Pappy Boyington - Black Sheep Squadron

(Please Subscribe to our channel!). Dan Millican (@TakingOffDan) welcomes back Ray Harris, Jr. from History of WWII Podcast (worldwariipodcast.net/) to talk about the hero and legend Gregory "Pappy" Boyington-- the leader of the famed Marine Corps "Black Sheep Squadron, flying the F4U Corsairs in the Pacific theater against the Japanese.
TakingOff is sponsored by:
FlyingEyes - Get 10% using discount code TAKINGOFF at flyingeyesoptics.com/ We were customers before they became sponsors!
ColtenTakingOff.com www.coltenmortgage.com/takingoff - For your residential mortgage or refi needs. Run by a pilot!
www.tailwindwaymakers.org/ - A new scholarship program to help make aviation dreams come true. Buy a raffle ticket to win a plane or simply donate!
67Designs- Cabin Mounts www.67d.com/ Incredibly rugged mounts for your tablets, smart phones and cameras in the airplane. Made in the US!
XeVision.com -Extreme LED Landing Lights, www.xevision.com the only competitor is the sun!
www.clemensinsurance.net/ - Your broker should be advocating on your behalf-call Clemens to have someone in your corner fighting for you!
Marshal Protective Services - mpsprotects.com/ Private Security Elevated!
Join our Hangar Club at takingoff.s-films.com for special previews and exclusive content.
Also, support Christy at Patreon @PilotChristy
The large METAR map on the set is from metarmaps.com/ Mention TakingOff as you go buy one!
The TakingOff Team uses Lightspeed Headsets. Support us by buying your Lightspeed through our link: www.lightspeedaviation.com/?r...

[@jameshyatte7230]

Black sheep is the reason I became a pilot. Loved the show, Robert Conrad played pappy well and even real pappy made some appearances on the show. Great episode guys and oh that show is why I love Corsairs!

[@briancooper2112]

The show was fubar!

[@toddhutchins2492]

@@briancooper2112 Stephen Cannel took a lot of liberties with the show, and Boyington knew better than cross him.

[@leekington2959]

Some of my heroes Boyington, Yeager, Robin Olds

[@dougolson304]

Ditto plus Doolittle

[@donalddepew9605]

I ran a flight school in Fresno back in the 80's. Boyington would come in and try to rent a plane from us, we had to tell him no. He was pickled just about all the time and his alcoholism was readily apparent. It was a very sad statement for such a warrior and a hero.

[@alantoon5708]

In the late summer of 1981 IPMS/Atlanta put on a regional model contest combined with a book rollout/exhibit which featured a number of collectable AVG items. Boyington was the guest of honor and the featured speaker. A good friend of mine, then an Atlanta police detective, was in charge of security for the event. My friend stated that his main challenge was keeping Pappy sober so he could perform the next day. Gamble's book (Black Sheep One) is not light or happy reading.

[@natalieclountzbauman6593]

I could have done without hearing that story, even though true. He should be remembered well for his service. His alcoholism was probably due to all the rough things he endured from an early age. People didn't go to counseling back then, they drank in order to cope.

[@mike03a3]

My father's infantry division captured Munda airfield, where Boyington flew from for a while. They are buried pretty close to each other in Arlington, so I see his grave whenever I visit my father.

[@bigjim5057]

I knew Col Boyington since 1977, and yes I knew he drank, but I NEVER saw him drunk. And that was on the set of Baa Baa in Valencia off hwy 126, an RV park now. I was part of flight crew and went to his home in Fresno on Columbia Dr e , and he was not drunk then. I have seen the man over 10 years more sober than drunk . I remember when I told him I had joined the Marine Corps, and he said "Jesus Christ why would you do a stupid ass thing like that?" Thanks Colonel Boyington. You did good. Semper Fi, Ooh Rah!

[@WolfPilot]

What an awesome episode! Black Sheep Squadron is my FAVORITE aviation theme TV show.

[@Hawker900XP]

Pappy autographed his book for me at the Madera, CA airshow back in the early 80s. He lived in Fresno, CA.

[@charleseinarson]

My sister-in-law has a signed copy. Pappy was her grandfather so I would hope he would sign it. lol I was reading that copy when I met the Japanese pilot that shot him down. Added his signature too...

