used and abused their armed forces. In peacetime we’re suddenly surplus to requirements and we get let go; as soon as one of the donkeys drags us into another fight they immediately recruit, then browbeat then conscript. Lions led by donkey politicians.
What a great story!!! I never knew all that about him. A hero for sure!!!
He may have had his flaws but he truly was a great man. The television series that was on when I was a kid spired me to study more then just the history of mountain-men and trappers of the Rocky Mountains! His story was and is so compelling and interesting! Still a history buff in no small part because of the Black Sheep Squadron and it’s amazing leader!
I saw Pappy Boyington at the Dayton Air Show back in the late 70's & had an opportunity to get his autograph if I bought his book there in the tent but I already had his book so I passed which was dumb, I should have bought the book & got his autograph because I never had the opportunity again.
Yes, but you will not pass up on that opportunity again. You were probably just young and stupid like we all have been so do not regret something like that just learn from it. I have a lot of autographed books now since I also have learned that lesson.
An amazing story ! To bad Boyington couldn't get away from that bottle ! BUT it doesn't take away the fact that he was a bad ass on our side taking out the enemy !
And also the loyalty of his men that he had !
Our Polar Air museum had 3 of the Black Sheep there signing autographs. We also had Gary Beck's Corsair on display. After the show we went over and we were over looking at the Corsair. The Black Sheep were in their 80-90's? I asked if they wanted to sit in the plane. They laughed and said no way they could get in the plane . I told them we would get them if they wanted. We pushed and pulled and got everyone in the cockpit. I asked one what would it take to start it he rattled off exactly what to do. I jokily ask if it always took that long to get in? they laughed and said quicker if they were being strafed. A true highlight of my docent career.
You could get them into the cockpit the same way HenryVIII got on his horse in his later, corpulent years....hoisted into the air, and the horse ( or aircraft ) moved underneath them...
This is what inspired the TV show Black Sheep Squadron and made me love the Corsair so much. Pappy was THE best ace in the Pacific theater in my opinion.
The Corsair is my favorite plane! Loved the black Sheep. When I trucked, I was able to see a real Corsair. One sexy hot plane!
I watched every episode at least 3 times...between my father’s influence and that of shows like the Black Sheep Squadron and High Chaperall I did get my pilots license...I’m blessed