Biography of Pappy Boyington (1912-1988)

Gregory "Pappy" Boyington was a troubled, but excellent American combat pilot. He was a USMC fighter ace during the Second World War, and according to his own account, he was the top ace of the entire USMC. Crashed and captured by the Japanese during his record-breaking flying mission, he was presumed dead for over a year, until the war ended and he turned up in a POW camp.
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:11 Boyington's Rocky Road
6:46 First Combat
9:25 Boyington's Disappearance
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The content of this video covers events, people or concepts via a lecture-style presentation that is educational and historical in nature. Every video is original content by House of History. The events relating to conflict in this video are portrayed in their historical context without either value judgment or an ideological message attached to it. There is no intent to shock, upset or disgust. The goal of my channel is to make interesting lecture-style videos, no more, no less.
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Sources:
Boyington, Gregory. Baa Baa Black Sheep. Bantam, 1977.
missingmarines.com/robert-t-e...
www.nps.gov/parkhistory/onlin...
Photos, paintings and imagery: Public Domain, Wikicommons
#HouseofHistory #History #WW2

[@JR-kc8jx]

I knew the guy who helped Pappy sight in his guns and also head spaced his 50 cals. He was friends with Pappy until Pappy’s death. He had pictures and stories of their exploits and had a marine corps gun range built in his name pre death. I was a kid when I knew him but he treated me like a man. I’ll never forget him. I stoped by his house the day before he died to say hello and fill and light his wood burning stove knowing he would die soon. He seemed fine. Life is weird.

[@love-vr4fe]

My grandpa was in the black sheep, he unfortunately died this year, so I’m trying to learn his history

[@derrickthompson4146]

My grandfather was a Red Tail pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group/99th Pursuit Squadron out of Rammatelli, Italy in the European Theater of WWII. He flew with Colonel (Now late General) Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.

[@kevinhartman8391]

Who is your grandfather?

[@jerrysullivan8424]

As a young Marine station in Southern CA at El Toro Airbase, I had the privilege to meet and talk with Pappy.

[@tylerhall4322]

My grandpa was a pilot in his squadron

[@GeorgeCampbell1964]

Thankyou for your service, Marine!

[@jefesalsero]

I met him in 1975 in Fresno, California when I was a 10 year-old kid. His book, "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" was out and the TV series was happening by then. I was a big fan. My younger brother and I were staying with my grandparents for the summer (Grandpa was a WW2 vet who served in the U.S. Army in logistics and spent most of his service stationed in London - that's another story) and we were all out to dinner at a restaurant in Fresno where Boyington lived at the time. He was a bit of a celebrity at that time. He was out to dinner with a lady. We all recognized him and I approached him at his table - "Are you Pappy Boyington?". Lol. He was very approachable and he ended up mailing me a signed copy of his book. I wish I still had that book! Sadly, it was lost over the years. It was a cool experience meeting a celebrity war hero at the time.

[@HoH]

Hi Jefesalsero. I love comments like this, thank you for sharing!

[@danielneece6404]

Wow grandma might have been eating with him when you met him was there a older lady black and yellow poofy hair with him.

[@davidelliott5843]

The F4U Corsair was rejected by the US Navy due to its long nose making deck landings "impossible". The British Royal Navy bought them and in typical fashion, British pilots developed the left turn curved approach to landing on carrier decks. They loved the Corsair needing just better damped undercarriage legs to reduce bounce on landing.

[@frannyfranfrancis]

Thank you for your insightful videos! I appreciate the work and time you put in to share history. Semper Fi!

[@korbell1089]

Ahh yes, the much maligned F4U. The Navy hated it but when the enemy gives your equipment a name like "Whistling Death", I think you may have a hit on your hands.

[@mickkelley7508]

The navy liked the plane, but it was a bad carrier plane because of the long nose and gull wings. You were basically landing blind and because of the gull wings not a lot of wiggle room. The plane became legendary in the hands of skilled marine pilots as a land based aircraft

[@jerry5876]

The enemy never named it that. It was coined by an American

[@SacCity]

Reminds me of John Belushi playing Wild Bill Kelso in 1941.

[@Jklopoppcorn]

wow, your channel is amazing and you deserve much more subscribers. i've thoroughly enjoyed every video and hope you keep up the great work

[@HoH]

Thank you!

[@ianhoare289]

Great video, please keep them coming.

[@HoH]

Thanks Ian, will do!