[@user-dl8lr2dz9e]

He signed mine as well . Not sure if it was the same airshow but it was 87’ when he signed my book . I was only 7

[@NathanBallardSaferFlying]

Excellent story telling, it really does justice to the history and legend of Pappy. Stories like this remind us of all those BEFORE us, that paved the way for aviation to be what it is TODAY. Well done 👏

[@randywilson944]

There was a store nearby Travis AFB, California called The Nut Tree and I bought a book there that was written by Pappy about The Black Sheep Squadron. At that time, I was assigned to a B-52 bomb wing at Mather AFB in Rancho Cordova, California.

[@MikeSparamotor]

I really like these kinds of videos. Maybe Doolittle and Paul Tibbets sometime? Thanks for what you do!

[@flyingark173]

Great story, thank you for sharing and thank you Dan for airing for us all to see. Great video!

[@maureencora1]

Nobody Perfect. Heaven is for Heroes. May He R.I.P.

[@darrelkinney9856]

Wow a true badass - Souix n Irish mix . Saw the show, did see him in the episodes. A true hero .

[@KevinSmithAviation]

Excellent episode Dan, thank you. That was great detail into the story of Pappy. Keep up the excellent work as always. Safe skies 🇺🇸🛩️

[@deadfirefighter]

One of the other KZbin channels did a video on Boyington and they were very biased claiming he exaggerated his accomplishments, that he was cowardly, and claiming he should be stripped of the metals he won. It was disgusting to have people bash someone who isn’t here to defend himself based on the stories of people who didn’t like him and didn’t show the courage he did. It’s nice that you put out a video that counters that unwarranted smear campaign that tells the truth that he was flawed but did the best he could with the hand he was dealt. Too much “ political correctness “ or more accurately political weakness has been introduced into our military to ever let someone like him succeed again and it’s why our country keeps loosing wars and why our democracy is no longer safe or certain.

[@TakingOff]

Thanks for the feedback. I wasn’t aware of that other video.

[@deadfirefighter]

@@TakingOff your video makes a lot more sense and was presented in a less bias way.

[@jayledermann7701]

He was a non perfect but a real and true hero. Something tells me if he would have fixed all his demons we would never had heard of him. RIP Greg

[@johnbenet5394]

We need more people like pappy

[@johnnieves8719]

❤Love this I use to wait all week to watch the show. My platoon in the Army was the Bad ass Black Sheep!

[@shannongriffith2092]

Oh my God I used to love watching this show the real pappy boyington was my hero when I was 9 years old watching reruns of Black sheep squadron. That show developed my love of aircraft.

[@charleseinarson]

My friend in high school was the great grandson of ADM Halsey. My sister-in-law is Pappy Boyington’s granddaughter.

[@clarencewiles963]

Thumbs up 👍 and thank you for your Hanger 😀

[@pauljanssen7594]

I will admit back in that era alcoholism was a major thing with men. My Dad tried to help so many of his friends that were alcohol.

[@Notintimidated2013]

That was great! (Used to love the show, too.)👍🏻⭐️🏆

[@tomnixon2165]

Enjoyed the podcast but surprised that you didn’t mention that Pappy was a Medal of Honor recipient…….cheers

[@mikeryan6277]

Met him at a Confederate Air Force event when I was a kid and always admired him. Awhile back I read an article that spoke very poorly of his conduct when he was a POW , apparently he worked in the kitchen and was well taken care of but other POW’s were wasting away and when asked to steal food for them he refused stating he had a good thing going and wasn’t going to mess that up. I don’t know how much of what is true but I do believe that the Japanese Flags placard on his plane were real and really, during that time that’s what mattered.

[@West-TexX]

Yes, navy pilot named Frederick Turnbull. Kinda disgusting but Boyington saw things differently, and like you, the guy is a hero, flawed as he was.

[@danhogue7902]

Was doing a little investigating and discovered that the Corsair was faster than the P=51, that plane was a beast, and it looked so cool 😂❤ Would love to fly one🫡

[@JustPlaneSilly]

5 seconds in and I have to comment. Thanks for making a video about me Dan. Okay, Going to watch the rest now.

[@TakingOff]

Bryan, EVERY video is about you. Thought you knew that? I need to put your face on a pillow and keep it on the set.

[@timbrelane]

one of the greatest and authentic accounts of air combat ive heard since i was 12 yo. im now now 72. thank yo\

[@vincentsaia6545]

I have written a screenplay about Pappy and the Black Sheep

[@TheSchmed]

He was in the Japanese POW camp with Zamparini

[@kevinfrerichs8589]

I too grow up watching Black Sheep Squadron, and read his book, I sill watch the series, and have read other books written by Black Sheep, and Bruce Gamble (Black Sheep One) Always love hearing about my child hood Hero. PS the F4U Corsair sexiest airplane ever made, there is no prettier then a Corsair on final with its flaps down.

