Pappy Boyington

Who was Pappy Boyington?

Gregory "Pappy" Boyington was a highly decorated American combat pilot who was a United States Marine Corps fighter ace during World War II. He received both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.

Boyington was initially a P-40 Warhawk combat pilot with the legendary "Flying Tigers" in the Republic of China Air Force in Burma at the end of 1941 and part of 1942; during the military conflict between China and Japan, and the beginning of World War II.

In September 1942, he rejoined the Marine Corps. In early 1943, he deployed to the South Pacific and began flying on combat missions as a Marine F4U Corsair fighter pilot. In September 1943, he took command of U.S. Marine Corps fighter squadron VMF-214. In January 1944, Boyington, outnumbered by Japanese "Zero" planes, was shot down into the Pacific Ocean after downing an enemy plane. He was captured by a Japanese submarine crew and was a prisoner of war for over a year and a half. He was released shortly before the surrender of Japan.