[@amaccama3267]

Another really cool story. Love the intro graphics for the channel. 🤘

[@jovanweismiller7114]

I had just watched the newsreel you used as an illustration 'Major Boyington Found Alive' and this was suggested in the side bar. Thanks. It's good to learn some of the background.

[@brokenbridge6316]

Although it came out long before I was born. I've had the pleasure of watching Ba, Ba, Black Sheep and enjoyed a lot of it.

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

Remember that the "mechanic" from black sheep TV series was Red West. He passed away just 2 years ago. Red was an actor, music writer too. Red grew up as a personal friend of ELVIS. The year before ELVIS died, Red(and brother Sonny)had a falling out with ELVIS. Never to see each other again. Black Sheep was shooting the day ELVIS died, and they shut production down for the day. Robert Conrad starred as "Pappy" and Robert died a few months ago.

[@HDnatureTV]

Wonderful well written, well presented video with passion - of a long time hero of mine. Thumbs Up!

[@HoH]

Many thanks!

[@fazole]

Pappy recounted in his autobiography that he would drink so much the night before a mission that he'd see double. He used to dunk his head in a bucket of water, shaking his head until he could see straight! He'd also sleep in the cockpit on missions, using a system of rubber bands as an autopilot. He credited his high G tolerance to having been a wrestler and being able to tense his neck muscles to elevate his blood pressure.

[@markfrench8892]

I got to meet Boyington at an air show in the 70s.

[@goals46]

From France Merci pour cette vidéo sur Greg Papy Boyington étant donné qu'en France il n'y a aucune vidéo abordant ce sujet

[@marleegould542]

Pappy was from my hometown of Coeur d'Alene! We named the city airport after him. :)

[@sherirobinson5112]

Excellent video...

[@HoH]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@StephenMortimer]

it's BOO-GAN-VILLE !!

[@StephenMortimer]

except in FRISIAN !!

[@StephenMortimer]

@@guyfaux5010 you would.. I don't.. why?.. well he tries to GET IT RIGHT (all the time) that is what historians are all about

[@jamespfitz]

My dad was there and that's how he always pronounced it (not that that makes him right, I'm just saying.)

[@juanitwo66]

There are various ways of pronouncing the same word.

[@StephenMortimer]

@@juanitwo66 NOT when it is an american BATTLEFIELD!!

[@bronson6585]

Wanna Wrassle ?? My Grandfather told me stories that he always wanted to Wrassle! Not Wrestle, but Wrassle. My Grandfather was a Prize Boxer and they used to Wrassle and Box. VMSB-331 as I was born my Grandfather always say, Wanna Race, we’d run down the driveway, then came Wanna Wrassle. I never heard many war stories only sayings. No doubt he was in the mix of action. He was a Tail Gunner in SBD's.

[@eduardobrettas1745]

Excelente!! Obrigado!

[@RefinedRetroReviews]

My grandfather always talked about this guy. Apparently he was a sort of folk hero even in the US Air Force in the 50's. I think the guys liked his attitude. Then the TV show seems to have cemented it in the minds of a lot of people of his generation. He always talked about him like a Patton sort of figure haha.

[@randallanthony1794]

Good show

[@AdenStaggers]

I would like a segment on Robin Olds USAF Ace

[@charliebranch1332]

4:37 I love that picture.

[@ernestoglez6725]

Could you make one about The Aztec Eagles (201st squadron). They fought against the Japanese in the Philippines

[@HoH]

That's a great suggestion, I'll be doing some reading on this during the weekend. Thanks!

[@historicallyaccurate2880]

How do you find these really interesting topics two times a week?

[@HoH]

Lots of reading and a love for history and writing!

[@nonscpo87]

This topic had a two season TV show, plus a Movie, Bah Bah Black Sheep!

[@dagger6467]

I worked with his Great nephew Dave B. From Pappy's Dad side of the family.

[@jeffgreen7897]

I have a picture of my brother and me sitting on a tailgate of a scout. Pappy Bowington is sitting in between us. It was an airshow in Watkins Colorado around 1975? something like that I have a piece of paper that says to Jeff, Pappy Boyington I just found it the other day

[@kevinmcdonald8049]

The closest i ever got to meet Pappy was seeing Robert Conrad signing autographs at the airshow at Paine Field back in the late 70s or early 80s.

[@AASLT405]

top ace of all time salute pappy rip sir

[@yomstergilla7683]

No mention of Boyingtons latent alcoholism? Or gambling debts? All covered in the book he referenced. Boyington had many flaws to balance his aggressive flying, fighting and leadership abilities.