[@Joehughes2869]

The best book on pappy other than his autobiography is a book called ( Black Sheep One )

[@pamdunn8454]

to dan or ray : we have a over 45 year old built - 1/5 scale "54 inch wingspan" F4U Corsair , highly detailed in great condition with letter of authenticity signed and dated by Gregory "pappy" Boyington with many stories - for sale if interested ?

[@michaeltelson9798]

First of all, the AVG fought mostly in the beginning against the Japanese Army, so not Zero’s but Ki-43 Oscars. That airfield was Japanese Army, that raid was lead by Tex Hill, who gives a different account in his autobiography. There wasn’t any pay for ground kills anyway. With the Flying Tigers he showed up late roaring drunk to a special dinner sponsored by Madam Chiang Kai Shek, the patron of the Flying Tigers. Besides Embarrassing the unit he ruined his chances for a movie career. There was a man there who was to become the Chief of Staff and friend to Chennault had been in China with Robert Scott as part of the B-24 unit that was going to the opposite direction bombing of Japan but was scrubbed. This was a veteran airman and soldier, Vila campaign, WWI (DH-4), and Executive Officer of the Kosciusko Squadron in the Polish Bolshevik War but was more known for producing movies, Merian C. Cooper, who was also best friends with John Ford. There wasn’t any chance that Boyington could get a film career after the antics he pulled there.

[@flyod26]

Yes, you can fly a fighter with a cast on, Jimmy Doolittle did it, in a P-40!

[@wb6anp]

Yes you can but are you supposed to.

[@ronduncan9527]

Kind of looks like, and reminds me of John Belushi!!!

[@briancooper2112]

This happened at falcon field mesa,az. 1980

[@paratyshow]

☑️👍 love the cameo by Chewy!

[@TakingOff]

Yeah, he was pretty funny

[@paratyshow]

@@TakingOff ☑️👍🤣 hope he is getting union pay rate!

[@thekingsilverado3266]

Daddy!!!!! My ah doppelganger!!!! Marine Corps left me off lightly too. They promoted me & promptly sent me home as I requested. USMC is gettin awefully cheesey on Court Marshall's when ya got a point they don't wanna confront..

[@shumyinghon]

the AVG faced Nates and Oscars in Burma, not zeros

[@rachel704]

How about doing a story on the plane crash that took the life of the best boxer (better than Tyson) world heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano?

[@TakingOff]

Possibly, we've got it short listed.

[@davidthach-ix1kf]

Black sheep squadron is real life , any time

[@jeremywilson4326]

The video is ok. Seems like every time I hear this its a little different . The pilots were not misfits. One of the pilots said 2 things were true about the show the squadrons designation and Greg Boington was the commanding officer. About the only thing he couldnt beat was cancer. Thanks guys.

[@Jeffrey-Flys]

“people who can’t function well in normal society become pilots…” that’s what I heard!!!! 😂😂😂😂 🙋🏼‍♂️

[@leonardray5759]

Virgle Ray missing in action black sheep squad my dads cousin

[@Heike--]

That man is an awesome storyteller! The other one...geez he sure didn't feel the need to dress up to shoot a video, eh? Looks like he's ready to paint the spare bedroom.

[@seanmcclelland4403]

Does this guy even know who Greg was,

[@jonnybalz]

Pappy deserted his family. They lived with relatives

[@andrewfischer8564]

show me a hero ill show you a bum

[@briancooper2112]

I met Greg over 35 year's ago. Hes the 2nd top ace. Joe Foss #1. He got 26 not 28. He was a jerk. I was 7 years old who wanted myhero to sign baa baa black sheep. He wanted 10 bucks from me.

[@Gilgad01]

Epic fail on your facts

[@tonylittle8634]

My question is would pappy be allowed to do this in today’s PC woke military??? I ask that because I’m retired military.

[@TakingOff]

Heck no.

[@briancooper2112]

His wife was very nice. Not greg

[@kurtpena5462]

30 seconds in, I hate this.

[@briancooper2112]

Wasn't a hero. While being a pow he worked in the kitchen and fed himself but not fellow pow.

[@vincentsaia6545]

I have written a screenplay about Pappy and the Black Sheep