[@sharonraizor2839]

His flaws don't "balance" his leadership. It is all a part of the package. High functioning men do not compartmentalize. They are on "10" in every aspect of their lives. Boyington was a swashbuckler and a great leader in the air. On the ground, he was ready to fight any member of his squadron (or anyone else for that matter) at a moments notice. Having met several original Black Sheep and doing research on the man for years, the consensus is that Boyington was authentic. Whatever he was, he was, and he owned it, good and bad, and there was plenty of both.

[@yomstergilla7683]

@@sharonraizor2839 Correction; "Fight anyone in his squadron"? In the blacksheep book there was a couple of people that knew how to wrestle and when given the opportunity Boyington didn't want to fight them. Also, when a prisoner in Japan he got a job in the kitchen because it was warm and he could eat handfuls of lard or butter. While his fellow prisoners suffered malnutrition. So "BALANCED", is a more than fair description to use when weighing up Boyingtons strengths and weaknesses. It's been almost 20yrs since I read the Blacksheep book. I lent it to someone while I was in Rabaul, New Britain. Never got it back. I'll get the book reference later. Book was by Bruce? Gamble, 1st edition 2003.

[@gorydoughnut9789]

Damn

[@mkl62]

February 9, 1912. The day that my paternal grandfather turned 29.

[@matthewscheidt7754]

Amazing, brave men that like so many other military members are not respected by their gov. Or by so many fellow Americans. I for ONE thank the one and all, present, past, brave military men women for their service, bravery! SALUTE!!!!! MAY GOD BLESS.

[@nancysmith2389]

Wow.

[@chrisalexander5900]

A salute to and hats off. CWA (U.S.M.C)

[@tomdooley3522]

Papa boyington and his Corsair could show you how it's really done

[@vincentsaia6545]

I have written a screenplay about Pappy and the Black Sheep

[@josephiona1883]

❤

[@oig40203]

You can still see one of their airstrips on Google Earth.

[@michaelbailey1578]

I met Pappy, briefly, at Oshkosh. It was an honor for me.

[@Dr.J.Garlock]

Don’t you mean “Black Sheep Squadron” as opposed to “Ba-Ba-Black Sheep”?

[@mathiaspoelman1493]

Hi! I once heard a story about German Wehrmacht who defended British/American POWs from SS troops by shooting them. This is not the Battle of Castle Itter, but I wouldn't mind either of them. Or just how regular German and Allied soldiers were to each other after for example surrender

[@HoH]

Hi! Thanks for your comment. You're talking about the Niederhof Standoff I believe. I've created a video about that and the Battle of Castle Itter (it's the same video) about two months ago! Hope you enjoy

[@mistervacation23]

Which one of you misfits is Private Simon Feiza?

[@ethanfallert2034]

Would you do a video on the French mercenary Bob Denard?

[@UnderSprayedWhiteSkies]

Who shot him down? From what I've read on the internet (for what it's worth), a Japanese fighter aircraft shot him down (rather than ground, anti-aircraft fire).

[@dennistaylor3796]

If I remember his book, he named the Japanese pilot.

[@hojoj.1974]

"Pappy" was a drunk and a braggart. This however, was an excellent presentation... Keep it up young man.

[@bbface21]

True, but he was a hell of a pilot and well educated. If I'm not mistaken he had an engineering degree from the University of Washington.

[@leoperidot482]

Boyington was a pure warrior in every sense of the word, a natural born killer, an American hero. Marines aspire to be like him. However keep in mind Boyington was also a rotten human being; a wife beater, deadbeat dad, and a fall down drunk. Show me a hero and I'll prove to you he's a bum.

[@glenn5903]

Bad boy F4U!!😊

[@That1_CopDude]

First

[@lynnwalters2117]

I was in the navy . We heard real stories of the BLACK. 🎉 SHEEP . Get your shit straight. Expert. Don't f with a vet .

[@alaksandutheexorkizein7634]

Probably less than 26. He was a notorious liar.

[@bfairfax8772]

Cats are OK but if you actually want money just for showing your pets your gonna have to get a dog .

[@HoH]

That is a very cynical reason to adopt a pet.

[@comikdebris]

Full of inaccuracies

[@Muddybagclean]

Jesus Loves You

[@coleullman5759]

Do you have a girlfriend? Are you single?

[@kabbey30]

Comedy?